2009 Quiz

I saw this on another blog that I frequent and thought I'd give it a shot.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you have never done before?
- drove with my 4 month old to florida - baptised my son -drove with my 7 month old to minnesota - watched my big brother get married and buy a house - became a support system for my best friend after the loss of her father - took my 11 month old as close as I could to the place I practically grew up, Lake Geneva - saw my son turn one - had to say goodbye to a close friend who moved to Germany - swam with a beluga whale - got my appendix removed - became santa - went sledding, as an adult, with my brother.

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions? Any new ones?
- My resolution was to start a blog to keep our family updated....so, yup! Mission accomplished! This year my resolution is to do the 365 photo challenge.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
- Cousin Colleen had baby Makayla. My neighbor and friend, Shauna, gave birth to baby Maddie in October. And, even though it wasn't 2009 - close enough! - my cousin Brooke had her baby at 1:30am on New Year's Day. BIG, HUGE HUGS TO BROOKE AND JUSTIN!!!!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
- Yes. My best friend lost her dad to a heart attack. My family lost a very dear family friend, Joe. Frankie's family lost his grandmother's sister. I also can't help but mention the girl who I kept concious after her motorcycle accident. Her death hit me harder than I ever anticipated.

5. What countries did you visit?
- None, but we did take Eddie north and south. This year we're heading east!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
- More alone/date time with the hubs!

7. What dates are etched in your memory from 2009 and why?
- The day my Stef called, late in the evening, to tell me her father had a heart attack and died. That conversation, the drive to the hospital and the days that followed will never, ever be forgotten - The day I got my appendix removed, just because it was one of the weirdest days of my life!

8. What is your biggest achievement of the year?
- Continuing to help my son grow into a wonderful little person. Tantrums and all.

9. What was your biggest failure?
- Gaining back the weight I lost after having Eddie.

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?
- Nothing until I said goodbye to the little bastard, aka, my appendix.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
- Uhh...no idea.

12. Whose behavior merrited celebration?
- MY SON TURNED ONE!! My brother got married!

13. Whose behavior made you appauled and depressed?
- Some things I never mentioned on here, and I'm going to be honest. My sister in law's behavior during our Christmas celebration hurt my feelings. I realize, however, that there is much more to this than I can understand - my friend and neighbor, Keith, got into a shit ton of trouble with me and I have not been that hurt in a long time. I'm happy to say that the Christmas spirit got the best of us and we are all happy and hunky dory again!

14. Where did most of your money go?
- Groceries, mortgage, baby proofing materials...and, well.....let's just say that our new Target opened in October.

15. What did you get really, really excited about?
- Exploring the world of photography, from someone who has never taken any sort of  artistic class in her life.

16. What will always remind you of 2009?
- Michael Jackson's death....not because it touched me in any way, but because it is the news story that just keeps popping up.

17. Compared to last year are you....
happier or sadder? Happier. I feel very complete, if that makes sense.
thinner or fatter? Post Eddie last year, I'm fatter. UGH. That kills me.
richer or poorer? Who knows? Who cares? Except for Frankie. Heh.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
- I've said it previously, but more dates with Frankie....not weekends away or anything, but just dinners out or whatever.

19. What do you wish you'd one less of?
- Being frustrated staying at home.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
- Enjoying a low key affair at our home with my parents.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
- I've rediscovered my husband as a father and that has made my love for him deeper and even more meaningful. Yes, he was a father in the late months of 2008...but at that time bug was just well....a bug. He wasn't really a little boy. In the past couple months my heart has swelled watching them develop the father-son bond.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
- Frank and I both loved White Collar, which came out this year.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate last year?
- YES! The builder of our neighborhood and the man I used to sell homes for I can honestly say I HATE. I loathe. He is a douche of a very, very rare kind.

24. What was the best book you read?
- Hm. I don't really read 'meaningful' books....I mainly just love anything with a pink cover and about women who like to shop. Heh. I mean...come on. I have a toddler. Quick reads are best!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
- I guess I don't really have one. If you'd ask Eddie he would say Mikey's Hot Dog song or Yo Gabba Gabba's Party in my Tummy.

26. What did you want and get?
- That 'complete family' feeling. I went back and fourth with the thought of another baby and have finally reached a clarity about what I want. I'm happy as a trio.

27. What did you want and not get?
- I wanted to take some classes at the local college but didn't find the time.

28. What was you favorite film?
- UP. I love it and can watch it over and over again.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
- This year I turned a whopping 24. OMG I AM LIKE, SOOOO OLD. Just kidding. This year on my birthday we threw Eddie's first birthday party and it was a birthday that I will never, ever forget. I loved spending the day with all of our family and friends.

30. What is one thing that would have made 2009 better?
- Part of me wants to say living closer to our families and closer to our ideal place to live, but that would mean that I wouldn't have gotten  to spend time with our awesome neighbors. One of those win some/lose some situations.

31. How would you descibe your fashion for 2009?
- SAHM chic - jeans and t-shirts. I wish it was so, so much more than that. Ha. At least I can say I showered regularly, usually always had my hair done and makeup on. I'm still a little vain :)

32. What kept you sane?
- My husband, my friends and my son. And wine.

33. What celebrity/musical figure did you fancy most?
- Fancy? Really? Well then....I must say, like any other Twilight fan, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. But not Edward Cullen RP (I can't get over the sparkles. Really. I seriously laugh out loud whenever they turn up the sparkle action. I mean, COME ON). OH, and also not real life Taylor Lautner, because I'm not into 17 year olds. He's somewhere in his 20's in my mind. Eww. That sounded totally creepy. Moving on!

34. What political issue stirred you the most this year?
- B.L.A.G.O. Mostly because it was the circus that wouldn't go away.

35. Who did you miss the most?
- My brother, who I came to understand more this year. More understanding means more missing, it's as simple as that.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
- We've gotten closer to our neighbors, Phil and Shauna (and baby Maddi), so while they're not new, we've gotten to know them better which is nice.

37. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2009.
- Not to take one single moment for granted. I've watched people die too young, too soon and missed too much. I've seen life taken away in an instant and that scared me. I appreciate my friends and family more. I recognize my blessings more often. I try to make the most out of each opportunity and try my best not to let negitivity take me down.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
- Did you not pay attention to number 25? Well then, in the iconic words of Mikey Mouse....

Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog! It's a brand new day, what'cha waiting for? Jump up, stretch out, stomp on the floor....

....hey, that actually kinda fits. It's a new day, go make the most of it. Just don't say 'hot dog' so much, mkay?




HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! Let's see what 2010 has for us, shall we?