New Year's Eve Party

Every year my mom has a slumber party at her house. She invites any of her sisters (she has 4) and nieces that want to come - and her mom, my Grandma. Isn't she beautiful for 80 years old!?!?

Well, things have worked out for Copper to actually be off on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day so I'm opting to stay home and kiss my husband at midnight - no disrespect to the girls!

We will of course have the Tater-tot with us too... so this is our new year's party plan - so far (It's a work in progress).

Food: Kid Friendly - I'm thinking chicken nuggets with a variety of dipping sauces, chips, ice cream, pizza rolls and maybe some corn dog bites.

Drink: Sparkling cider and or grape-juice served in Champagne flutes of course.

Fun: I'm going to try to find fun party hats, poppers with prizes inside, streamers, noise makers, etc. We'll also have some jigsaw puzzles and games to play.

Of course, with a 5 year old we may count down to "midnight" around 10:00!

Happy New Year!

"It's all in your head..."

That's what my doc told me... which was too funny because he meant that my cold was all in my head (as in sinuses, nose, throat) and not in my lungs... but for a second I was like....

"Hey! I'm not imagining this!"

Then I got what he was saying - he also offered to write me a note saying that I MUST miss another day of work... but I figured best not to take advantage... besides with the killer antibiotic he prescribed me I should be feeling better by morning anyway!

Coolest doc ever!

Deck the halls with what?!?!?!?

Tater singing:

"Deck the hall with popcorn candy
Fa la la la la, la la la la"

I think I like his version better that the original!

I always like things I can eat!

Facebook... revolutionizing the disconnect of humankind!

Okay - So I am on Facebook... and I've discovered that there are various types of Facebooks users...

The over-updaters - "I'm drinking coffee," "I just sneezed" (their over-updating friends will surely comment 'bless you' right?)

The soap-boxers - Whether their platform is political, environmental, moral, whatever... these are the ones you end up unfriending - not because you don't agree with them but because you can't stand wading through all their crap to find out who's been to Starbucks or rearranged their closet lately!

The Gamers - whether they are in a mob, a pirate family, a farm in farmville or whatever these people fall into the same category as the soap boxers - not because I don't care that they adopted a lost cow or found the golden cell phone, but because I don't have TIME to read all that crap... someone I sort of care about may have just gotten new andirons!

The un-endingly clever - these people only post things that I will never have a snowballs chance in hell of understanding. They are so lofty and esoteric and they would never post something as mundane as a run to their local indie coffee bar (I'm sure they are too good for Starbucks).

I don't know what category I fall into - I probably overshared about my latest fever induced hallucination while surviving a cold... but sometimes I'm clever... never as clever to others as I think I am, but still...

Before I created a facebook page a friend of mine trying to convince me to join facebook summed it up well... "there are people in your life that you don't REALLY want to reconnect with in a meaningful way but its nice to know they aren't dead."

I couldn't have said it better if I'd said it myself.... now where's my coffee?

It's Ralph!

He's just BARELY cute enough to get off the hook for

making a 'mess' all over my garage last night!

I will say this - for sure:

Stepping barefoot in puppy poo is NEVER a good way to start your day!

New Puppy!

Welcome our newest family member...

What's his name!?!?!
(Seriously, we haven't named him yet!)

We've narrowed it to Ralph, Napoleon, Fredo, Maverick, and Foley.

If you have a vote - let me know in comments!

Halloween Pics!

Our crash test dummy - crawling out of his grave in our front yard...

Batman and Hermione!

I got a rock...

It's that time of year bloggie friends.... time to set your DVRs or if you are lucky, get out your personal copy of It's the Great Pumkin Charlie Brown on DVD and start watching it...

Halloween - one of my very favorite times of year!

Coincedently - I ALWAYS look for any excuse to dress up and vote in favor of dressing up at work any time there is democracy in action...

Ask Copper what he's going to be for Halloween and his answer is.... "A Grownup" I think he's really dressed as a Party Pooper!

This year I'm stepping out of the mainstream and letting my inner geek out of the closet... I'm going to be Hermione from Harry Potter... The only things I can think of more geeky than this are Princess Leia, or Frodo... (if you know of others please share and make me feel cooler!)

My costume is gonna be truly legen...... (wait for it)...... dary! I certainly don't believe in buying premade costumes (see this post from last Halloween for that soap box).

