2016 Year in Review

Oh yes, it is that time of year again!  When I actually pay attention to my poor, neglected blog and go over the last year in Q&A format.  So, what did I do this year?

I think I will post a month by month rundown of my year with the highs and lows in an upcoming post.

01. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?

Sky Cycle, Achievement Unlocked!  Seriously, this thing kept going viral, and we went right by the park where it was at so decided to check it out.  It is seriously overhyped.

 02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Always makes some, always revisit them the next year to see how I did.  View Upcoming Post on my success (or lack thereof)

 03. Did anyone close to you give birth?

I had a couple of friends give birth, and my sister in law.  

 04. Did anyone close to you die?

I will feel really foolish if I say no and I forgot about somebody, but no.  

 05. What countries did you visit?

Japan and the USA.  Mostly Japan.  

 6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

Energy.  And a functioning back.  Actually the first part of 2016 was fine, it was the latter part where I felt like an old lady.  

 07. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Funny how no dates just jump out at me from this year, though time periods do.  I guess November 8th, because of the election, which seems to be a big thing for this year.  

 08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting out and exploring.  Prior to September, we did a LOT.  Very full and fun year for our little family.  

 09. What was your biggest failure?

Not staying active through the latter part of the year.  Seriously people, if you get pregnant, stay active.  If you weren't active before, try to at least go out for a walk regularly or something, but just stay active!  I kind of hit a lull midway through the second trimester, we focused on potty training Ashlyn and weaning Corbin so didn't do a whole lot.  I paid a price for it.  

 10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I'm currently in the midst of a 9 month injury, haha!

 11. What was the best thing you bought?

Memories.  Lots of Memories.  

 12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Our tenant, when we finally kicked him out of the house.  There was a bit of Schadenfreude there, I apologize, but he was a serious pain in the butt.  It was more of a "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" kind of thing.  But I don't think that's what this was asking.  Meanwhile, I'm not sure how to answer this question normally.  

 13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
 
Gosh, I think the entirity of the USA.  I get it, since I'm not a fan of our current President Elect, but how some people have acted in response has made me shake my head.  I'm not looking forward to returning back to the States in regards to politics.  Things are very touchy in regards to anything related to the presidential election, which I was never a fan of regardless of which direction it went.  

 14. Where did most of your money go?

A motorhome.  We had a few maintenance issues come up with it.  Also, a car died, one that we were expecting to get some money out of when we left here, but it went kaput, end of story, no use coming back from the dead.  We had to junk it and any investment into it, then turn around and buy a car to replace it that we believe we will most likely have to junk when we leave.  That was a big ouch that we weren't planning on.  We also went on a few roadtrips, but those were worth it.  

 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The Roadtrips we took, we had a lot of plans and it was just a really fun year for that.  

 16. What songs will always remind you of 2016?
  
I guess Mariah Carey's ultimate fail of a New Year's Eve party will be a big part of that (even though it was already 2017 when I got the word, hehe, I didn't see it myself but it was EVERYWHERE!).  But I don't really listen to music all that much and I think I am showing my age.  

 17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

Considering how strong of a note we ended 2015 on, 

 ii. Thinner or fatter?

I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant, and baby is measuring big and I am carrying some excess fluids.  So I feel like a whale.  

iii. Richer or poorer?

I think we are at a wash in that regard.  We are fine financially, thank goodness, because otherwise losing that car would have been a lot more painful then it already was.  

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Worked on our Japanese.  We've been here for two and a half years, my Japanese is actually quite mediocre considering.  And it doesn't look like we will be working to get it any better.  

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Surfed Facebook, or my phone in general.  Serious time suck.  

 20. How did you spend Christmas?

It was a quiet day with the family.  We opened presents, meant to go to Church but that kind of got away from us, then we went out to eat at the D-Fac so I didn't have to cook.  Came home after that and played with all of our new stuff.  

 22. Did you fall in love in 2016?

Well, I'm already in love with my husband, and I love my kids.  I guess I fell in Love with Zion's National Park, heck National Parks in general.  When we get back stateside, Gus and I are ditching the kids and taking a little trip together.  We have to.  

23. Favorite Month 0f 2016

This is a tough one, there was a lot of good things about 2016.  April was awesome.  So was June.  So was July.  Heck, August, whatever.  They had a lot of great memories.  September left something to be desired, but it was not without its perks, and it was a necessary break from the go-go-go of the earlier part of the year. Anyway, as a whole, 2016 wasn't a bad year for us, not at all.  

 24. What were your favorite TV programs?

Do kid shows count?  I have seen a fair few, but my mom-brain seems to have forgotten most of it.  

 25. Did you have a falling out with anyone that remains unresolved?

With this year, I would say no.  I try not to hold grudges anyway, it affects me more than the person I'm holding a grudge against.  I try to keep peace between my various family members and friends anyway, I'm not really the type to try to stir things up, mostly.  At least I try not to.  More often than not, I just lose touch with people, it wasn't a really falling out, its more about going our separate directions.   

 26. What was the best book you read?
 
I am not a huge book reader by any means, but toward the end of the year, some friends in church started up a book club again and I have been trying to stay apart of that.  Anyway, the first book we read, A Long Walk To Water, was fantastic.  

 27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
 
Music?  What is this culturally enriching thing you speak of?  Seriously, I don't listen to much music.

 28. What did you want and get?

A series of memories of different adventures in various parts of Japan.  

 29. What did you want and not get?

A trip to Nagasaki.  We broke down on the way there. 

 30. What was your favorite film of this year?

I would have to say Rogue One.  And I say that having not seen much of any movies in the theater, so my movie viewing has been limited.  I also liked Finding Dory.  

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

We celebrated number 36 on a Tuesday.  I think I had an appointment earlier in the day.  I didn't want to cook dinner, so we ate out at a little Chinese place called Karinba.  I got something a little slimier than I meant to.  Gus got me a cake that was actually a hodgepodge of cakes.  My visiting teacher brought me a Chocolate Bundt Cake, we were covered in the cake department.  I didn't really ask for anything in particular, but Gus got me some chocolate covered Hawaiian Macadamian nuts.  They were tasty.  I gorged.  

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

Not having the breakdowns we did, and probably not losing our car.  That was the biggest down turn.  Also, if by some incredible luck somebody other than Hillary or Trump won the election.  

 33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?

Oversized T-shirts and Lounge pants towards the end.  Before that, Jeans and a T-shirt.  I am not fashion conscience, and I don't pretend to be.  I dress for comfort.  However, my oldest daughter is turning into a bit of a clothes horse, and it cracks me up.  She always has to have a dress or a skirt on, and she hates jeans.  She loves leggings, though she wears holes in the knees before I get the opportunity to replace them.  

 34. What kept you sane?

My little family has kept me sane, while at the same time, being the source of my bursts of insanity from time to time.  Gotta love being a mom.  Overall, I think I have kept a fairly level head.  Gus might suggest otherwise.    

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?

*scratches head*  I'm clueless.  I don't know why I bother with this question.  Who cares?  I'm not 19 anymore, I could care less about celebrity figures.  Public Figures too for that matter.  I really tried to get behind Gary Johnson, but he sort of derailed somewhere halfway through the year and though I still cast my vote for the guy, I was kind of relieved that he had zero chance of winning the election and it was more about casting my vote for the party he represented (though I'm not 100% libertarian by any stretch of the imagination)

 36. What political issue stirred you the most?
  
It was 2016.  The absolute worse election year in the history of my life.  We had two crap candidates at the head of the major tickets and I just wanted to ignore the whole thing.  I am remaining cautiously optimistic with Trump and just waiting to see what kind of President he will be, as getting upset doesn't change anything and I don't have the energy to get upset over it.  So yeah, that whole thing.  

