Two-Zero-One-One

The new year is upon us and with it comes all the "remember whens" of the year that's ending.  In keeping with my recaps of the last few years (2009, 2010), I present to you: My 2011 Recap.

January
I started my new pre-K teaching job and I LOVED IT. Everything that was wearing me out about my old job was fixed at this one -- non-cliquey staff, I got to teach, no more diapers, a co-teacher who actually valued my opinion. I realized what I want to get my Master's in because of this job: reading.
I made some resolutions (more on those later) and explained why I wanted to lose 26 pounds.

February
I got a snow day for my birthday! They were predicting a lot of snow in that system, but it was kind of a letdown.
Nothing else big happened, I guess. I did a few posts on sermons or videos that impacted me, but apparently nothing noteworthy enough to blog about happened.

March
We celebrated our second wedding anniversary. I can't believe we're coming up on 3 already! I'm sure time will start flying by soon enough, but for now I want it to slow down juuuust a smidge.

April
I bought the first size 14 dress I've bought in a LONG time. Size 14 pants came along in August. And guess what? Those pants? Are now almost too big. =)

May
I discovered Pinterest. Oh man, I love that site.
I rambled about my desire to have a baby.
I discussed the methods to my weight loss.

June
I said good bye to the school year with Pre-K graduation. We had a summer program that totally wore me out, but it was a lot of fun. The graduation ceremony was at the owner's house. We put on a little skit, sang some songs, ate some BBQ, and went swimming. SO MUCH FUN.

July
I saw the final HP movie at midnight.
We went to Colorado for a huge youth conference. It was a lot of fun and the kids got pumped up (too bad it didn't carry over to the school year)
J's car got totalled on said trip to CO. I didn't post about it because we were dealing with insurance and everything, and because it was actually one of the chaperones who hit our car. But J got a 2004 Honda Civic which he LOVES in addition to a nice payout from insurance.

August
My old kids left for kindergarten and I got a new batch. This new batch is challenging and exhausting and creative and love to cook and talkative... One of our most challenging kids actually just left before Christmas, so I'm interested to see how our class's dynamics change.

September 
I was busy this month with weddings and CPR classes and barely had time to blog.

October
My first Trunk or Treat at SPC and my kids were so cute! I had 2 Dorothy's, 2 Buzz Lightyear's, a mater, some princesses, Ariel. So cute!

November
My school has a Feast of Friendship on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving every year and it was a lot of fun -- the school's cook makes, like, 7 turkeys, and the parents all provide the sides. Our room was packed, but it provided a fun, casual environment to chat with the parents.
We hired a new worship director at church. His style is drastically different from our old style, so we're all still trying to settle in. When he's been there a little longer, I might post about how I feel. He has introduced a lot of new songs, though, like this one that I blogged about.

December
Another month without a lot of blogging. I had an amazing work Christmas party at Granite City Brewery.
Our Christmas Day was jam packed between church and 3 family Christmases.
J and I used Christmas money to buy a new TV. We are now owners of a 32" Vizio HDTV. J is ecstatic, LOL.
Also, my brother is moving in with us for a while, so the last week has been full of decluttering my house.

Well that was my 2011! Once again, I'm spending New Years Eve babysitting. I really bring it on myself -- the money is too good to pass up, but in the 6 years J and I have been together, we haven't spent a NYE together. Crazy, I know.

Here's what to expect in the New Year from me (if you'll still hang around):
My 101 in 1001 list. I've been working on it for the past week or so and I'm at 86 items. It's really tough!
Posts involving my 101 in 1001.
A recap of my '11 resolutions, as well as a post about my '12 resolutions.

I hope your 2011 was full of memories and that you will be continually blessed in 2012!

Merry Christmas!

This post is a day late, but my Christmas weekend was very busy. I have been working part time at the bookstore again, and I worked on Christmas Eve morning, then I had church. Our Christmas Eve was pretty low key. Normally we go to my extended family's Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve but this year it was on Christmas Day, so J and I got Chinese food and rented a movie. How boring are we, right? Haha.

Christmas Day, we had church in the morning, then we were off. We visited my father-in-law's first, then my aunt and uncle's, then J's grandparents. It was full of fun and laughter and love and reminiscing and everything Christmas get-togethers should be, but when we got home at 10:00 that night, I was exhausted.

At my aunt and uncle's Christmas, my cousins, brother, and I all subconsciously formed a "kids" table.  You remember how it was -- always wanting to sit with the adults, thinking you're too big for the kids' table. We had one, too, just like everyone else. But something cool happened this year. With the exception of three cousins (2 who weren't there and one who is still "too young" to chat with the older cousins), we all sat down around the appetizer table, snacking, chatting about life and school and other things. What was even cooler is that the table included 2 spouses and 1 girlfriend who all just fit in like they belonged there. I love my family. =)

And because I missed my traditional Christmas Day post:



I hope you had a very merry Christmas and enjoyed the time you spent with your loved ones.

Christmas

I put up our Christmas tree today. J didn't help because, frankly, if it were up to him, it wouldn't go up.  Haha. It's okay, I don't mind. I put on my Christmas music and spend a few hours unpacking the tree and ornaments, etc.

I hope, though, that things change in the future when we have kids of our own.  I have so many wonderful memories of putting up the tree, my dad lifting me up to put the angel on top of the tree.  And I can't wait to have those kinds of memories with my own kids.

In the meantime, I guess my big fat furry kitty cats will have to help me. Sebastian's favorite spot is under the tree and he didn't waste any time getting under there and staking his territory.  Paulie chased my little bead garland around on the floor while I hung it on the tree. Fun times.