Here's what I thought...

Year in Review Challenge

Here are the assignments:

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?
We had a few great ones which is pretty unusual since we don't get to travel too often. Just the fact that we went somewhere makes me happy since traveling is one of my favorite things. I loved going to Texas for Christmas last year, I loved showing Miles Disneyland and the ocean in early 2009, I loved going to Sea World and Lego Land in spring to see my brother Scott, I had a weekend away to California with my parents and enjoyed the time with them, we took a trip to UT in the summer for a reunion and didn't want to come home...I think that's it. I think they all were great in their own ways. I have a hard time comparing travel spots since the act of traveling is what I enjoy, not the destination.

December 2 Restaurant moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?
Going to Olive Garden with the family and having an old lady come up after our meal and comment on how well behaved our kids were. I was pleased since we do make an effort to have them learn manners in public restaurants. Olive Garden to us is the fanciest, best food we go to as a family. Yummy!

December 3 Article. What's an article that you read that blew you away? That you shared with all your friends. That you Delicious'd and reference throughout the year.
I loved the first talk in General Conference this past October about spiritual guidance. It said to always follow your first promptings, before receiving more. I tend to mull things over too long instead of acting. Recently we were told at Stake Conference to 'act on every worthy thought." The idea of it has been circling around in my mind and I'm trying "act" on my promptings more in a straightaway fashion.

December 4 Book. What book - fiction or non - touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?
Well I joined a book club which makes me feel well read or at least better read in adult books. I am usually a childrens lit fanatic. Honestly, no book stands out as one I loved above the other.

December 5 Night out. Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one that rocked your world? Who was there? What was the highlight of the night?
Rocked my world? Who writes these things? Well, I did go see Lion King on a girls night this year with my sister, mom, and grandma which I thought was very fun. We ate chinese first, then went. I'd seen it before but it was fun to see my Grandma T's reaction.

December 6 Workshop or conference. Was there a conference or workshop you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?
I've been going to monthly workshops with the Ocotillo East Valley Reading Council and liked a lot of the presentations so far. They are a division of the Arizona Reading Association. I really paid attention to the one about chess in the classroom since Doug has wanted me to play for years and it seemed too hard for my brain. I was really catching on by the end of the workshop.

December 7 Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can't believe you didn't know about until this year.
I just started this blog thing this year and loved to explore my friends', and their friends', and their friends'. I wish more of my relatives would have one so I can glimpse into their lives from a far.

December 8 Moment of peace. An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there?
My moment of peace happens on nights I don't work, the kids are in bed and I can take a bubble bath. President Hinckley once said that he liked to ponder the mysteries of life while soaking in a tub and so do I.

December 9 Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?
The biggest challenge for me was my fourth pregnancy. WIth Louis, I was sicker, tired-er, intense nesting, and frequent anxiety attacks-all of which I'd never really had before. The labor and delivery was longer and harder than the others and I was back to work in a week. But...he is the sweetest and most perfect baby I've ever seen and so I forget about all that and feel grateful to be his mama.

December 10 Album of the year. What's rocking your world?
Seriously...what is with all this rocking your world business? As for an album, I liked the latest Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum ones.

December 11 The best place. A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook?
My best place is my home. I call it my heaven on earth. I just wish we had a little more wiggle room.

December 12 New food.

I've been trying all sorts of southern cooking recipes to treat my Texas man to some home cooking. I've almost sucdeeded a few times but mostly made good attempts.

December 13 What's the best change you made to the place you live?
We added a hot tub that is not being used yet but I can't wait till we do!

December 14 Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year?
Seeing Louis for the first time after 12 hours of labor.

December 15 Best packaging. Did your headphones come in a sweet case? See a bottle of tea in another country that stood off the shelves?
My mother in law does the best wrapping. Everyone always gets their own style of paper in a topic they like. We usually wrap things in towels or blankets around here.

December 16 Tea of the year. I can taste my favorite tea right now. What's yours?
I don't drink tea of any sort.

December 17 Word or phrase. A word that encapsulates your year. "2009 was _____."
Doug's year.

December 18 Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?
Offline. I think most of my money is spent at Walmart on the necessities of life.

December 19 Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with?
Through the mountains to Utah. I love the passes with the meadows here and there, pine trees, snow on the mountain tops, cool air with windows down and green, green, green, green.

December 20 New person. She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service. Who is your unsung hero of 2009?
My unsung hero has been Doug. I've been hard to live with and not as patient as I could be some of the time. He is always positive with me. I can honestly say he has only said kind words to me in the eleven years we've been married.

December 21 Project. What did you start this year that you're proud of?
I liked a collage I did for the family with all our new additions. The latest one didn't even have Miles on there. I also liked a photo panaramic collage I did for my mom and grandma of her farm.

December 22 Startup. What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up? What makes it special?
I have no idea. I haven't come across anything that was wonderful in business this year. Hmm... I'm stumped on this one.

December 23 Web tool. It came into your work flow this year and now you couldn't live without it. It has simplified or improved your online experience.
A wireless laptop. How have I lived without one for so long!

December 24 Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?
That I enjoyed doing a 5K. I want to do many many more. It was fun and a challenge!

December 25 Gift. What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?
Cookware so I can continue to try new meals with the family.

December 26 Insight or aha! moment. What was your epiphany of the year?
My insight sounds kind of dumb but I noticed after watching Enchanted that men do like girls who are feminine: wear dresses, look nice, fix their hair, etc. Not that I don't do those things but I could probably look nicer when I am at home with the kids and show off my femininity more for my husband like nails, hair, dresses, etc.

December 27 Social web moment. Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? Did you discover Twitter?
I have been connecting with family and friends through facebook and hope to find more lost relatives that way.

December 28 Stationery. When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What was your stationery find of the year?
My heart doesn't melt because of paper. But I did like the letters Carter writes to our family. They are like little treasures.

December 29 Laugh. What was your biggest belly laugh of the year?
hmm.. not sure. I laugh a lot at what Haleigh and Carter say. They are very funny.

December 30 Ad. What advertisement made you think this year?
I really hate the anti drug ads. Every time I see one I get angry that they are using scare tactics and violent imagery to influence a young audience to not use drugs. I especially get mad when they are playing in afterschool hours or during prime time when children are known to watch TV. I don't want my small children seeing someone blacking out and then yelling at someone in a high-like state. I'm getting mad just thinking about it.

December 31 Resolution you wish you'd stuck with. (You know, there's always next year...)

Lose weight, say no more.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE DOING THIS ON YOUR BLOG AND I"LL LOOK IT UP. TRY IT. IT'S FUN AND DOESN't TAKE AS LONG AS YOU THINK IT WILL.