 37. Who/what did you miss?
 
When I went back stateside for 7 weeks, I really missed Gus.  Coming back to Japan, I miss my family back stateside.  Apparently, we also missed the rhythm method with our fertility window and wound up pregnant with a little "Oops" baby.  So that one will be joining our family in 2017.  This is the final munchkin, I swear.  We are done with kids after this, as we are no spring chickens, and I have discovered that I miss my youth.  

 38. Who was the best new person you met?

I have met a lot of fantastic people over the year, one of the things about living on a Military Instillation, people come and go constantly.  We had an influx of new friends over this summer and it is hard to just pin one person down that leaves an impact.  Sadly, we see a lot of friends go as well.  
 
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.

Sometimes, you just have to roll with it.  Life happens, things can take a turn for the worse, you have to assess what you can do in such a situation and sometimes there isn't anything you can do.  

 40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Seeing how I am not musically inclined, I never know how to answer this question.  Google doesn't seem to be wanting to help me in this regard.  I guess I'll go back to the 1990's and say "All I want to do is have some fun" by Sheryl Crow and leave it at that.  

New Year's Resolutions 2015/2016 Edition

Every year without fail, I post my goals for the prior year, how I did, and then what I am looking forward to the next year.  I may not post anything else all year, but I post this.  How'd I do?

1. Natural Childbirth - Done and done.  In a hospital, minimal interventions, I was satisfied with the experience.  Seriously, I can do labor no problem.  I don't like the 9 months working up to it.

2. Organize my Life/ Set up guest room - We'll give this an amber.  I don't think my life will ever truly be organized, but we did have a functioning guestroom for the summer.

 3. One big trip Once a Quarter - Another part way.  We made it to Tokyo and the trip there and back was quite the adventure.  Tokyo itself however...well, lessons learned.  It was the only big trip we did this year, but it was enough.
 3.1.  Mini trips once a month in summer-  Kawarage, Tsugaru and Star Wars with Rice Art and Nebuta, we had at least one trip a month this summer.  And don't forget Tokyo!
 3.2.  Major Festivals Year Round - Hirosaki Snow Lanterns, Misawa Tanabata, Aomori Nebuta, and a couple other little ones.  I might not have seen the really big ones that I wanted to, but I'll call this one a success.

4. Run -  This one is far more red than green.  Well, I did run, somewhat.  But with very little consistency.  Seriously, that third kid.  Love him though.
4.1 Base Races -  Big fat fail.  I didn't do one.
 5. Live the Title Soccer Mom - For the first half of the year, I did.  Second half, forget it.  Talk about exhausting.  Kaia is doing Preschool though.

6. Potty Training - Halfway there.  Kaia is trained.  Ashlyn is not.  She is ready though, I just have to commit to it. 

7. Preparedness -  I should give myself a little credit. It isn't as bad as it could be.  This is important enough to make it a repeat resolution though. Well, we do have a motorhome now...

8. DA Photo / Military Biography - Who am I kidding?  I'm not doing squat with anything to do with my military career while I am over here.  Still, I would like to update my DA photo.

9. Hire a Mamasan -  Done, they are life savers, and it is nice to have a clean house every two weeks, even if it lasts a couple of hours.
 9.1. Keep the house between Mamasan visits - Haha!  This should just be rephrased to handling kiddos better.  That is a goal for 2016.

10. Prepare to Go to the Temple - I am actually making good strides here.  I shall continue to head in that direction.  Maybe 2016 will be my year?

So, what are the goals for 2016?  We'll start with the repeats.

1. Potty training - Ashlyn is on deck, and she is really close.  I'll call it a success if I can get her trained before her third birthday.  I don't want to push her too much though, that stresses both of us out, but this would be awesome.

2. Preparedness - That means getting our paperwork straight in the event of an emergency and we have to be shipped out of here.  Also, 72 hour kits, and water.  I would like to think we have two weeks worth of food.  Its difficult to stock more than that.

3. Travel, Travel, Travel - We have a motorhome and we aren't afraid to use it!  This does involve planning out trips though.  We got a couple planned for down south, plus those long weekends to take advantage of.  We are learning through trial and error.  Yes, this is in line with #3 above.
3.1. All Japan Fireworks Festival - This year.  We will do it
3.2. Sapparo - Maybe, and likely via Ferry.  In conjunction with temple open house would be awesome.  Otherwise, Snow Festival.
3.3.  Tokyo - Tentative date of June.  We have family visiting, also possibly friends. 
3.4.  Southern Honshu - Because why not?  That requires a lot of preplanning though.

4. Temple - This year, I hope to make this happen.  If not, at least continue in that direction so it can happen next year.

5. Birthdays - Without going into too much detail, I want to acknowledge birthdays in ways other than a facebook greeting to siblings and niblings.  I've been planning this for a while, this year, I will make it happen.

6. Limit Political Talk - Nothing brings people closer than talking politics, hah!  Anyone who knows me well knows I'm a bit of a political junkie.  I follow current events closely and I feel like I stay reasonably informed.  Plus, this is an election year.  However, nothing gets me riled up quite like politics, and the desire for the last word.  One simple way to avoid this is to avoid talking politics in the first place.  Well, I can't promise that, it's a presidential election year after all.  So I'm limiting myself to one facebook post a month on politics.  Maybe link those to the blog, maybe.  I'm not going to engage other people on their facebook pages, if people get too political I will probably simply unfollow them.  I do not have the time right now to get riled up.  I have three kids I have to chase.

7. Pass my MSTs - Roller Derby related.  I need to pass my minimal skills test, which requires me to skate more, which requires me to practice, well, you get the idea.  Passing my MSTs forces me to do those other things.  I would like to put a hard date, like maybe this summer or something, but depending on life in general, I might just consider myself lucky if I pass them by year's end.

8. Organize the chaos - my life is chaos, hopefully I can yell less while I'm at it.  This includes getting the kids on a schedule, because when we are on a schedule, everyone is happy.  Sticking to the schedule can be trying. 
8.1 - Limit my phone/facebook/social media time - Maybe give myself a limit a day, because wow, what a time suck.  I can't ditch it entirely though, because that's how people contact me.  And that's how I stay in contact with friends and family back home.  But aimlessly surfing the web, though it is how I keep up to date, can be a time suck too.  Really cut back in that area. 

9. Summer Reading Program - I signed up for it last year, but we didn't do it.  It was just to much for me.  I like the idea though, so I'm going to try to get it done with the girls this year.  And Corbin too.  Might as well.  These kinds of things put me on a schedule, which is a good thing. 

10. Family Pics and Christmas Cards - I got them out last year, I want to try again this year.  And get them out in a timely fashion.  Anyway, its a good excuse for taking family pictures.

11. Get the Creative Juices Flowing - This could be in the way of art, writing, or photography.  I did a month long photo challenge last month and loved it, I need to do those more often, which kind of gets me into sub resolutions.  I really want to just take my camera out with me and get better pictures of what we are seeing and doing. 
11.1 Participate in some kind of monthly challenge every other month - I did one for December, so we'll stick to even numbered months.  This could be a photo a day type thing with a prewritten list, or even some kind of sketch challenge or something.  I can do more than every other month, but I'll try to stick to a minimum of one a month.
11.2. Draw! - Once upon a time, when I was a wee child, I thought myself an artist.  I just need to pick up a sketch pad every once in a while and draw again.  I'm leaving this vague, if I can draw regularly, I'll consider myself a success in this endeavor.
11.3 - Learn a new skill - I don't know what yet, but something crafty, or artsy.  Maybe knitting?
11.4 - Write a Children's Book - I have a couple ideas, I should knock them out while my children are still children.
11.5. Deviantart - Document the above. . .

