Happy New Year- 2010 in review

I'm still here, still alive, just not posting much.  

I picked this list of yearly questions up at a blog I've been reading for years.  This is the first year I've answered them, but I found it helpful and hope to make it a yearly event.   I may go back and alter a couple of these as I remember (or come up with) better answers, but I wanted to post it before it gets shunted to the back of my mind and forgotten.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
This was strangely hard to answer at first.  We didn't travel anywhere new, I didn't take up any new hobbies that I can recall... but there were a few firsts.  I visited two children's museums for the first time.  I threw a kids' birthday party (as in for kids, not for family/adults).  We
attended Baker Seed's spring planting festival (which I will definitely repeat) and visited Laura Ingalls Wilder's home nearby in Mansfield, Missouri.  I impersonated Martha Stewart (or possibly my mother!) and taught a group of women how to make snowball candles, candied apples, and frost sugar cookies.  We opened Aaron's new office downtown, which was a ton of work but has been hugely rewarding. I weigh more than I ever have without being pregant.  (sigh.  more on that later.)


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


I don't remember if I had any official new year's resolutions, but I did intend to start exercising and get into better shape, and no, that has not happened.  This year's resolutions include that, plus implementing some kind of household management schedule, using a calendar and to-do list so I don't forget important things, and teaching my daughter to read with the system we've owned for over a year.  All of these are things that eat huge guilty holes in my self-image and my desire to interact with the world around me.  It's time to make some changes and unshackle myself from these issues!

Smaller things, more desires than Life Needs:
Make the kids' room cute and less girly.  (Quinton moved into Gracie's room, and it needs to be made theirs rather than her room with an extra bed.)
Build (or have built) the cold frames for the old windows I scored on freecycle so that we can try growing greens through the winter next year.
Get the $#%% window a/c removed from the dining room so that it can stop leaking cold air into our house during the winter.
Start finding or forming a community of women from my own church.
Clean the upstairs carpets, myself or by hiring someone.
Paint the kitchen.
Help Gracie learn to swim and conquer her weird fear of water in her eyes.
Continue to learn how to use essential oils effectively for my family's physical and emotional wellbeing.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Friends, yes.  Family, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?


No.

5. What countries did you visit?

None.


6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

A plan.  That sounds funny, but this year was a bit of drifting along (in the slow times) and/or just managing to stay above water (during the crazy times).  I'd like to tackle my responsibilities with a bit more forethought and deliberate action. Just a bit-- I'm no Type A personality.  Just need a little less chaos.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Late August, for putting Quinton into preschool, and Gracie starting ballet classes (my babies are growing up!).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?



That's hard.  I'm not sure I can name one.  Survival?  Keeping a Happy Face through my husband's busy season (aka Single Mom Era)?

9. What was your biggest failure?

I really wish I had taught Gracie to read by now, and that I had gotten busy on the fitness/weight loss thing this year.  My lofty goals of feeding my family healthy food often fell by the wayside as I grabbed something quick and easy (and popular) to save myself hassle.  I think I'll stop here, I'm not sure which is biggest and I don't want to create a Failure List.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Surprisingly little.  I credit essential oils (yay!) and a lack of general activity (boo)-- ie if you don't move much, you're unlikely to injure stuff. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

We put central heat and air into our downstairs, which is fabulous; we scored a $100 swingset via Craigslist this fall that I think will serve us extremely well; and we bought a beautiful handcarved artisan rocking chair (again, secondhand via Craigslist) that I absolutely love.  

12. Where did most of your money go?

See the paragraph above, especially the central heat and air bit.

13. What did you get really excited about?

That rocking chair.  Quinton getting so enthralled with Christmas.  Finding a friend who shares so much of my life outlook.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?

The Twelve Days of Christmas was Gracie's hands-down favorite this season... I hope I never forget having to sing it over and over. 

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? Not sure.
– thinner or fatter? A bit fatter, sadly.
– richer or poorer? Financially richer, I think.  Not by much.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?


Lived with the electronics turned off.  Read more books.  Given Gracie more reading lessons.  Made better use of my alone time to recharge my batteries and organize my thoughts (rather than, for example, playing bejeweled late at night on Facebook).

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?


Bejeweled and Facebook.  Watching the television.  Sitting still.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

We had four Christmases this year:  At my parents' the 23rd, at home alone on the 24th, Santa coming on the morning of the 25th, and then the big dinner with Aaron's family on the afternoon of the 25th.  And then Aaron's mom came to town the 26th to visit.  That's a bit nuts, isn't it?

19. What was your favorite TV program?

American Pickers, or Pawn Stars.  I love stuff shows.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

That one about the poor kids with the crazy parents.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?


I can't remember a single thing.  I don't listen to much grown-up music these days.  I did love the Butterflyfish album (kids' music, but good enough for adults to enjoy too).

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

I am not film-centric; we watch a lot of films, but I generally forget their names quickly.  I don't remember actors' names either.  Um, How to Train your Dragon was really good...

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 36 in March.  Um... I don't remember?  I'm sure there was pineapple upside down cake at my mom's house involved... that's a yearly tradition.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?


That health/weight loss thing I keep harping upon.  Teaching Gracie to read. 

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

Um... If It's Semi-Clean, I'll Wear It.  I Hope I Didn't Wear This To Church Last Week.  My fashion situation is pretty dismal at the moment.

26. What kept you sane?

Coffee.  Knitting.  Friendships with other moms in this phase of life.  God's love.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.


I hope I've learned it:  Nobody can or will make me change except me.