2009

Sorry to keep dwelling in the past, but I've seen this now on quite a few blogs and decided to post my own version.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before? Went to see the Chicago Symphony.

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and do you intend to make any for 2010?

I made some like getting into shape and losing the rest of my pregnancy weight. Nope, didn't happen. I also was going to eat better. (Do my kids left-over french fries count?) And when Alison and I started our scrapbooking blog, my goal was to do at least one layout per week. It didn't happen either but I did get quite a few layouts done that I never would have without that commitment so I guess I sort of succeeded. This year I'm trying again with the same goals and hoping for better results all around.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Two of my sisters had little girls.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. It was a rough year in that regard. I lost my youngest sister, an uncle, my Grandaddy and Grandma on my mom's side. I'm really hoping for a break in that arena this year! Kalen and I have now lost all of our grandparents. It's so strange to think that I grew up with so many grandparents and great-grandparents and our children won't really have memories of their great-grandparents.

5. What countries did you visit? None. I still hope to get to a few someday.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you didn't have in 2009?A better organizational system--the current "piles all over the house system" that I use now is really not working for me. Also, I'd like to have less sibling rivalry between my kids, more money in the bank, new carpet and furnace for the house...

7. What dates will be etched into your memory from 2009 and why? January 2, the day we lost Kayleigh

8. What is your biggest achievement of the year? Letting my baby boy go to preschool. And potty training said pre-schooler.

9. What is your biggest failure? Stressing too much over things I really have no control over.

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury? Nothing too noteworthy. A couple of the kids had swine flu in the fall and we had that stomach bug just before Christmas was pretty awful.

11. What is the best thing you bought? Not sure. We didn't really have any major purchases this year. I did get a new camera for Christmas that is so much easier to deal with.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The kids and all the great things they are doing academically. It's always a blessing to hear only good things from their teachers.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled or depressed? Certain celebrities and politicians really get on my nerves.

14. Where did most of your money go? Our mortgage and health insurance got the biggest cut. Ugh! The rest went to Family Fare, Target, Walmart, and kids school fundraisers.

15. What did you get really excited about? Going on our family vacation to Chicago.

16. What songs will remind you of 2009 and why? "Gracie's Theme" from Paul Cardall. I first heard it on a blog that I follow after the death of a baby girl from congenital heart failure. It was right after the death of my own sister so I tend to associate the music with Kayleigh too. Beautiful song that is sad but inspiring at the same time.

17. Compared to last year...a. happier or sadder? happier b. thinner or fatter? exactly the same--stupid post-pregnancy weight! It's been a year and a half already! c. richer or poorer? I wouldn't say richer since that implies we have more money. Rather, we have managed to have less debt this year and are continuing to get ourselves out of it.

18. What do you wish you had done more of? laughing and playing with the kids. I need to do better at appreciating the small moments instead of stressing and worrying about stupid things that won't matter in the long run.

19. What do you wish you had done less of? worrying

20. How did you spend Christmas? Here in Albion with the family followed by a few days in New Jersey with the Bramhalls.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009? I was already there, so just more so with my great husband and fantastic kids. Also, I think I love chocolate more and more every day too.

22. What was your favorite TV program? I really enjoyed Chuck, The Office, Lost, Psych, and the last season of Monk.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate at this time last year? I wouldn't say I hate anyone. But there are a couple of people who seem to aggravate me more and more everyday and I find myself really disliking them and the interactions I am forced to have with them.

24. What is the best book you read? I think the ones that I enjoyed the most were probably Standing for Something by Gordon B. Hinckley and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I am pretty out of the loop with music anymore but I did discover the music of Paul Cardall when I heard "Gracie's Theme" and I ended up buying some of his stuff. It is really calming and beautiful. A lot like the music that Jon Schmidt writes.

26. What did you want and get? A trip to the temple.

27. What did you want and not get? A house that was clean and organized from top to bottom and somehow magically stayed that way. Caught up on my scrapbooks. My pre-babyfigure. (Ditto to Alison's response).

28. What was your favorite film this year? The only trip to the movies I remember making this year was to see the sixth Harry Potter movie. We did watch a lot of DVD's though since we started getting NetFlix. I've seen some really good ones but can't think of any titles right now.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? I went to my uncle's funeral and was separated from my husband and 3 of my kids so it wasn't my favorite birthday ever. Plus, I turned thirty-stinkin'-five years old so that didn't help a lot either! But when I came back Kalen and I had a date night, so that was pretty fun.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More money and more time.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2009? Huh? If it still fits I wear it. Is that a concept?

32. What kept you sane? Kalen and the kids (although they also made me crazy too), our nightly Spritual devotional time, and heavy doses of chocolate.

33. What celebrity did you fancy the most? I can't think of anyone actually. I enjoy movies and television but the celebrities themselves actually get on my nerves. Probably because they are so NOT like the characters they portray.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? These days I have a deep loathing for any political issue/politician out there. Yes, I vote and I try to research candidates and platforms thoroughly but really I just feel like I'm choosing the lesser of the two evils. I think most politicians live in their own little fantasy world and though they proclaim to know what the average American is going through, they are SO, SO, So clueless.

35. Who do you miss? Kayleigh. A lot.

36. Who was the best person you met? The new nieces are pretty amazing.

37. Valuable life lesson learned in 2009? Live every day as if it were your last. Going to four funerals has really made me reflect on how we really don't know when our time here will be up. I just never want to take any day or any person for granted. Family is what it's all about.

38. What is the one thing you said this year that you never thought you'd say? I've probably said a lot of Mommy things to my kids that I wouldn't have imagined but nothing in particular stands out. I may have to come back to this if I think of something.

39. What was the one thing you heard that you never thought you would hear? Mommy, I have to go potty! (from Spencer who was over 3 1/2 when he finally potty trained).

40. What do you anticipate will be the biggest change in your life in 2010? Hopefully, nothing major. I hope we can just continue to grow and progress and be happier every day.