12. Family Home Evening - This is a Mormon thing.  I want to be consistent with it.  My kids are getting to an age where they would benefit from it too.

13. Child-bearing ultimatum - are we or aren't we done?  This year we shall know for sure.  Because once we are sure we are done, there isn't going to be any more happy little accidents, if you get my meaning.

14. Work out - mostly run, but I'll keep it vague.  Hey, it's new year's!  What resolution list is complete without the desire to get into shape!  Round is a shape. 

So that's enough.  Looks like if I do it, I'm going to be pretty busy.  But I think 2016 is going to be a good year. 

Resolutions, 2013/2014

Wow, I don't need to say it, but life has just sort of taken me completely away from computers so I basically live on my iPhone these days, and very rarely do I blog.  But what's a little New Year's Resolution Post going to hurt?  That's right, nobody.  So here it goes, how did I do this year on my Resolutions?

Hah! 

That's a preview.

 1. Grow a garden - Gus rototilled the garden area out, but I successfully grew a lot of knap weed.

 2. Do at least one meal a week by scratch - This one was really hit and miss.  I could say I did pretty well to be honest, I rocked November.  December, well. . .

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables - Another amber resolution.  I think I did better than last year, but I still had far too many veggies go bad in the veggie drawer.

4. Milk Cow Daily - You know, I really did do pretty good for the month that I had her.  But alas, it was proven that she was not bred back and there was no way I could keep her in milk while I had my own baby.  And now that I have two children under the age of three, it was probably a wise idea that I got rid of the cow.  But in the future, when my children are older, I would love to have another one.

4.1 Milk the Goat -I no longer own goats.  And I never milked them when I had them.

4.2 - Learn to make my own Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, etc - Well, I know how to make butter.  But making stuff from scratch, and from absolute scratch, well, when my kids are not so demanding, maybe I'll get on this one. 

 5. Attend church at least twice a month - Gus doesn't really do church, and I can't force him too.  I knew that when I married him.  I still love him, however I can't do church with two kids (and mostly Kaia) and without him.  I don't get anything out of it other than feeling stressed.  So maybe I need to focus on my own personal enrichment.

6. Do More Art - I once considered myself an artist?

7. Learn a new craft skill - My friend recently taught me the basics of knitting.  It looks like a lot of fun.  I want to continue.  But I fear I have already forgotten what she taught me.  Still, I made an effort in the right direction.

7.1 Make more quilts -  Hah!  Ashlyn is still waiting for her homemade baby blanket from me. 

8. Breastfeed through the new year - I actually completed one?  Wow!  Still breastfeeding my little Bean Sprout.

9. Graduate from College - I will blame this one on the sequester delaying my plans by messing with my tuition assistance.  And then I had a baby and never got back on it. 

10. Exercise more - If by more, I mean more than last year, I failed.  I started exercising, but it really didn't last long.

10.1 Complete one full cycle of P90X - I did about three weeks of T25, I'm thinking of ordering P90X3 but, well, I failed big time. 

11. Read one new book a month - Books?  What are those?

So, how did I do?  Um, awful.  But you know what?  I'm not going to let it get me down.  New Year's Resolutions for this year?  Let me see. . .

1. Stay sane -  No, really, this is a legitimate resolution.  I need to remain with my sanity intact, it is going to be a little crazy this year for me. 

2. Try not to get pregnant until after Ashlyn turns one (if we get pregnant at all) - we're toying with this idea of having a third child, because Gus really wants a boy and we have two girls (who we absolutely love)  but I'll be honest.  Kids are work!  It also impacts your body and wears you out.  So, if we do end up having number three in the near future (they have to come before I turn 35 or we aren't having them at all, that's my rule) I need to at least give myself a bit of a break before we start with the whole bun in the oven thing.  So I want to wait until Ashlyn is at least a year.  Preferably I would like the next kid to make it until after Ashlyn turns two, but we'll see where we are at.

3. Learn How to Make Sushi - I got a sushi making kit for Christmas.  I love me some Sushi, so it would make sense if I learned how to actually make it myself. 

4. Downsize - Working on it now, we are getting rid of a lot of stuff.  And I mean pretty much half of what I own.  This will probably be a green resolution because my hand is being forced into it.  I don't mind.

5. See a Foreign Country - If everything goes well, this should be an auto green also.  We are moving to Japan.

5.1.  Don't get Cancer - Fukushima is not the place to hang out or so I'm told.  Hopefully the fallout doesn't affect myself and my family.  Perhaps we will be stocking up on different holistic remedies?  We shall see.

6. Leadman - I'm doing it this year, nobody is going to stop me!  well, something or someone might, but it's the only race I feel like I really can do, that and Bloomsday.  Hmm, that makes a great secondary resolution.

6.1 Bloomsday! -  That settles it.  I'm running this year!

7. Make our Move a Smooth One - Did I mention already we're moving to Japan?  Yeah, about that.  I get to be an Air Force Spouse!   Maybe I need some Japanese Resolutions?

8.  Learn how to read Japanese -  Yeah, that might be a resolution we'll be working on for the next four or so years. . . along with speaking it too.  And not just Sayanara and Kannichiwa. 

9.  Show Greater Patience with my Resident Two Year Old - I'm a mother of a two year old, who seems to have entered the terrible twos about eight months early, only to really demonstrate what the terrible twos are all about when she actually turned two.  I love her to death, but I feel like a perpetual stress case.  I need to work on being more relaxed and patient with her.  And sometimes, I just need to learn how to let things roll off my back. 

10 - exercise more -  Yes, that one is a gimme.  What's a new year's resolution list without the dreaded 'e' word showing its face somewhere?  That, and if I do get pregnant this year, I want to be in decent shape. 

So there you have it.  That's my list.  I'll see you next year.

2013 Year In Review

I skipped this annual tradition last year.  I still have it saved in my drafts, unfinished, because it got pushed to the side like so many things have in my life. 

 01. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?

 Became mother to a two year old.  That is something in and off itself.  I also did a couple trail rides competitively that I hadn't done before.

02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

 I always make them, don't always keep them.  This year I did pretty horrid.

03. Did anyone close to you give birth?

 Well, now that you mention it.  The one and only blog post this year that wasn't centered around new year's was my daughter's birth story.   I also had quite a few cousins give birth. 

04. Did anyone close to you die?

 Tim, my barn cat.  This hit me hard, mainly because it was my fault.  I accidentally ran him over and it made me sick to my stomach. 

05. What countries did you visit?

 None.  No new states either. 

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

 Sanity.  And Time. 

07. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 3.  Take a guess.

 08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Delivering a healthy baby girl in under two hours of labor with no drugs.  That was pretty awesome actually. 

 09. What was your biggest failure?

 Not getting my garden in.  Really, it's been kind of a chill year in that regards.  I can't think of any at the moment.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Does childbirth count?  Though I came out of it pretty well.  I also got bucked off a horse and maybe broke my thumb (sucked it up and didn't see a doctor, but it hurt for a few weeks so I'm guessing it was bruised pretty well at least)

 11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Mini-Van

 12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Whenever Kaia goes to the potty on the toilet, or listens to me, and doesn't destroy my house, it merits celebration.  Yay Kaia!

