2008 re-cap

{year in review}

I did this last year & have decided to do it again @ the end of each year. I am doing it mainly for myself :). I decided to add photos @ the last minute so i will add more when I have time...kind of fun! Let me know if you join in.

1.What did you do in 2008 that you have never done before?
I was able to attend CHA(Craft, Hobby Association) in Chicago. I had never been to CHA or Chicago.

They were both AWESOME. CHA was a total scrapbook high. Tons of eye candy for any scrapbooker...so many yummy papers, embellishments, & ideas. I loved every minute of it. I got to see the sights in Chicago too! Margie was a great tour guide! I loved Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, & just being in the Windy City itself.

I ate a Chicago dog & had a slice or two of a Chicago deep dish pizza for the first time too!

2. Did you keep your 2008 New Year's resolutions and will you make more for 2009?
I always make resolutions at the start of each new year. Do i keep them...not really. I'm being honest. I did lose some of that baby weight from last year. It was on my list, as it is again for this year. We had FHE last night & we all talked about & contributed goals that we want to achieve as a family in 2009. We also wrote down our own personal ones. I am taping mine to the bathroom mirror so I can really work on achieving them this year. There are a few things I NEED to accomplish.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2008?
No new babies in my immediate family but lots of friends & extended family welcomed new little additions to their families-YAY!


4. Did anyone close to you die in 2008?
We were fortunate enough to make in through another year (knock on wood)with out loosing anyone super close to us! We are so very grateful for the good health that everyone enjoyed in 2008.

President Hinckley, the 15th prophet of our church died in late January 2008. He was 97 years old. Even though he was elderly, it is still hard to imagine him gone. He was ONE incredible man.


5. What countries did you visit this year?
None. We (as a family)didn't even travel outside of California. It is hard to get away with the boys in school & family who can’t help out in that way due to health or distance. Maybe when we are empty Nester's ( I sure hope it is sooner than that).

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More date nights with John! We are working on this. I am hoping for @ least once a month. (This is last years response...still the same for this year:). Hopefully we'll try harder.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4, 2008, election day.

The man whom I voted for, as the next United States President did not win but I remember sitting in front of the TV with Tanner & Carter & crying tears of joy. The first African American had just been nominated as the next President of the United Sates. Both, John McCain & Obama gave wonderful, & what I felt were sincere loser/winner speeches that night. I felt like there was really a new hope for America & change that we desperately need. What a historic event we were able to witness. I will never forgot the way I felt that night...so very proud to be an American. So very grateful for the chance to vote & let my voice be heard.


8. What was your biggest achievement this year?
I can’t think of anything HUGE. I did mange to loose 25 lbs. on my very own. Not too shabby. Another achievement could be the fact that I managed to get my kids dressed, fed & delivered to school on time, every day this year. With four boys & myself to get ready before 8:30 each morning, I did well.

9. What was your biggest struggle this year?
I had two.
Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE this little boy so much. Keeping/chasing Mr. Brody off the counters was my biggest struggle this year. He was into EVERYTHING & by that, I do I MEAN everything! Not only did he scale my counters,

he crawled up on our kitchen table, danced on the coffee tables, emptied our kitchen drawers over & over again(he would lick the silverware as he emptied from the drawers), emptied John & I's clothes drawers daily, many rolls of toilet paper graced our toilets,

& he also learned to crawl out of his crib. It has been quite a year with this boy as he became mobile in early Feb.. Hopefully things will calm down in this area of our lives in 2009.

The 2nd struggle this year came when I received an email from one of my best friends, husband. This friend & I have been friends since 5th grade. It was an email letting us know that their baby boy had died in his sleep. I literally felt like my heart was torn out of my chest. I can't even begin to imagine the heartbreak they feel. I struggled & still do with not knowing what I could/can do living hundreds of miles away from her. She & her family are constantly in my thoughts & prayers. No Mommy should ever have to experience the loss of a child.

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury in 2008?
I had my first root canal. The root canal was a breeze...good Dr. & pain meds. It was the pain of the tooth for a month before that nearly sent me over the edge-OWWWWW! My former dentist was a nightmare, hence the LONG month to figure out what was wrong.

I also came down with the flu on the boys last day of school. Knocked me out for a good 4 days, it was awful. I missed a fun pool party/bbq! I am hoping to steer clear of that this year.

