Hello 2011!

Well today starts a new year!  Considering how last year turned out, I'm happy to start over! I stole this little 2010 recap from someone else.  This is how our year turned out!


1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?

First we traveled to Europe for the very first time!

I saw REAL snow for the very first time while IN Europe!  (us central Texans don't get a lot of real snow... just ice!)

Mike had open heart surgery (worst thing of my life, not just 2010!)

Celebrated our first Wedding Anniversary!

We bought our first house!

We hosted a Thanksgiving for the very first time!

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

I didn't really make New Year's resolutions last year and I probably won't make any this year.  I do have goals for the year, but I'm trying to make them feasible and realistic.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Nope, but I will have a baby niece 2/2/2011!  Not to mention, there could quite possibly be attempts for a baby to come to my house in 2011!
 
4. Did anyone close to you die?


Fortunately for us, no.  2009 was a rough year for us, but 2010 was much more gracious to us in this Department.  We are extremely blessed for the family and friends that we have and have got to spend another year with!


5. What countries did you visit?

England, The Netherlands, and America (of course!)  Technically we only saw the airport in Amsterdam, but that still counts as visiting another country right?!  We spend a week in England and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  I hope we get to go back some time in the future!

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


I hope that in 2010 we are able to build our savings account up, that hubby can stay out of the ER and/or hospital for the entire year, and that we can start thinking/trying/planning for our future little family.  :)


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

February 24, 2010.  This is the day Mike went in to have heart surgery.  Thankfully, he was blessed with an amazing, caring, and talented surgeon and everything pretty much went as plan.  However, seeing your husband laying up in a bed for a week, with tubes and wires coming out of every orifice of his body, crying in pain, and having to struggle to do simple tasks such as eating, walking, bathing, is one of the worst experiences of my life.  I would not wish those images on my worst enemy.  

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


Buying a house, hands down!  We had looked online about getting pre-approved financing and starting to look at buying a house about a year ago and the information we were getting was pretty much that we were screwed and there was no way in hell we could afford a house.  However, when we started looking for rental houses, we were blessed with a great realtor that told us there was no reason for us to be renting.  He sent us to the right people who pre-approved us for an amount much, much more than I would have ever thought about paying.  We were told numerous times we had excellent credit and there was no reason we could not buy a house.  So, in less than 2 months we had looked at tons of house, bid on a house, were outbid on that house by $8000, put in an offer on another house, WON that offer, closed on that house, and were moving in to our very own, very first home!  

9. What was your biggest failure?

I'm not really sure that we failed at anything this year.  It has been a rough year but I can't think of anything either hubby or I set out to do and failed at it. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I didn't, thankfully.  As I mentioned before, hubby had open heart surgery in February.  In addition, he had to have 2 cardioversions (where his heart was shocked), spent 2 days in the ER (one of which resulted in an ambulance ride), and many, many, many doctor's visits.  I pray that 2011 brings me a much healthier husband!

11. What was the best thing you bought? 

Our house, of course!  The next best thing is all of the stuff we have been able to buy for our house including 2 new buys, a futon for the office, a breakfast room table, and all of the upgrades being done!  Having a "used" house is so much fun because of all the things we can do to make it ours!  

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?


So many people!!  First, my in laws because of all the help they have provided us with the house and remodeling and things like that.  It pays to have a father in law who owns his own construction company!  Also my parents and grandma.  They just provide an immense amount of support to us and we would be no where without them!  Not to mention the rest of our friends and family.  If there is one thing we learned this year, it is how truly blessed we are with all of the family and friends we have to support us!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled?


Umm, I don't really like this question.  I don't know if appalled is the word I would use to describe my feelings.  I do have a friend though, that is supposed to be one of my best friends, and that friend has probably been one of the worst friends this year.  I specifically recall a day when I was talking to this friend and crying about the stress I was going through with hubby being in the hospital and this particular friend changed the subject and started talking about their problems.  I really needed a friend and they weren't there when I needed them.  I would say our friendship has really gone down the drain this year, and it is really, really sad.  

14. Where did most of your money go?




Our house.  We've put a lot of money in doing some things that needed to be done right away.  Plus, every time I find something new I like, I can't resist! 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?  
Our trip to Europe, seeing snow for the first time, celebrating Valentine's Day with some of our best friends, celebrating our first Wedding Anniversary, buying a house, throwing a house warming party, hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, sitting in front of our very own fireplace Christmas day, ringing in the New Year of 2011 with some of our best friends!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

I don't really link songs to years.




17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?: Happier
ii. thinner or fatter?: ugh. Well I don't think I'm fatter but I'm surely not thinner!
iii. richer or poorer?: Richer in every way!
 
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
 exercise, laugh, pray

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

20. How will you be spending Christmas?


Christmas was not exactly how I planned it but nice none the less.  Woke up at home, went to in laws for gifts, then went to hubby's grandparents for lunch.  Then Sunday my daddy came to visit so I cooked for him.  Then Monday I saw my grandma, uncle, and brothers and my brothers spent 4 days with me!


21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2010?


Hmm...Hubby is constantly trying to embarrass me, but nothing stands out.
 

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?

I fall in love with my hubby more and more every day. :)

23. skipping this one- stupid question

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Criminal Minds
 
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? 

I don't hate anyone


26. What was the best book you read?




Hmmm.  Probably "Dear John". 

 
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?


I don't listen to music enough to answer this.


28. What did you want and get?: 

A home. :)


29. What did you want and not get?

I can't think of anything.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Toy Story 3

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


Sadly, my birthday day was probably the worst birthday I had in a very long time!  However, the Sunday before my birthday was spent with a fancy dinner at Ruth Chris' Steakhouse (yum!!) and Christmas Light looking, then the day after my birthday I had a nice lunch with my coworkers!  I turned 25 this year, how exciting!


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

The only thing that comes to mind, is just that hubby would not have had such a rough year and wouldn't have spent so much time in the hospital this year. 

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

Fashion, ha!  I wouldn't say I am not fashionable, but I would also not say I am a fashion queen!

34. What kept you sane?

My amazing husband and the fantastic coworkers I have!

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

I'm not really in to celebrities. 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Let's just say, I will be looking forward to the election in 2012. 

37. Who did you miss?

I probably missed my family the most.  I don't see them very often and when I do, it is very limited time.  I would give anything to see them as much as I see hubby's family.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Probably all 3 of my new coworkers.  I seriously work with some of the best girls ever and my job would be hell without them.  It's rare that we can work in such a high stress job and also be good friends with your coworkers!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?

I learned that life isn't easy but I'll get through it.  Lame, right?  2010 was a rough year for hubby and I and there were so many times this year that I asked "Why?".  But, every.single.time. hubby and I got through whatever we were going through and I truly feel like we came out stronger on the other side.  We have been more in our first year to two years of marriage than most people go through in 20 years.  But every day that I wake up next to him, I know that it is just going to keep getting better! 

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

I don't listen to music enough to answer this.

Happy New Year, 2011!!  I can't wait to see what you bring to my family and I this year!