 13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I try not to let other people get to me, so maybe it is time for this question to be rephrased.  Anyway, Kaia got to me several times, being a two year old (throwing phone into the toilet, smearing poop all over the house, doing a lot of questionable crap with said poop), and in subsequent actions, I get mad and frustrated with myself. 

 14. Where did most of your money go?

To kids and various 'projects'.

 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

 Gus getting orders out of here. 

16. What songs will always remind you of 2013?

 Wrecking Ball is a guilty pleasure. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

 Oh gosh, I think I'm more stressed now.  Just where things are.

ii. Thinner or fatter?

 Thinner, only because I'm not four months pregnant.

iii. Richer or poorer?

 I'd say it's a draw. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Ran more, or just did more activities, whether it be races, running, adventures, snowboarding, snowmobiling, things like that.  This was a pretty activity-less year.  Although I did a couple trail rides that were pretty awesome and I wish I had discovered them earlier.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Sat on my ass surfing the net on my iPhone.  The thing eats time.  I told my husband I wanted a basic flip phone with texts when I was ready to upgrade, he talked me into another iPhone and I kick myself.    

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Quietly, at home, with my family.  Very mellow and easy going day.  Christmas Eve was spent at my sister's house playing games and eating dinner. 

 22. Did you fall in love in 2013?

Yes, I have a second child now.  No matter how much they stress you out, you can't help but love them

23. Favorite Month 0f 2013

New Question for this year.  I'll say May.  Because new baby and all, and it had some fantastic weather.  Though I must admit, Spokane really rocked October.  Perfect Fall weather.  September was a pretty great month as well.

 24. What were your favourite TV programs?

  I started getting into Breaking Bad, didn't finish it.  Phineas and Ferb is hilarious. 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I try not to hate on people.  Really, juvenile question.  Next year it will be rephrased to say something like, Did you have a falling out with anyone that left a particularly bad taste in your mouth?  To which I will reply for this year, hmm, not really.  (I think most of the questions on this little year in review were written by a teenager at the time I found them)

 26. What was the best book you read?

 I didn't really read, but I did a fair bit of writing (its my escape, when I get into a writing mood I have to write my way out of it)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

 What Does The Fox Say?  Ok, so I totally cheated because my brain is mush. . .

28. What did you want and get?

 A sushi making kit.

29. What did you want and not get?

A knitting kit, but it's all good.  I'll get one later. 

 30. What was your favourite film of this year?

 I think I saw a grand total of five films this year.  I don't sit through movies anymore and the movies I do watch are geared toward families, so I'll say Monster's University. 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33.  My husband took me to eat Sushi.  He knows me well. 

 32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having a perfectly content and well-mannered two year old, but you know what?  Honestly I wouldn't trade her for the world, no matter how destructive and rambunctious she is.

 33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
. 
Unkept appearance.

 34. What kept you sane?

 I have a two year old.  I am far from sane at this moment.
 
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?

Dr. Ben Carson is up there, though I disagree with him on Gun Control.  Otherwise, argh, I cant think of any!  I'm caught up in mommy world that public figures don't hold my attention these days

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

 Gun Control and ObamaCare.  I am against them both.

37. Who did you miss?
Maybe this should say 'What'.  What did I miss?  Not one, but two weddings, and subsequently opportunities to catch up with many cousins, friends and family.

 38. Who was the best new person you met?

A little girl named Ashlyn

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

 Life's to short to get to stressed out, because when it is all said and done, it doesn't matter, it's just infuriating at the time you are in the middle of it.  You'll laugh about it later. 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

  Drive me crazy!

Resolutions, 2012/2013 Edition

I'm a little late rolling this one out, but even though my blog is often ignored, I can't break from tradition.  So, I put up resolutions last year, how did I do?

1. Regularly attend church - Ok, I did better this year then years previous, and I was actually doing pretty well at the beginning of the year.  I fizzled out badly toward the middle of the year and then dropped out entirely when I discovered getting up to attend church at 9 was a little harder then I thought it would be.  This year, I don't have to go until 11, so I will likely be shooting for this one again.

2. Get back into shape  - I actually bounced back from having a baby pretty well.  I wanted to get into better shape then I did, and I wanted to be able to continue to work out through a subsequent pregnancy.  Having an infant that is dependent on you can make this task difficult.

2.5 Pass PT test first time out - Passed it, the run by the hair of my teeth, but I passed it. 

3. Run at least 5 races -  I ran two.  Leadman and The Dirty Dash (though the latter wasn't quite a race, more like a fun run where at one point you were forced to just walk in a line)

4. Horse Events - I had plans for this, I ended up doing pattern racing once with Breezy, but getting on the old girl while somebody watched the baby was harder to do then expected.  Would like to do more, but I won't make them a resolution.

5. Meal Planning - I had a couple of months where I successfully did this.  Then Gus changed his schedule to swings and it is harder to meal plan when you are cooking for just yourself. 

6. Breast feed at least 6 months -  Yay!  Smoked this one!  We made it to a year!

7. Agility Training with Scooby -  I no longer own Scooby.  We need a dog that can come indoors, and that requires one that doesn't shed.  I would like to get a dog, but I will wait to get approval from Gus for the next one. 

8. Get a job that coincides with staying home with Baby - .Kind of sort of, but I'll tell you this.  Staying at home with a baby is a full time job!  Plus homesteading, which is what I'm trying to do, also makes it difficult to stay on top of everything.  I have done some stuff with ebay and Craigslist, but it's an on and off kind of thing.  We'll probably continue to do similar stuff this year.  I don't see myself entering the workforce other than Army Reserves once a month. 

9. Get an A in classes while sticking with school -  I did take a couple of breaks, but when I am in class, I do get A's.  I'm not the most reliable student however, and I have been struggling to get my homework in on time.  I used to be able to hold off to the last minute and just wing it out, I have to manage my time better, but hey, I'm still getting As.  If I don't take any breaks, I'll have my degree by June, however i know I will have to delay my last two classes on account of newborn, but that's ok, I should have my degree by the end of the year.

10. Work on baby Number 2 - We're a Go!  She's due in May.

Ok, so I was 3.5 for 10, with 6 partially done resolutions and one flat out not done.  Not bad, not bad.  Could be better. 

So, what does 2013 have in store for me?  Well, only time will tell, but here's an idea of things I want to do...

1. Grow a garden - I had one this year, it was fun and a lot of work, but it wasn't as successful as I would have wanted.  Having free range turkeys didn't help either, especially when they discover your lettuce.  So, we'll be working on another garden this year, and it will be a bigger focus.  Along with fertilizing and all of that jazz. 

2. Do at least one meal a week by scratch - I'm on a goal to get self sufficient, we live on five acres, but with how busy one gets with life, sometimes its easier to just pop a ready made meal in the microwave, as well as those nasty burritos that taste oh so good.  Those ready made meals are not the healthiest things to eat, and baking from scratch is often cheaper and healthier in the long run. 

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables - I guess my list is getting pretty traditional.  The problem with this is it requires you to make multiple trips to the store to get fresh produce.  Getting to the store sometimes can be a challenge.  And i'll be toting around not one, but two little ones.  So this will be a challenge. 

4. Milk Cow Daily - This is going to be one test for the ages.  I have a milk cow.  Can you see a pattern here with my resolutions?  Anyway, I've been milking my cow twice a day since I got her, and using the milk.  So my goal is to get fresh milk for the year.  I've got a lot of people willing to help me in this quest.  She will be going dry for a couple months while she preps for her baby due in May. 

4.1 Milk the Goat - I have a goat, I've had her for almost a year.  I got her as a milking goat, but i never used her as one, so I have to get her prepared to let me milk her.  So I want to get her into milk and use her as one.  Fortunately, when the cow is dry is when I can start milking my goat.  Good times. 

