2009: Sum-up and Run-down

Places We Went:
-Zion's Nat'l Park
-Oregon Coast (quite possibly the best vacation we've ever had)
-Washington, DC
-Sea World
-Phoenix and Pocatello to run and visit family
-Cancun
-Merrilee's house almost every Sunday for dinner (We are mooches...)
-Fun places close to home- the canyon, the pool, the aquarium, Grandpa's tree house...
...and never once to bed on time.

Things We Said:
-"Sure, I'll be the Primary President."
-"If you girls don't stop fighting I swear on all that is holy I will make you pay!" (repeated on an hourly basis.)
-"Bite me." (during sacrament meeting.)
-"I don't want to be like daddy- hair on your back ITCHES."
-"We don't start out as babies; we start out as mermaids."
-"Look! Bum!" (Also during church. It's a wonder we are still active.)
-"I wish I had a step-dad."

What We Learned:
-That when we play the Powerball our basement floods. Guaranteed.
-Also, if we knew how bad basement floods #2 and #3 were going to be, we probably would not have complained so much about flood #1. (Yes. All in 2009.)
-That kindergarten was a much bigger adjustment for me than for Kate.
-That Kiki had a lot of deep thoughts inside just waiting to get out. Thanks for finally talking, Mags. Now will you at least consider potty-training?

Favorite Moments:
-Bruce: The Oregon trip
-Kate: "My favorite things was at Christmas when I got the Barbie Camper."
-Kiki: "Well, Mother, I'd have to say it was when Charlie beaned me on the head while you were in Washington, DC, and I had to get stitches but it conveniently erased the karmic debt you incurred when you whacked Liza in the head with a Strawberry Shortcake lunch box back in 1981."
-Becca: I'm obviously the homebody here, but my favorite moments have been around my own kitchen table laughing and enjoying the many great people in our lives. That, and the day I had my hair cut short. Oh, and half marathon day. And my birthday. Oh man, there has been a lot of fun this year...

The Great Miracle of 2009: Last year about this time, Bruce and I set some goals for the family for the year. We wanted to travel more, save more for retirement, pay down our mortgage, and exercise more. And we did every single one of those things. And THAT is a miracle.

As for resolutions, I really don't believe in them. However, for the last couple of years I've had themes instead of resolutions. For example, 2008 was "Unfinished Business" as I focused on projects I had let fall by the wayside, and 2009 was "The Run." I think that the theme for 2010 might be "Branching Out" and it will be the year I try new things and hobbies. What do you think?