11. What was the best thing you bought this year?
Hands down it is the new lap top John bought for me.

It has made my life so much easier in the short two weeks that I have owned it. I can accomplish a lot more during my computer time.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Garrett gets this one again this year. His speech has improved so much. With the help of some wonderful teachers, Ms. Lori & Ms. Erin, we can understand this boy. He sure has come a long way & with fingers crossed, he will be totally ready for kindergarten next Fall.

Tanner has had some celebrations too. This is the first year where he has received letter grades. He got straight A's on his report card & made the honor roll with a 4.0. Way to GO Tanner!

Tanner also made the select soccer team this year. He has wanted this for so long. He didn't make it last year due to the fact that he had to miss some of the tryouts because he was sick with the flu. He even went to some tryouts with the flu against our better judgement. He made the team this year & was on cloud 9. It was a great season & a whole different game.


Carter also had an amazing report card as far as grades are concerned. As for the behavior areas on the report card, his teacher said that almost everyone gets the satisfactory(S) mark. Carter got all O's for OUTSTANDING. She says she rarely gives them out. I was so proud. Both Tanner & Carter also received 100 percent awards for their attendance this year. We offered to pull them out of school to go ice skating in early December. They both said "No thank you. We don't want to miss school"! Who are these boys? Really?


13. Whose behavior disappointed you?
A few of the individuals who voted NO on Prop 8. I totally support the idea that they have their right to vote & believe how they choose.

That is why I LOVE living in America. I also believe that EVERYONE is entitled to respect, no matter how you voted. It was very disappointing to see some of our church buildings & Temples get damaged. Individuals decided that it was okay too spray paint(with red paint)some of our buildings & the surrounding property. We even had a few friends who experienced vandalism to their homes & cars after their YES on Prop 8 signs & bumper stickers went up. Made me sad & mad @ the same time.


14. Where did most of your money go?
I would have to say Wal*Mart & Old Navy. WM is still my one stop shopping(milk, diapers, photo developing, groceries, shampoo, etc...). I feel like I was at Old Navy @ least once a week this year buying new clothes for my boys. They are growing like weeds & everything seems like it is always too small. We won't mention the never ending holes in the knees of the brand new jeans.

15. What did you get really really excited about this year?
This is a hard one. I had many things to get excited about this year.
1. Scrapbook weekend @ the beach.
2. Girls weekend in Tahoe, so much fun!

3. I got the see Chicago for the first time & attend CHA for the first time-AWESOME!
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4. Having my family in one place again, lots of tears of JOY.

5. My new lap top.
6. Garrett attending one speech class a week instead of 3 a week.
7. Throwing John's 40th b-day party. Good Times!

8. Several family trips to Lake Tahoe




9. Brody's first birthday



16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I fell in love with a million new songs this year. I LOVE music. A few of my favorites in 2008 were:
Katie Herzig: I will follow, Weightless, Fools Gold
Leona Lewis
Jason Mraz
One Republic
Maroon 5 - not new for me, just rediscovered them & my love for them!
Natasha Beddingfield is the 2008 album that was played over & over, again & again in the car & on my ipod.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, much nicer or richer?
Not richer…probably poorer with all of these boys & their never ending sport seasons & bottomless stomachs to feed- HA! I can't pin point where it came from but my stress level was high this year. Again, not sure why, but it was. I am going to breath in & out this year & often. I will remind myself to SLOW down in 2009.

18. What do you wish you had done more of?
I wish I had more hours in a day. I feel like I accomplish a lot on a daily basis but boy would my "to do" lists be totally checked off every day if I just had a few more hours in each day. Some more sleep would be nice too!

19. What do you wish you had done less of?
chasing Brody off the counter, table, & out of our drawers-see #9

20. Did you fall in love this year?
Yes,with the Twilight series. I had read the first two books the previous year(2007) but boy do I love the series more now! After seeing the movie, I have been re-reading them.

Not for the first time, but over & over again with my family. I have a great deal of LOVE for each one of them. They are my greatest joys/treasure.



21. What was your favorite TV Program in 2008?
Didn't fall in love with any new shows this year. I rarely watch TV.
I am still a BIG Grey’s Anatomy fan. Loved Biggest Loser & The Bachelor(Iknow,I know-I don't want to hear it).

22. What was the best book you read this year?
Don't know if it was the best, but I loved Breaking Dawn. I was happy to have a new book in the series to read. I even went to the Midnight Book launch @ B&N with my friend, Eve. We were amongst the teeny boppers :). It was a fun night.

I also really liked the Friday Night Knitting Club & Ellen Foster.