4.2 - Learn to make my own Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, etc - yep, see a pattern?  I'm trying my hand at homesteading.  I might have to get some tools to accomplish this, but with my own milk cow, why not? 

5. Attend church at least twice a month - I'm out once a month just because of Drill Weekends, but I really need to focus on my spiritual needs, and I am more fulfilled when I attend church regularly.  This year, church is two hours later so it should be a little easier.  I also want the munchkins to socialize with kids of like minded values, and I need friends with like minded values too.  I see this as becoming more and more important for myself and my family, so we're going to make an extra effort to attend. 

6. Do More Art - I am neglecting my art, and it is something I really do enjoy, but I never seem to find time for it.  I think if I can find time, I will enjoy this.  We'll settle to once a month, do a painting, or a drawing, something art related.  Maybe get Kaia involved as she gets older. 

7. Learn a new craft skill - I'm thinking knitting or crocheting, something like that.  I finally learned how to use a sewing machine and have made several baby quilts for some family and friends. 

7.1 Make more quilts - This is very enriching to complete a baby quilt.  I have discovered I quite enjoy it.  I made three last year, I know I'm going to make at least one for little Bean, but if I can make several, I can start making it a habit to give them out as gifts.  I love recieving home made gifts, there is something about it, and I think a lot of people appreciate the thought and work put into something handmade. 

8. Breastfeed through the new year - Baby Bean will come in May, I plan on strictly breastfeeding her for the first few months.  The Army might get in the way of my plans, but I hope to continue to breast feed her through her first year.  However, that extends past this resolutions list.

9. Graduate from College - I should complete my Bachelor's degree this year.  I plan to do so, without any breaks I should have my degree completed by this summer, but I know I will be taking at least one. 

10. Exercise more - Generalized, though I should get into specific goals and numbers, as they are easier to judge wether success was reached or not.  Milking a cow does help, but I would really like to work out more even while I'm pregnant.  Right now it's just things that are safe for pregnancy, but overall, just working out regularly, even if its a short walk or a round of yoga or whatever it is, could help with making me feel better. 

10.1 Complete one full cycle of P90X - This will have to be later in the year, so it is later in the resolutions list.  I have to wait until after the baby is born of course, and probably after the six week post partum period, but I think this will make me feel great if I can do it at least once. 

11. Read one new book a month - I used to love to read, still do, but reading much more then this with everything on my plate might be difficult.  Still, would like to try. 

I think that should do it.  Only a year will tell if I succeed or not. 

Resolutions 2011/2012 edition

This year started with all sorts of hopes and goals, I started with 15 resolutions. Turns out one trumped the rest. How did I do for 2011?

Well, the first four are related.

1. Run Bloomsday at close to an hour - I didn't even run bloomsday.

2. Leadman - A triathlon that is ski/bike/run.  Was tempted to try, glad I didn't. 

3. Pattern Racing - You take a horse and do various gaming events on them.  I have the horse, but other obstacles were in my way.

4. Trail Challenge, Ride and Ties - Another horse related set of events. 

5. Concealed Weapons Permit - Really no excuse, but I think I will have this one written down so I don't forget.  I really need to get this knocked out.

6. Motorcycle License - It will be some time before I get this task done.  I still want to do it.

7. Finish P90X - We made it to week 6.  Then a couple of events happened that put us on hiatus and then ultimately quitting. 

8. Go Canyoneering - We were planning a trip to Southern Utah, this sounds like a lot of fun.  But alas, just didn't happen.

9. Start writing a children's book - have an idea, but it just didn't materialize.  Maybe one day I'll sit down and do it. 

10. Employment - This is amber, because it wasn't a true job.  I worked my graveyard shift for a couple more weeks and than ultimately quit.  I also put my camera to work, though only a handful of jobs.  I didn't actively pursue my photography, but I really would like too.  I do need to look for an actual, steady job.  Still have the army reserves, though that didn't pan out like it usually does.

11. Learn to cook at least one new meal every month, if not every week - I actually was able to learn a few meals this year, but it wasn't as frequent as I would like.  I kept going back to old stand bys. 

12. 24 hour comic - Do 24 comics in 24 hours, from start to finish.  I don't think it will ever happen.  If I do it, I do it.  I'm just not going to do it any time soon.  No use putting it up as a resolution.

13. Get back into painting - I got the paints out, planned a painting, and put paint to canvas.  I then gessoed over what I did because it was awful.  I at least got into my paints.  Maybe I'll do better next year?

14. Organize my studio space - This is a constant work in progress, but it is further along now than it was last year. 

15. Get Pregnant - To explain last year's resolution, let's just write down what I wrote last year.  "Depending on when this happens, this might but make a lot of my other resolutions go red."  Indeed it did.  I got pregnant within two months of writing this list and everything about went red.  But it was worth it.  I got an adorable little munchkin to show for it.

This year will undoubtedly be different from years previous because of my munchkin, and it will actually be more typical of the traditional new years resolutions.  I am realizing I'm older, I'm married, and now I have a child.  Everything changes.  My resolutions are going to be a little more responsible and oriented toward my family then before.

1. Regularly attend church - over the last decade, I've been a bit of a heathen in regards to this task.  The thing is, I feel better about myself when i go regularly, and I can totally use the networking and support it provides especially when my husband deploys and leaves me to myself.  Fortunately i do have my family, but friends are good too, and it's a firm foundation of morals and values I want to raise my daughter in.  I'm off to a good start so far.

2. Get back into shape - Yes, the infamous and infernal 'exercise' resolution that everyone puts on their list and nobody accomplishes.  Well, baby is out of the oven, I did fairly well with my pregnancy but I definitely have some toning to do.  Plus, Army mandates it, and i'll feel better about myself. 

2.5 Pass PT test first time out - I have to take a diagnostic PT test six months after giving birth.  I want to smoke that thing.

3. Run at least 5 races - Bloomsday, mud races, 5ks, half marathons, triathlons, whatever.  This year I want to get into running.  I'm using my sister and my sister in law for motivation.  I just want to get into running. 

4. Horse Events - This is pattern racing, trail challenges and the like.  I'm going to try these with Breezy this year, if munchkin allows.  I will most likely have to have either a baby sitter or somebody to assist in my endeavours.

5. Meal Planning - I actually tried couponing this year.  It ended in an abysmal failure, that and it's just quite time consuming.  I've decided to change gears, and it's just healthier in the long run, and saves money when you don't buy stuff that goes bad because you don't use it.  That's the goal at least.  And it goes with resolution 11 from last year. 

6.  Breast feed at least 6 months - that gives me until May.  I want to shoot for as long as I can, but going for 6 months minimum. 

7. Agility Training with Scooby - this dog was born to do Agility events.  I want to do them with her.  There is a local dog circuit in town that teaches agility training and allows owners and their dogs to compete.  I don't intend on doing it for anything more than for fun, but I would like to learn how to do it and teach her how to do it. 

8. Get a job that coincides with staying home with Baby - I don't want to pay a baby sitter to take care of my baby.  It doesn't have to be anything grand, making six figures a year or anything like that.  Just a little extra to supplement our income while I take care of infant.  likely a telecommuter job.

9. Get an A in classes while sticking with school - I feel I'm pretty close to getting my Bachelors for once.  Army is paying for it.  Why not?  I go to school online, so I hope I can keep up with it and a baby.  So far so good! 