I actually did buy premade for my son this year... for the life of me - if I could have sewn a cool muscle chest batman myself I would have! What a piece of flimsy crap!

My costume consists of items from my own closet, items from goodwill, a homemade from scratch house robe with lined hood, a handmade and decorated magic want and two small store bought costume accessories.

Stay tuned for photos, friends!

Tater-isms 2009

While playing Wii Sports Tennis with Copper:

Tater: Wow, we just got balls, Daddy!


Well.... they do...

In the home, Stretch!

My puppy, Stretch... isn't he a strange combination of a Bassett Hound and something taller?

Well, one leg is getting a little shorter today.

A week and a half ago some utility workers didn't latch the gate when they left our backyard and our doofy dog nosed open the gate and got out.... where he promptly got hit by a car.

To his credit - he knew what to do... he limped his way to our front porch and gave his best 'yowl' and my husband heard the noise and came to the door. He had a few bad gashes, and some road burn, but the main problem was his dislocated hip.

The doctor tried to put it back in joint but it just wouldn't stay in joint so today the are going to remove the 'ball' part of the ball and socket... apparently scar tissue will grow in its place and make a new painless hip joint for him... It is amazing to me how quickly animals can bounce back from a trauma- he was even excited about going to the vet this morning!

He's probably the least intelligent dog ever... a big goofy, clumsy, oaf... but he doesn't have a mean bone in his body... any he loves us!

That's the story - but for those still reading - here's a bonus Tater-ism...

This morning at 6:30 am - while it was still dark out - I loaded Stretch into the car to go to the vet and told Tater to get in the car... He looked out in the driveway and is his most authoritative voice said...

"Mommy, we can't take Stretch to the doctor in the middle of the night! The doctor's office isn't even open right now!"

Fox

(P.S. Yes - we are putting a padlock on our gate!)

Don't apologize, it's a sign of weakness...

Thanks, Gibbs (from NCIS) for that wisdom... I will forge ahead without any mention of how long I've been gone!

I'm changing careers!

I don't want to be a banker... I never wanted to be one... its a career I sort of fell in to and tried to convince myself I liked it just because I was good at it... but I don't like it... not at all!!

I have two nights left of a very intensive program which teaches me what I need to know to become certified to teach in the state of Texas...

That's right... I'm going to be Mrs. Copper's Fox, your friendly junior high social studies teacher...

Why would I give us a cushy job as a banker for the thankless hours of grading papers, monitoring the carpool lane, planning lessons, etc. ?

I wouldn't, if I didn't totally feel that it is where I'm meant to be! I'm so excited about this and it just feels so right!

So - stay tuned for more teacher talk...

Copper's Fox

Shoot off the fireworks - its the 3rd of July?

I've never understood how people can turn the single day of a holiday (ie Independence Day) into a month of celebration... or well a week anyway.

For instance - almost no one I know has Friday off - but daycare is closed... its not enough for people to just be glad that the 4th falls on a Saturday and they don't have to work - they feel cheated out of a holiday and so they've got to have friday off too!

OF COURSE - If my employer had chosen to give me Friday off - I would totally be arguing the other side of this issue!

A quirk of the banking industry - if the holiday is on Saturday- you don't get Friday off - if its on Sunday - you do get Monday.... and we get random days like Columbus Day - so I'm not really complaining...

Instead - I'm scrambling to make alternate child care arrangements for the little know holiday called 3rd of July... and dreading a regular 5 day work week...

Ah, well - C'est la vie.

So Ashamed...

It was April - then I blinked - now its June!

Copper's been on nights - luckily that's about to change.

Tater tot broke his arm last week and this week he has strep throat so we are just having tons of fun at our house right now!

I promise, dear friends (you are still out there, right?) that I have not abandoned you... I promise to be much more faithful going forward.

Copper's Fox

Easter Fun

Even if I tried a "Wordless Wednesday" I'm just not good at being wordless.... However, here are some pics from this weekend's festivities.

Tater tot turned out to be a fine frisbee thrower!

Papa B and Nana both played with him as did his Great-Grandpa B.

This was, of course after the Easter Egg hunt - so my pictures are in reverse order here.


It was also after the Birthday party.







Here's a little "Incredible Hulk" green GRIN - thanks to the Birthday Cake icing.







And finally- my little egg hunter... man he needs a hair cut!

