Farewell, 2012

1. What did you do in 2012 that you had never done before?

Home-schooled a first-grader, took family photos without a professional present, and a lot of things from my 30 Things list.(paint my house; make bagels, Thai food, and cottage cheese; sew a dickie; pay for a stranger's meal, etc.)

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and do you intend to make any for 2013?

I completed all but one of my 30 Things, and I'm making a list of 31 things for my 31st year. They're mostly small, easily measurable goals that make me stretch a little.

 
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Mackenzie.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you didn't have in 2012?
A new house in a new place and great schools for my kids.

7. What dates will be etched into your memory from 2012 and why? 

April 7th: Bree's Jungle Safari birthday campout
June 18th: Mackenzie's wedding
July 20th: Driving through deadly flooding washes
Last week of July: visiting Chad's family in Missouri
August: Lincoln walking, a peach harvest, homeschool
September 7th: A cancelled San Diego vacation
December: Vegas Vacation and anniversary over-nighter

8. What is your biggest achievement of the year?

Homeschool. Though depending on the day, it can also feel like my biggest failure.

9. What is your biggest failure?
See #8. I constantly feel inadequate, and wish I could do more for my kids.

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?

Sinus infections. Constant sinus headaches. These allergies will be the death of me.
 

11. What is the best thing you purchased?

A minivan!

12. Whose behavior or accomplishments merited celebration?

Bree learning to read, add, subtract, and remember minute details from history and science lessons. Chad taking over chores to keep me sane.
 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled or depressed? 

President Obama and the majority of Americans.
 

14. Where did most of your money go? 

Mortgage and a new minivan.

15. What did you get really excited about?

Our San Diego trip...which we didn't get to go on thanks to Mason's broken arm.

16. What songs will remind you of 2012 and why?
As a Child of God, Choose the Right, Stand for the Right, and all the other Primary Program songs.

17. Compared to last year...

a. happier or sadder? Happier.

b. thinner or fatter? Thinner, thanks to our local Biggest Loser competition.

c. richer or poorer? About the same.

18. What do you wish you had done more of?

Therapy with Lincoln.

19. What do you wish you had done less of?

Watching dumb TV shows.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We visited Chad's family in Las Vegas before Christmas. Then my parents joined us at our house for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. We spent a nice, relaxing day playing with new toys, and Chad only had to work from noon to four.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012?

Yes, if my minivan counts.
 

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I was disappointed in all the TV shows that I previously enjoyed. Television has gotten so bad.
 

23. What is the biggest choice you made this year?

We made the decision to move, and there is a transfer position with Chad's name on it. If we could only sell our house...

24. What is the best book you read?

Bonds that Make us Free

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I don't make musical discoveries outside the realm of Primary.

26. What did you want and get?

A new minivan, Lincoln walking, a laptop
 

27. What did you want and not get?

A trip to San Diego. A homeschool and family routine that consistently worked.
 

28. What was your favorite movie this year?

The Avengers.

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

I turned 31. I went to see the Twilight movie with friends.
 

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

More peaceful family time, a less crazy homeschool teacher and a student who cries less, a house that sold.
 

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?

Wearing whatever fit my ever-changing body size, with comfort being the most frequent goal.
 

32. What kept you sane?

Chad doing half the household chores. Books and movies. Quiet time after the kids went to bed.
 

33. What celebrity did you fancy the most?

Chris Hemsworth (Thor)

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The majority of newly-elected leaders do not value the same things that I do. And we have a president who has a vision for America that is far removed from what our country should stand for.
 

35. Whom do you miss?

Family members out of state, Jaime and other girlfriends who live too far away.
 

36. Who was the best person you met?

Angelica

37. Valuable life lesson learned in 2012?
Kids interpret harsh words as hateful feelings.

38. What is something that really made you laugh this year?

My kids. The Hulk smashing Loki around like a rag doll.

39. What is something that really made you cry this year?
Frustrations and feelings of inadequacy.

40. What do you anticipate will be the biggest change in your life in 2013?

A move, a new home, and "real" school for Mason and Bree.