10. Work on baby Number 2 - By years end, I hope to be pregnant again.  We want two kids, and we want them close in age.  Hope it doesn't happen before September, as that's when we'll start working on it.  If it doesn't happen this year, hopefully it will happen early next year.

That sounds like a good list of resolutions for me to work on.  Here's looking at a fabulous 2012!

2011 in review

Despite how little, or how much I blog, I will always do my review of my year. 

This year, I'm going to add a little extra.  A month by month account of how my year went.  Coming in a blog post near you.

01. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

Hmm. . . thinking.  . . :P

Give birth of course, nothing anyone tells you can prepare you for childbirth, and men really can't understand

02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

One event probably skewed a lot of my resolutions for last year (will detail in a post immediately following) and yes, I have a lot of resolutions for this coming year.

03. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Hmm. . .

Actually, I know quite a few.  a couple of cousins, a niece and a friend of mine all had babies, but one did come near and dear to me. 

04. Did anyone close to you die?

At this moment, I can't think of any deaths.  I'd feel very foolish if I was wrong on this account. 

05. What countries did you visit?

No countries other than the US of A, however, one more state was knocked off my to visit list, the great island state of Hawaii!  That brings my total to 46!

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Exercise.

07. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

A handful. Of course, one big one, November 15th.  I will write this date down multiple times for the rest of my life I am guessing.

08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Natural Childbirth.  believe me, it is a HUGE achievement.  I wanted to cave in bad, but I managed to do it unmedicated.  I can't take full credit, my friend Pam the Doula and my mother and sisters were a huge help in making me achieve this goal.

09. What was your biggest failure?

This is a tough one.  I guess not getting that stupid possibly rabid cat, which is still at large.  Also, was going to put in a garden.  It didn't happen this year.  But then again, this was a horrid year for gardening, so I have heard.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Child birth, and the consequences produced from baring an 8 pound baby naturally.  And of course, getting attacked by a feral cat. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My husband got us a trip to hawaii, definitely the best thing we bought :)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

No idea, but I'm guessing I can say Yay me for going Natural!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Multiple Politicians.  I am very disappointed in our current crop of presidential candidates

14. Where did most of your money go?

Towards an infant I guess.  I got into the nesting bug pretty bad.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

For November to come around so I could hold my little munchkin in my arms.

16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?

You know, there are so many stupid songs out on the radio today.  I'm focusing on oldies I think, becuase I've been listening to a lot of soft music to calm infant.  I really like Adele, I guess her music will.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

Definitely happier

ii. Thinner or fatter?

Ugh, Fatter.  Granted I just had a baby so give me a break.  Overall I'm doing well, just have to lose a few more pounds and tone!

iii. Richer or poorer?

Poorer financially, (barely) just because we have more things to support, namely an infant, but we're still doing very well.  Richer in all other ways.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

More prepping for the baby, namely in organizing the house and getting my affairs in order.  I would have also liked to have done a garden.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Slept, but it was a necessity when you are pregnant.  I spent the first trimester taking four hour naps and they were spectacular.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas eve with my folks and family, Christmas morning with my husband and daughter, and christmas afternoon with his family.  We just about missed christmas together and almost had to delay it.  Very low key holiday season, it was nice though. 

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes :)  Madly in love

23. rescinded due to pointlessness (what can I put here in place of this question?)

24. What were your favourite TV programs?

Sister got me hooked on Dexter.  Netflix has been key to introducing us to discontinued shows like My Name Is Earl and No Ordinary Family.  Watched Jericho after I had Kaia.  Been watching Star Trek, The Next Generation off and on when I have some time to kill with the baby.  Still, not much of a TV watcher, especially now that I'm getting my energy back. 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Juvenile question.  I guess I still despise the cat that maimed me

26. What was the best book you read?

Don't read a whole lot, so I guess The Hunger Games

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The Lullaby setting on Pandora (though the ads ruin the vibe)

28. What did you want and get?

A healthy pregnancy and a bouncing baby

29. What did you want and not get?

We do want a boy, but I'm absolutely thrilled with my daughter.  Also, a hypnobirth and more time with my husband
30. What was your favourite film of this year?

Haven't watched a lot, but I really liked Limitless, also Harry Potter.  Buck was fantastic. 

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

Went to a breast feeding support group with my week old daughter, then went home and my husband made me dinner and gave me a Nook.  I turned 31.

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

My husband being home more, but alas, that is part of the hazards of being married to the military.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Lounge Pants and Oversized T-Shirts. 

34. What kept you sane?

There's always something to do.  I can't die of boredom where I live. 
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?

This is a difficult question for me for some reason.  I'm sure there was one but I can't think of any. 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

I guess how dumb the GOP field is.  I tried to remain current without getting to stirred up with politics, being pregnant I wanted to keep myself in a mellow easy going mood and nothing gets your blood pumping like Politics. 

37. Who did you miss?

My husband, who was missing half of the year

38. Who was the best new person you met?

A little girl named Kaiana

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Family is what Life is All About

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"I got You Babe!"

Thankful

I woke up to a bout of Post Partum this morning. Yeah, great timing, don't you think? And it was definitely a case of me not knowing why I was so upset. Really, one of those cases of depression that you can't explain. Guess it's the hormones coupled with the lack of sunlight and trying to get better while taking care of an infant who has been quite fussy recently, and me learning the ins and outs of motherhood and baby care. I guess all I really can do is hang in there, and as long as I keep my mind off of the baby blues, I will be ok.

Because really, I have a lot to be thankful for. I can honestly say in the last couple of years I have been genuinely happy. I have long since learned that there are a few things that matter, and this little infant at my side is one of the key ones at the moment.

In the spirit of getting my mind back on what matters most, and enduring this short bout with depression where I know I'll be back up and loving life again, I decided to make a list of what I'm thankful for.

My Husband, Gus: When he asked me to marry him, I'll be honest and when I said yes, I was thinking, 'well, it's not official, I can back out of it later, right?' because I didn't know if there was anybody out there I could be happy with. I didn't want to disappoint him. I won't say that we have a perfect marriage, I don't think those exist, but we have a pretty darn good one, and I can say that I genuinely love him. We compliment each other so well, he tempers me, I can't help but know that I was waiting for him, and he was waiting for me. How we met was a total fluke, I don't know anybody who have a courtship like ours was, but we were meant to be together. He is my soulmate, if such a thing exists. I feel very blessed that I have him in my life. I'm glad he chased me down and eventually chose me to be his wife. And he puts up with a lot from me.

My daughter, Kaia: She's only nine days old today, and I have an entire lifetime to get to know her. She has given my life a whole new perspective, and i see things in a way I have never done before. I used to be quite selfish, without really meaning to be, but I guess it comes with being the youngest and growing up in this generation. My life has changed completely upon marriage, and becoming pregnant and having a baby has changed it even more so. My entire outlook on life is completely different now, and it has honestly been for the better. I don't think I would trade what I have right now for anything. Not to mention that she is pretty darn cute. Gus and Kami genetics proved to be a winning combination. I can't wait to meet the person she becomes.

My Family: I am blessed with a very close family. We genuinely enjoy each other's company and look for excuses to get together all of the time. It is also good to know that when push comes to shove, when you reach hard times, they have your back. We have helped one another out so much, and I know if I need help with anything, they are a phone call away. It's funny how very different each of us are from one another but how each of us completes the family unit, and how obvious it is when a member is not there for family gatherings. There is definitely a hole there.

Then of course, there is my other family. I married into an amazing group of people (and still learning who they all are) and have been welcomed and accepted with open arms.

