So Long MMX! (And Thank You Google for the Roman Numerals)

I spent a little time yesterday reviewing my blog posts from 2010.

And you know what?

12 months is a long time! Holy cow. So, even though I keep saying "Wow, this year really did fly by"--truth be told, we packed a lot into that flight!

So, today's blog post is a bit of a recap (because that's what ya do on December 31) of my 2010 Highs and Lows.

I'd also like to make sure and say that I'm grateful for this past year. I feel like I've learned a lot. And I think I've smiled and laughed a lot, too. And for that, I'm grateful.

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PS--If I were just blogging to blog, I'd probably NOT post this list at all.

I mean, these things are OVER--history--so why dwell?

BUT, I don't want my great-great-great grandkids to potentially read this and think I had a life free from, well, LIFE! Because that's just not that case.

To paraphrase the granny in the movie Parenthood, my life is like a roller coaster--there are highs, lows, curves, clanky boards, scary times, joyful times, jerky times, fun(ny) companions (criers, howlers, etc.) . . . .

sometimes I think I'm going to barf--it's so scary; and other times it's SO fun--I can't imagine ever feeling more happy/joyful/content.

So, with that diatribe behind me, here's my list. And Happy New Year's Eve everyone. I send love!

2010 Roller Coaster Recap:
The Highs and Lows

Highs

1. Being married to Dave

(He's cute. He's funny. And he's my Miracle Grow.)

2. Being in the Temple with our kids in March

(and the almost magical snowflakes on our way out)

3. XM Radio

4. Cam earning a 3.6 gpa her first semester in traditional school

5. Baking bread

(and having the kids deliver it anytime I ask--even in 20 degree weather)

6. Ding-dong ditch/Family Nights

7. Blogging

8. Reading blogs and learning from other people

(recipes, life lessons, jokes, quotes, book reviews)

9. Whitt's new baby

10. Spending time with the Stephensons

(we heart those guys)

11. Spending time with the Cannons

(we heart those guys too)

12. Friday Night Pizza

(and Papa Murphy's owner Deanne)

13. Going to the gym 4-6 times a week

(beginning in July)

14. Jay snowblowing

15. Snow Days

16. Sunny Days

17. Learning to swim without plugging my nose

18. Swimming in the summer with the kids

19. Clearing up my library debt

(holy late fees!)

20. Coming up with the phrase "No is the New Yes" and applying it in my life

21. Disneyland

22. My family/friends suprising me for my 40th bday

23. Dave's slideshow of my life

(So thoughtful -- and cheesy. Thank you, babe.)

24. Going to the beach

25. Bicycling 21 miles in 60 minutes

26. Seeing Jeff and Christine

(and having Tyler)

27. The Pie Party

28. Time with our neighbors

29. Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt

30. Having Oprah's "people" call me

31. Going on an unexpected adventure to Los Angeles

(and meeting some great people)

32. My job at BYU

33. Time spent reading

34. Learning how important it is to breath and be still

(not sure I ever did those two things)

35. The kids' teachers

36. Our hounds: Ozzy and Harriet

37. Cam's braces

38. Papaya doing ZuZu's hair

39. Dave's new job

40. Happy news stories (Haiti rescues, Chilean Miners, generous lottery winners)

41. Kindra's baked french toast recipe

42. Debi's carmel pretzel thingys

43. Juany passing the cosmo exam

44. Kids spending time with cousins (on both sides)

45. Dave's brother coming home safely from the South Pole

46. Jr's baptism
(and the awesome missionaries)

47. ZuZu and LuLu being two peas in a pod

48. Beginning to pay the kids an allowance
(and the responsiblity they've learned)

49. Spray-on Tans

50. Cutting back on soda

51. Making granola
(and eating it!)

52. Seeing just how good and generous life/people are--daily

53. Getting a new laptop

54. Jay getting his drivers permit

55. Salt Lake City Farmer's Market

56. Butternut Squash

57. Fourth of July Parade and BBQ in our neighborhood
(and the trip to WY to get fireworks with the kids)



Lows 

1. Gpa Huck's stroke
(and not visiting him yet)

2. Our garage door breaking

3. Being overly stressed
(and saying that a lot)

4. Gary Hatch passing away

5. Over-eating
(*although this could be a high--having food--I know)

6. Janae's fall
(*although this could also be a high--we learned she's apparently made of rubber!)

7. Not signing Jay up for Driver's Ed earlier

8. Being inconsistent with the kids
(in a whole slew of areas)

9. Losing my temper more than I should

10. Letting small things bug the garbage out of me

11. Not seeing the good--or honoring it--in the middle of hard times
(I know I can choose my focus, but for some reason my lazy brain defaults to the "oh crap!" line of thinking)

12. Not flying Dave out to see his mom

13. Miss Kayla's blood condition

14. Little Claire's broken arm
(In my 40 years on Planet E, I've never seen such an XRay)

15. Feeling like I've packed too many things into my day-to-day

16. Losing 2 gatos (Sebastian and Maxx)

17. Losing every file I've ever owned--due to a virus
(Twice!)

18. Working too much
(and thinking about it when I'm not working)

19. Pancreas problems for the first part of 2010

20. Not having Oprah's "people" need me, afterall

21. Not getting ZuZu's hair done regularly

22. Getting hit in the head with a bottlerocket on the 4th of July
(see #57 on the High list)