Good Movies, Good Books, Yummy Cake and Happy Easter

My mom lent me a copy of the movie Bride and Prejudice. If you have a chance to rent it- WATCH IT. It was so fun and cute. It's a retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set in modern day India. A bit English Romantic Era with a good dose of Bollywood thrown in. I don't normally always agree with my mom's assessment of movies but this one is actually really cute... I watched it 3 times before lending it to a friend who will hopefully get it back to me in time to return it to mom this weekend when we gather for Easter.

We are having a bake sale at work Friday and are making mostly 'big' desserts that will appeal to people who don't want to have to bake for their Easter get togethers... so I'm making an Orange Marmalade Cake (from The Mitford Books) and a dump cake (from the Pioneer Woman's website)... and... well, maybe something else - but that might be it for me! The Orange Marmalade recipe is 2 pages long and its totally from scratch! Thankfully the dump cake is blissfully easy. (Oddly - pioneer woman has a totally different orange marmalade cake too!)

If you've never read the Mitford books by Jan Karon you need to read them. It's a great series of fictional books about Father Tim - Rector of the Episcopal Church in Mitford NC. His escapades and experiences are just so fun! I don't even like Orange Marmalade but when I read the stories about this 'famous' cake that - because he just couldn't resist - caused a diabetic coma and almost sent Father Tim to his Maker, I crave it...
More about that and the recipe here -

Next week we are having food day and the theme is "Mom's best recipe" so I emailed mom and asked her what her best recipe was and she gave me like 10 so I still have to whittle through them and decide. I was thinking "Lucky and Dumplins" but she didn't think that was her "best" although it may be her most original!

This weekend we have our family Easter shindig. Mom's one of seven kids - six of whom felt called to breed - and their kids have popped out an amazing number of great-grandchildren for my Grandma... My sis has 5, My cousin K has 3, my cousin C has 2, other cousin K has 3, I have 1 and my Uncle J - not born until mom was 18 so he's in my generation has 3 also! I also have 4 or 5 other cousins with off spring that live out of state and I've honestly lost count on them! So the grand total of people of all ages at this thing will be between 20 and 30 people!

For the first year ever my mom talked her mom into having Easter at mom's big 2 story house instead of my grandma's 1100 sq. ft. shoe box of a house... There's something to be said for being able to get far enough away from my Uncle J not to hear him yelling! Even when he's happy he sounds mad... and he's just LOUD!

Mom's back yard is pretty barren (just grass- no clutter or trees or anything!) so she said she was planning to plant some flower beds in the back yard so there are actually some places to hide eggs! Interesting motivation to take up gardening... but whatever...

Didn't mean for this post to reference my mom seven billion times... it just did... and that's okay... because despite being "Martha Stewart without the criminal background" she is a pretty neat lady.

Liturgy, Legacy, and Palm Branches

Okay - Copper's working 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. now - Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesdays each week. He sleeps during the day so it is challenging to keep Tater-tot quiet on Sundays when we get home from Church.

Today I went to Tater-tot's Sunday School class. It was totally cool. The teacher had wooden figures cut to be Jesus and the twelve disciples - she had a little table just their size and recreated the upper room/last supper. There was a little silver chalice and a brown lump of play-doh was the bread which she broke and explained that Jesus shared the bread with the disciples.

Then she explained Jesus washing their feet. And how Peter tried to stop him. Next, we all took off our shoes and washed each others feet.

She led all of the children (3-6 years old) in reciting a litany about Jesus and who he was, lit a candle, read the scripture for that lesson - the story of the upper room. Asked all to share what they were "happy" about and then let me (as the helper) snuff the candle and all of the children knew to speak the response "Jesus is always with us." once the candle was snuffed out.

Finally we shared a "feast" of cookies and water. She had a special way to end - she called each child one at at time to throw away their napkin and cup and then hug her goodbye.

It was truly a special and unique time. So many teachers just do a work sheet or get out play-doh or paints, so to have special rituals and liturgy that they do every week with 4 year olds was just really cool.

After Sunday School all of the children - even the little babies (carried by parents) got to be in the processional with palms and lay palms next to the altar...

So overall - it was a red letter day for Tater tot.

Copper's Fox

Everyone sing along with Tater-tot

There was a farmer, had a dog
And Dingo was his name, O
EINGO, EINGO, EINGO
And Dingo was his name O

(Did a Dingo eat the baby?)

Please don't laugh at that - it was the worst joke EVER!

