A Year In Review

Well, here it is folks...the brand New Year! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!

I hope this past year was a good one and 2007 will be even better for you!

I was sitting here thinking of what this last year has brought me and what I have learned from it. Here is what I can remember/think of off the top of my head in no particular order.

What this year has brought me...

- The most memorable and important...Nathan was born!
- Lucas became a big brother (and a great one he is too!)
- My Niece Colby was born and I was there to see it all happen! What an experience. It is soooo different being on the other end of things. I hope I am honored enough to be a part of that again!
- I lost a few friends and family members to illnesses/accidents/unexpectedly.
- There is still the family drama on both sides, however a few relationships have become more civilized and pleasant. They will never be completely fixed, but I am satisfied with where it's at.
- Found out that my Brother & Sister In-law are expecting a little one in June 2007. YAY!
- Found out my Cousin & his wife are expecting in April/May 2007. Another YAY!
- Almost lost my cousin-in-law to a strange infection in his brain, which brought on seizures & a NASTY fever. It kept him hospitalized for a couple of months (I know what it's called, but I don't have the info infront of me) They still aren't sure what caused it, but glad to report he is better!
- Have some health issues (mainly pinched nerves) and have put on weight since Nathan was born. I am NOT happy about that and plan to make a change.
- Been taking a bunch of pictures.
- Nathan popped his 2 bottom teeth (bottom left, Dec 30/06 & bottom right Jan 1/07)
- Started an online store (yesterday!) to sell things with my photography on them. I am still putting things together and adding more to it, but feel free to check it out Here. It is called Not A Cloud In The Sky.
- I started doing crafty things involving scrapbook like stuff.
- My cousin & I have put together a fitness board that will help keep up motivated to get back into shape and feel better about ourselves physically, mentally & emotionally.

That's about all I can think of for now in that department. Now for the things I have learned.

- To be more patient. Although some wouldn't think so, but I am trying.
- To let the little, annoying things go. It's hard, but again...I am trying.
- Live life day by day.
- Learn to say NO. I have been stuffing my days/life with too many tasks and I just can't seem to catch up.
- I am slowly learning how to NOT stress over everything. I am taking the 2 seconds it takes to breathe and breathing.
- Prioritize. There are far more important things in life than housework. If certain people don't like that the housework gets put on the back burner, suck it up. It's called HELP OUT. I am only one person.
- Taking more ME time. 10 minutes here and there to sit and do/think about NOTHING while drinking my coffee. Catch up on my blog reading while drinking my coffee. Sit in silence when the kids are in the other room, while drinking my coffee. Notice a theme? LOL.
- Make to-do-lists and know that the world won't end if I can't complete it in one day.
- Most of all I take as much time as I need to spend with my kids. They grow too fast and I really don't want to miss out on those precious moments. They are both at stages where they amaze me with the new things they have accomplished and learned and I want to be a part of every minute of it.

More on the monkeys in another post.

So, those are some of the things 2006 has brought me and what I have learned from them. What has the New Year brought you?