23. What was your greatest musical discovery this past year?
Again, I fell in love with a TON of new music this year...but I became a fan of Katie Herzig. Her music was totally new to me & I LOVE it. It is calm & easy to listen too!
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I LOVE the Twilight soundtrack too. My whole family does. It is one of our favorites in the car!

24. What did you want and get this year?
Happy,healthy boys!

25. What was the best movie you saw this year?
I honestly did not see very many movies this year. I did enjoy Twilight.I didn't expect too much before going to see it & I ended up really liking it. So much so that I paid to see it twice. I also saw the Secret Life of Bees on my birthday with my Mom & sisters. I thought they did a great job casting this movie & kept it true to the book. BTW- I loved the book.

26. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
I turned 34 in 2008. Man, I'm getting old. I had an awesome day. Mom, Amber,& Sommer arrived on my front porch @ 10 am.

We enjoyed a day of shopping, lunch @ Costa Vida, & went to the movies. We saw the Secret Life of Bees, a total chick flick. They really made my day. I loved having them here. John & the boys took me too dinner & had a cake waiting for me @ home.

I received so many wonderful phone calls, emails, text messages, & thoughtful gifts. My hubby even left me a surprise post on my blog. I felt totally loved & spoiled.

27. What would have made your your year more satisfying?
This was last years response & it still applies. I failed at it again this year.
I say this every year & will say it again…I want to be ready for Christmas by Dec. 1st. That means Christmas cards will be made/purchased, The shopping will be complete, the Grandma calendars will be done, the house (inside & out) will be decked out, & hopefully the ward party will be done by that first weekend so I can REALLY ENJOY my December, or better yet...maybe I won't have to be in charge of that party in 2009. Two years in a row is enough, right?

28. How would you describe your personal fashion statement this year?
I am a simple girl...jeans, t-shirts, hoodies & cute accessories are totally me. Don't forget the cute pair of polka dot ballet flats on occasion & I am good to go.

29. What kept you sane this year?
My Scrapbook weekend @ the beach, scrapbook nights @ Green Tangerines with good friends, Girls weekend in Lake Tahoe & daily phone calls to my sister, Amber. She has three boys of her own, need I say more?

30. What celebrity did you fancy the most?
Kind of infatuated with the Twilight Characters. I was anxiously awaiting to see who they'd cast for each role.

31. Who did you miss this past year?
I have missed my family a lot this year. Due to certain circumstances & distance, we don’t get to see each other as often as we would like. I miss that my boys don’t live close to their cousins. My cousins were/are some of my very best friends. I wish they could see their cousins more often.

33. Who were the best new people you met this year?
Not neccesarly new, but the friends that I have been able to reconnect with via Face Book. It has been so much fun catching up with long lost friends.

{photo taken during the summer of 1994}.
Amazing what the web can do!

One of my favorite new friends this year is Margie.
I was able to meet her in Chicago. She is Paula's (one of my GT bosses)niece. She was so great about hauling us around Chicago & showing us the sights & Hot Spots. We have kept in touch via email, our blogs, & Face Book. She has two darling boys & well...you know, I click with anyone who has cute boys :). Love ya Margie!


Another wonderful friend, she is not technically "New" this year but I sure have gotten to know her better in 2008. She is Brandigirl.

I work with Brandi @ Green Tangerines. She is my counterpart, the full time partner in crime. This girl works her tail off. She is fun, happy, creative, kind, & so full of life & color. I sure hope she knows how much I appreicate her. It has been so much fun getting to know her better this year. I am so glad I can call her my friend. love you Brandigirl.

One more friend that I have gotten to know a little better this year is Free. Again, she is not a "new 2008 friend" but one I have been really able to re-connect with via emails/my blog. Free is super talented & one in a million. I know things haven't been easy for her for many years but she is amazing & I am amazed at all she accomplishes. Our family sure does enjoy her hand made cards that she sends us during the holidays. Love you Free. Thanks for being my friend.

I am grateful for all of my friends. So thankful for your examples & kindness.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year:

I have learned that my family/friends are truly my greatest blessings/joys/gifts/treasures! At the end of the day, that is all that truly matters.
I am grateful for those who continually love & support me.

Whew...that was alot for one post. It was fun to re-read my answers from last year. It is a great way to record my year, in one spot. Give it a try...you'll be happy to have it recorded. Something to look back on & see where I have improved & where I still need help! I hope each & every one of you have a Happy, Healthy, & Safe New Year. May 2009 bring you LOVE, HAPPINESS, & great JOY!