Hobbying along

We went on an adventure in search of 5 boxes yesterday (we only found 2 of them). I won't post a picture of my bruises... I also started a new part of this hobby - stamp carving!

Here is my first attempt - my new personal signature stamp

It was a fun attempt - I've already made some more carved stamps! And one for Tater Tot.

Tater tot's stamps is made of fun foam:

The Dachsund is in honor of my Step-dad and his beloved "Maximillian BA Dog"

A New Hobby...

Letterboxing!

Oddly it involves neither writing letters or prancing around in satin shorts hitting someone!

It is the most beautiful combination of treasure-hunting, hiking, and stamps.

A great hobby for men, women and kids! It gets you out of the house into nature and challenges your mind with clues!

Here's how it works. You get a book (a log book, if you will) and a stamp (lots of people hand carve original designs, lots don't!) and an inkpad. You look on line at Atlas Quest or Letterboxing North America and find clues to a box in your area.

Finally you pack the same gear you would for a walk or hike, (water bottle, sunscreen, etc.) and you set forth. Once you find the box (sometimes as small as a film canister!) you take the stamp from inside the box and stamp your logbook with it - then you use your stamp to stamp the log book in the box!

Always leave the nature around you the same or better as you found it. Use stealth so no one sees you find your treasure.... and always, always make sure to re-hide the box as well or better as you found it.

I promise once you start this hobby you will quickly be addicted!

If you want more info check out this article published in The Smithsonian in 1998 - this article is widely credited for the popularity of Letterboxing in the US today.

Even in our little 'middle of nowhere' town in Central Texas there are several boxes to find!

Copper's Fox

Where did she go?

I know - you may be wondering... where did she go? Did she just forget she has a responsibility to her bloggy friends?

No and didn't. I've taken over my work's Relay for Life team and it has been all consuming. I'm making and selling beaded jewelry (oh, and I had to teach myself how to MAKE beaded jewelry), sponsoring bake sales, planning other fundraising events (any ideas?).

Super huge brag for the people in our little town. We raised over $500 in our one little bake sale on Friday.

Copper's still working the same stinky shift but making jewelry on nights when he's working has helped keep me entertained.

I'll post some new taterisms soon.

Fox

A Valentiney list...

Betty at Keeperoftheskieswife posted this list of "couple facts" - so here are mine!

This is kind of like the 25 things - except there are pre-decided questions and it's about you and your spouse or significant other, not just you.

♥ What are your middle names? I go by my middle - my first is Melissa - Copper's middle is Wade

♥ How long have you been together?7 years - married 6

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?about 3 months
♥ Who asked who out? He asked me out - I said no - changed my mind after we'd been friends awhile and then "TOLD" him we would be dating.
♥ How old are each of you? Copper's 37 and I'm his 'pretty young thing' - 32
♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most? Mine
♥ Do you have any children together? Just the Tater-tot (for now... don't read in to that - no plans - just leaving the option open so we can decide at a later date).
♥ What about pets? Stretch - dog, Lillith the mother of all demons - Cat
♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Copper's work schedule!!!
♥ Did you go to the same school? No
♥ Are you from the same home town? Nope.
♥ Who is the smartest? I suppose I eke him out in book smarts (college and such) but he certainly kicks my butt in street smarts.
♥ Who is the most sensitive? Copper's sensitive in the sense that he's tuned in to me and very romantic - I'm the one most likely to freak out for no reason though...
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Lately we are just glad to get to meet for lunch without Copper getting a dispatch call - Jumbo Buffet is our current hotspot...
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?San Antonio, Texas (our honeymoon spot)
♥ Who has the worst temper? We are both pretty even keel but Copper's cranky when he's tired.
♥ Who does the cooking?Copper is an awesome cook!
♥ Who is more social? Definitely me.
♥Who is the neat Freak? Definitely Copper - don't even get me started...
♥ Who is the more stubborn? We are equally stubborn.
♥ Who hogs the bed? Me Me Me
♥ Who wakes up earlier? Depends on Copper's schedule but neither of us are morning people.
♥ Where was your first date? We went to see the first Harry Potter movie and Copper fell asleep during it!
♥ Who has the bigger family?ME - we each have one sibling but I've got 4 parents to his one, and my sibling is married with 5 kids - his is single and always will be!
♥ Do you get flowers often? Not too often - which makes each time I get them that much more sweet!
♥ How do you spend the holidays? Catch as catch can - try to see all the family and keep everyone happy if possible.
♥ Who is more jealous? I don't think either of us are.
♥ How long did it take to get serious? I didn't agree to date him until I knew I wanted to marry him so we got serious pretty quickly.... We were married 11 months after we started dating.
♥ Who eats more? Gee I hope Copper does but some days - well... maybe me.
♥ Who does/ did the laundry? Copper does his laundry, I do mine and we both grab tater's as we can.
♥ Who’s better with the computer? I certainly spend more time on one... but he's better with the technical stuff.
♥ Who drives when you are together?Always him! Interestingly - he sleeps on the "driver's side" of the bed too...