Friends: There is an old saying that goes "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other Gold." Sure, it's a bit cheesy, but the idea behind it is very much true. There are only a handful of friends I have managed to hang onto from my childhood, and those few friends I have I feel very blessed to know. I have made some fantastic friends in the last few years as well.

Facebook: Yes, it is a time waster, and a sucker of souls, but me, the person who falls out of contact with everyone I meet, has found the perfect tool for staying in contact with people that matter to me, plus a way to share my life with those who matter, and follow along on the adventures of my family and friends. Now, I'll be honest and admit I don't know why I need 353 friends, and Facebook Drama can be quite annoying, but social networking is an amazing thing.

Craigslist: It is odd, I love the concept of Craigslist, but without it, I wouldn't have met my husband. Yes, it is an odd story. Plus, I love the ability to barter for things and the treasures you can find on there, often for a great deal.

My Home: Part of home making is making a house into a home. I love the peace and tranquility of where we live, sure it's out in the boondocks, or so I keep saying, but the atmosphere is something you won't find in the suburbs of a city. We may not be here forever, but I would be content to grow old and die here.

Tricare: I told Gus he cannot leave the military until we are done having kids. I think we will be having one more (unless an accident comes upon us) but Tricare is great for child birth. They covered everything with very minimal out of pocket expenses.

My Health: Aside from that pesky depression issue, I am blessed with great health. I'm already bounding back from my pregnancy (though far from 100%) and I was grateful that I was strong enough to endure labor without caving on drugs. In time, I know I'll be in great shape again, and next year I plan on taking advantage of it.

Painkillers: I am not 100% yet. I am very thankful for painkillers.

Horses: I love horses, I have been a horse nut since I was about seven years old. And I have two of them. I am very blessed I am in a position to own a horse and can afford too.

The Air Force: The military can be frustrating at times. But in this economy, my husband has a stable job and his unit has stepped up and helped us several times. I am grateful for the support network that they offer, and along with the rest of the armed services (noteably the Army, of course) for keeping our country safe.

My Unit: I have an awesome army unit. They are very supportive of me, especially considering my present circumstances, and I know they will do what they can to work around it. Because I am now a new mom, I am looking more and more on getting out, but if I do decide to stay in, this would likely be the unit I would stay with until i retire. I've got two years on my present contract left, but I'm in good hands.

Cell Phones: Ok, in truth they are a pain in the butt, because we did manage to go without cell phones for centuries. Now we have smart phones, which are enormous wastes of time, and I don't think we could live without them, but in truth, it is nice to always be able to contact somebody, especially if you need to talk to somebody right then. Or even texting, something I didn't do until about two years ago. Kind of crazy, actually.

Emoticons: I used to be horribly annoyed with them, but I have grown quite partial to this guy -> :P

My Car: I have a great car. It's practical, it's reliable, it gets good gas mileage, and it gets me from point A to point B. And it's paid off! I am glad I have the means to get around. And my lead foot has decreased in weight quite a bit over the last few years.

Chickens: They eat just about anything, they are amusing to look at, and they lay eggs! When you find yourself with a rooster, they also make for a great chicken noodle soup! Plus they are cute, which I find myself kind of amused to discover that chickens are quite cute.

Cats and Dogs: endless amusement, there is something very soothing about a purring cat on your lap, and I have two friendly barn cats that have instant purr mode as soon as I start petting them. I also have a crazy dog that likes to herd them, and they aren't amused. Watching them interact is quite entertaining.

The Gospel: I don't like to get to religious on my blog, and I am not the most religious person out there, but I am grateful for having the church in my life. I need to make a better effort to go, however. Lately I've been more of a heathen. With the new little one, I do want to raise her in the church with a set of moral standards and it is something I want to share with her.

Freedom: I am an independent person, I am grateful be to be an American and with all the rights and privileges that come with it.

Guns: Yes, I am a gun nut. I love guns, for a variety of reasons. They are empowering, and they certainly level the playing field. I am thankful for the security they provide. and of course, most people who follow my blog know me for my bad ass pose with one.

Sleep: I think I am about to crash now. Must be the new mom in me. But first, I need to feed the munchkin.

There are many more things I am thankful for, this is just a rundown of some of them. Indeed, there is quite a lot to be thankful for. Just some things to remember when the baby blues start getting me down.

Projects

Starting to feel like I'm getting productive again, though I have a lot of projects around the house that I want to get done. If I get to them or not, who knows? My goal is to have a lot of them done by a week from Tuesday.

1) Garden:
I have a garden, supposedly. It's mostly just dirt and weeds right now, and it is a project that I am constantly wanting to work on. Unfortunately, this has been one heck of a year in coming to terms with the seasons, spring lasted all of a couple of weeks as we had snowfall into May. I never got around to planting the dang thing, (I also blame pregnancy) so this will likely be a trial year with it. I think I'm going to do more research next year, on top of all the critters in my area that will likely plague it. Mainly, deer, birds and the horses when they get out.

We planted strawberries and raspberries as well, all but two raspberry bushes died, the strawberries appear to be holding on but not growing.

2) Chicken Coop:
I bought 12 baby chicks and had three hens (two got picked off so I'm now down to one) and I got the chicks, now Pullets, in the chicken tractor. it is not made for 12 chickens, so I need to get a coop for them, as well as an area set aside for them to peck and dig away at. We got the area we want for them, now we need to fence it off and get a hen house for them. I found one on craigslist, i just need to get it home, it's an old coop that is nothing special, but I don't need anything fancy.

3) CDs:
I got a gob of CDs from my time working at hastings and getting them on discount. Now I want to burn them all to my hard drive and sell them back to Hastings for cash or credit, still debating on what I would rather have (get more for credit). I will hang on to a couple that I can listen to at any given moment of course, like Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill and a few staple CDs like that, but this is an ongoing task.

4) Pictures:
Getting ready for a reunion at the end of July with the Ericksons, and I've been tasked with the slide show. Which means going back into the archives of time and putting all of these hard copies of pics into Digital means so we can share. Doesn't THAT sound like fun?

5) Baby Area:
We got to figure out which extra bedroom gets to go to the kidling. We got two extra bedrooms, both of which are in use right now, and the dilemma of having to much junk. Good thing the squirt will be squirt sized for a while and we have time on this one.

6) Yard Sale!:
We're having a yard sale this weekend, weather permitting. I just need to go through my treasure trove of junk and get rid of a bunch of it. Or find a home for it on the walls or what not.

7) Studio:
I have a room, designated as a space that Gus has allowed me to have for my art and other means, that needs to be organized. Desperately. Right now it is a chaotic mess and always has been. This would go in hand with up above. I have a strong desire to get organized in my life, with little to no motivation to making it happen.

Those are some of the current projects I have lined up, now the question is, will they ever happen or am I just fooling myself? Did Gus have any idea what he was getting himself into when he asked me to marry him? I don't think he really did :P

2010 - Year in Review

It's January first, and you know what that means?

I post my end of year in review questions and answers. This has become a theme for me, one that I think I'm going to try to keep up with. One that I am ditching (because I think I may have seen four current movies this year) is my best and worst movies of the year review. No point really when a former movie buff no longer really watches movies.

Anyway, onto the questions!


01. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
This is a doozy of a question, this was quite a wild and crazy year for me! Let me see, I went jeeping, got engaged, got married, went rock climbing on actual rock and not a rock wall, did Pattern Racing on Horseback, got pregnant, (had a miscarriage), went snowmobiling, among other things. Kind of an exciting year.

02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I did pretty good this year on resolutions. That will be detailed in the next post.

03. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so, but as soon as I say that, somebody close to me is going to say 'hey, what about me? How did you forget me?' and I will feel like a doofus.

