2010 Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? I went to my first NFL game. Cross that off my "before I die" list. :)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I made a few goals and I achieved almost all of them. The major ones were to read/listen to 30 books that I've never read before AND to read/listen through the whole Bible in a year. I made the 30 books goal, but I came up a few books short when it came to finishing the Bible. Apparently I skipped a few books without knowing it and didn't realize my mistake until a few weeks into December. And of course they would have to be the harder books to read/digest. Oh well, I came very close, so I'm happy. I also worked out more (at least during the first half of the year). I will probably try to achieve the same goals for 2011.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister-in-law, Jackie!! She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in March: Penelope Danger. Such a sweet little thing. I've had the privilege of watching little Penny a couple days a week this year. Simon adores her.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What countries did you visit? This question makes me feel inadequate and boring. Haha. No countries. Just a couple of states that we passed through on our way to Indiana. I know, laaame.

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

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Good memory: August 6th: Simon's 2nd birthday spent with family and friends outside on a beautiful August evening. Bad memory: Thursday, October 2nd: Losing a house that we thought we had owned for a whole entire week.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving being a parent.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not being the best parent that I could for Simon. Getting frustrated at the little things and not having enough faith in people and in God.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No, all in all this has been a very healthy year for all of us.

11. What was the best thing you bought? I would like to say a house...but that didn't work out so well. Hopefully 2011 will be a better year for us in the housing department. I think the best thing we bought was our iPhones. love, Love, LOVE!!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My husband has been so great this year. It's been a super stressful year what with looking at houses and such and when it comes to finances, he usually gets really paranoid and depressed. He's been such a trooper through this whole process and for that I'm grateful.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Simons. Haha, what? He's two. Ummm....can't really think of anyone in particular. I guess I'll go with all of the celebrity men out there who have cheated on their wives. Naw, I'll stick with Simon.

14. Where did most of your money go? Rent, laundry, groceries...our December trip to Fort Wayne, Christmas....

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going to the Vikings vs. Giants game in January and going to see my family in December!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Anything from Trampled by Turtles (we saw them live at the MN State Fair - so amazing!!).

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? neither - just stressed out of my mind!!! Packing next month and then the BIG move in February. Haha, happier. There, I said it.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Playing with my son more, reading, spending more time with God through prayer.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? complaining about how hard being a parent is.

20. How did you spend Christmas? We spent the morning and early afternoon here at our place and then the remainder of the day over at Peter's family's house.

21. How will you spend New Years? Possibly out with some girlfriends (depending on the weather) or spending the evening with my boys, eating Pho and watching a movie.

22. What was your favorite TV program? I can't just pick one!! Modern Family, Parenthood and Dexter were three of our favorites this year. I had some guilty pleasures too. You'll just have to ask me about those. ;)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Nope, I pretty much still hate the same people I hated last year. Haha, just kidding. I don't hate.

24. What was the best book you read? The Kite Runner was a pretty fantastic read. I also enjoyed the AD Chronicles; Jesus came alive to me in a new and fresh way.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Pomplamoose, Mumford and Sons and Trampled by Turtles...just to name a few.

26. What did you want and got? A smart phone.

27. What was your favorite film of this year? Inception and Tron Legacy were pretty good...nothing AMAZING though - at least nothing that is coming to mind.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Peter and I spent the morning and afternoon together. We went out for breakfast, IKEA and the Mall of America. We were going to go out fro dinner, but a snowstorm kept us safe and snug at home. We watched The Holiday instead. I turned 27.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Seeing more of my family and friends. Traveling more.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Daring. More dangly necklaces, strapless tops/dresses, skinny jeans, leggings, shorter skirts, boots...

31. What kept you sane? My girlfriends. Also, my husband...he always has a way of making me laugh.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ummm...Kim Kardashian? What can I say, I love her makeup and clothes. :)

33. What political issue stirred you the most? I don't really follow politics as much as I should. I remember following the tax credit for new home owners pretty closely when we were still in the running for it. Does that count?

34. Who did you miss? My family and my long distant friends. I can't just pick one.

35. Who was the best new person you met? Penny. She's such a dear little girl. She's made me want a little girl of my own and has made me think that I could indeed have another child. I love you, little niece-of-mine! :)

36. Tell us some valuable life lessons you learned in 2010: Time flies. My son is almost two and a half!! I'm learning to live in the present, not the past or the future. It's so easy to look back and remember the single (non-child) years and wish for the freedom of not having to schedule everything around a kid. It's also easy to think of the future and think that all of life's problems will be solved once your child is potty trained or once you're out of an apartment and into a house...blah, blah, blah! Living each day as if it's your last and enjoying and savoring Jesus for who HE is, is probably the healthiest way to live. Also, God knows best. When He takes something away, it's usually because He has something much better in store for you. Hard lesson to learn, but worth it in the end.

Happy New Year!!