04. Did anyone close to you die?
Again, can't think of anyone.

05. What countries did you visit?
No countries this year. However I did see four more states, which brings my total of states visited to 45. The states I visited this year that I hadn't visited before was Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. I did visit Minnesota in 2009, but I flew through it and am not sure if I counted it or not.

06. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
I don't think I was lacking much in 2010, this has been, for the most part, a fantastic year for me. But I can think of one thing, a steady job :P Married life has not been conducive to my productivity.

07. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There is a few. March 22, the date I was engaged. April 24th, the day I got married. (yes, we had a quick engagement). October 24th, the date I realized I was pregnant. November 10th, the date I miscarried.

08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting married! I didn't think this would ever happen, and it is a huge achievement for me.

09. What was your biggest failure?
I don't know if I could count it as a failure, but it was a big blow for me (fortunately, I've moved past it) but losing my pregnancy.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Should I state it again? I had a miscarraige. I've learned it can be a big deal.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My horses, Jet and Breezy. We also just purchased snowmobiles, but they are still relatively recent (like two days ago)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm thinking next year this question needs to be rewritten. But I will say my hubby's :) He is quite an awesome guy!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Hmm, not sure. I know a few people I got frustrated with, but I wasn't appalled and depressed by them. Another question worth rewriting for next year?
Ok, there is one person, but granted, he's six. I discovered upon this that I can't do roommates.

14. Where did most of your money go?
This year, it seems to have gone toward horses.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting Married!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2010?
Marry Me by Train

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
I am doing awesome right now. I was doing pretty good this time last year as well.

ii. Thinner or fatter?
About the same. Right now I'm working out pretty regularly and feel pretty active, but a month ago I wasn't.

iii. Richer or poorer?
Financially, it's a draw. In many other ways, I think I'm richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had discovered Pattern Racing earlier then I did, but then again I didn't have the means of transportation to get my horse to the pattern races. But this year, if possible, I would love to do it again!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Played Farmville, Mafia Wars, Vampire Wars, etc. Browser Games are addictive and completely pointless. I've milked myself off most of them, just a handful left.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Spent Christmas Eve with my parents and family and opened a few presents, had a quite christmas morning with my husband, went to his parent's place and had more christmas, and then went back to my parent's and even more christmas. And we also had lot's of snow.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
This was something I didn't think would ever happen but YES! Hell froze over!

23. How many one night stands?
I have them all the time, with my husband :P

24. What were your favourite TV programs?
We didn't watch much TV, finished Lost, saw the only season of Flash Forward, and I got my husband into Avatar, the Last Airbender. But overall, didn't watch much TV

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
This is a very juvenile question. Maybe next year I will completely come up with a completely different list of questions. I did have a small falling out with somebody I knew, but I wouldn't call it hate. I haven't heard from them in months.

26. What was the best book you read?
I can't think of any books I read in 2010 other then How to Train Your Dragon (quick read, nothing like the movie). I wrote mostly, and was doing a lot of other things. Didn't have time to read.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oh gosh, I don't listen to the radio much. There was a couple though. I'll admit to liking Kei$ha, though her music can sometime remind me of the imaturity of a 14 year old and she can sound a little snobbish. But it's kind of catchy. I discovered Parmore the year before but I really really REALLy like this group!

28. What did you want and get?
Horses, a husband, a great house out in the country.

29. What did you want and not get?
A job. I did have a small one for a couple months, but it was kind of bad hours for me, threw off my entire day, I have decided I won't do graveyards.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I didn't see much, but Inception was fantastic. I love quirky mind bending movies though.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30. There was a blizzard, I ended up trading a snowboard for something else and then had to prep the stalls to take a couple horses for the evening. Then I stayed at home and chilled until my husband got off work.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not losing my pregnancy. (I feel like a broken record, this was the worst thing that happened to me this year though)

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
T-shirt, jeans and muck boots. Hay sticking out in random places.

34. What kept you sane?
Horseback riding! And my husband. This was a pretty sane year for the most part.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?
Never really been into public figures and celebrities. But Chris Christy is a fantastic no nonsense politician. I love the guts this man has!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Not a whole lot really, I kept current on politics but mostly the economy was my biggest concern. Obamacare is a disaster in the making. But I didn't really get to caught up in things this year, I had my mind on a lot of other things.

37. Who did you miss?
My husband :( He deployed three weeks after we got married, but he was only gone for four months, thankfully :)

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I've met a ton of great people this year, my sis in law Jessica could be potentially one of my best friends (if only we lived closer together!) Also one of my new racing buddies. I married into a great family. Also, many of my new 'horse' friends.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
It's not about me anymore.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"You are the only exception."

That Time Of Year

Tis the Season! You know, when you go out into the roads trying to find those last minute gift ideas or whatever else you need to buy and then you wonder why you left the house in the first place?

There's been snow on the ground since November 22nd, which was when we had our freak blizzard. It melted in town but out in the boondocks where we live, it's hung around a little while longer. Giving a young married couple with no kids a lot of thoughts on what to do besides the obvious. I love winter, it's a great time of year, but you are limited on what you can do especially if you are looking for ways to conserve money.

So I am looking for things to do with my man (besides the unspoken obvious) that doesn't require us to continue to dive into the bank account. He's got the next week off from work, you see. So, it's list making time!


The Unspoken Obvious (come on, we're married)

Working Out (middle of week two for P90X!)


Horse Back Riding (we're feeding them anyway, might as well put them to use)

Surf Internets (certain sites are not conducive to maintaining healthy bank accounts, Craigslist comes to mind)

Watch movies (loves Netflix!)

Play Video Games (Wii, Playstion 3, Xbox 360, and older consoles, we have plenty to use)

Play Browser games (biggest time waster in the history of time wasters!)

Snowboarding (alas, money issues arise, expensive hobby, but we got the equipment as long as we don't mind making the trek to where the hills are)

Writing (loner activity, doesn't excite hubby much)

Blog about Random Crap (sure my readers would appreciate this, especially if they like me blogging about random crap)

Photography (what is it with men and taking pictures anyway?)

Bake cookies!

Sledding (damn, we need a sled. Hmm, see snowboarding)

Combine sleds with Horses! Or Snowboards with Horses!
Build a Snowman (wait for the powder snow to get the right consistency)

Fireworks! (we live out in the boondocks, this will likely be a new years thing since we're hosting this year and I've got a tote full of them)

Do Art (I got a whole room downstairs dedicated to a studio, as soon as I get it organized. . . hmm)

Organize Art Room (so I can do above)

Clean house (*sighs* yes, when you've got nothing else going on, this is probably a good one to fall back on. A clean house is a great feeling)

Work on long neglected Webcomic (best done when honey is not home, because he would undoubtedly grow bored)


Read (again, loner activity)

Visit a Bookstore (I used to LOVE doing this, should do more often)

Indoor Rock Climbing (got all the gear, if it wasn't below freezing out it would be FREE!)

Hot Cocoa, a Fire, and cuddling (can lead to unspoken obviousness)


So, that is SOME items I came up with. I'm sure I can figure out some more. So, any suggestions? Think childless married couple who often acts like big kids themselves, because that's us to a tee.

EDIT - MORE Items to consider!

Scrounge through crap and list on Craigslist for a little extra mullah

Rearrange furniture (though probably to soon to do this)

Clean out the garage/shop so hubby can have his space

Come up with to do list for little projects that need to be done around the house (honey's love honey do lists I know! Hah!)

Look for a job in this crappy economy so we don't have to worry so much about finding free things to do