A Message from God...

Riding in the car...

Tater was playing with his toy cell phone. He was holding it with both hands pushing buttons with both thumbs 'a-la-teenager-texting.'

Tater as he's typing - "dear God, help daddy have a good day and thank you for my teachers and for Miss Barbie. Amen."

A few minutes later...

Tater - "Mommy! I just got a message from God on my phone!"

And we all say a collective "awwww, how sweet!"

(isn't that how cults get started!?!?)

25 weird things...

Qweenie has tagged me to share 25 interesting facts... the rules state that I have to tag 25 people - well - I have less than 10 readers (and that's being optimistic) so if you are reading this - you are tagged!

Here are my 25 things -

1. I don't like raw onions - they squeak on my teeth - but cooked onions are fine
2. I don't like black olives but I do like green ones
3. I once chased down and beat up a neighbor boy who was several years older with a two by four (he asked for it when he tried to beat up Eternal)
4. The two by four story earned me the name Hacksaw (after Hacksaw Jim Duggan - a pro wrestler who carries a two by four)
5. When I got the nickname I had to ask someone who Hacksaw Jim Duggan was.
6. After being on Weight Watchers for almost a year I get giddy when I discover new 0 point snacks
7. Sugar Free Jello is a 0 point snack
8. Carrots and celery are 0 point snacks
9. DILL PICKLES are a 0 point snack
10. Girl Scout cookies are not 0 point snacks
11. 7 of the last ten facts were about food... I'm pathetic...
12. I lived for 4 months in England in 1998
13. I visited Africa for two weeks in 2000
14. Hakuna Matata really does mean 'no worries'
15. I once worked as a roadie on a tour bus for a nationally known Christian musician
16. If I told you the name of the musician I bet NONE of you have heard of him (except Eternal)
17. I worked for two weeks at the snack bar of a roller skating rink (worst job ever!) serving chili dogs and pizzas on skates!
18. If I have more than 2 or 3 caffeine drinks a day my heart starts skipping beats...
19. I like to watch Chuck, NCIS, Psych and Monk (only shows with short names for me, apparently)
20. I used to watch Alias too - see... short names...
21. My cell phone ring tone is the theme from Magnum PI
22. Except when Copper calls and then its the Rockford Files.
23. I crochet some and I'm learning to knot, I mean knit.
24. I used to sing in a band
25. I stripped down to lingerie in a musical my freshman year in college (I was a hot box doll in Guys and Dolls)

I'm sure some of these raised more questions than answers but that's what I'm all about!

Tater and Daddy Act II

Getting ready for show-and-tell with the letter J the next day...

Tater - I just don't have anything that starts with the letter J
Copper - You could take a donkey.... (leave it to Copper to make a g-rated jackass joke)
Tater - Daddy, donkey doesn't start with J it starts with.... duh duh D
(we can see the wheels spinning now)
Tater - Daddy - you start with a D for Daddy - your just like a donkey!
(after much laughter we get back on task)
Copper - you could take mommy - her name starts with J
Tater - I can't take mommy - she's too big and heavy...

(gee thanks)

And for the record - he took a jet plane...

Tater-ism - with Daddy

Tater: Hey daddy, guess what me and Nana both start with?
Daddy: A good breakfast each morning?
Tater: No... we start with "N"

(Gotta love Copper's sense of humor).

If I could figure out how to upload it to you-tube (and he'd let me) I'd share the video of Copper getting tasered yesterday. Part of being certified to carry one is knowing what it feels like....

Ouch - probably not as painful to watch as it is to experience but still!

P.S. Lost 4.8 pounds this week! Feeling better!

Tater-ism

Tater - Mommy, God made the world.
Me- Yes, he did.
Tater - First God made the sun and moon
Me - Mm hmm
Tater - The he made the grass and all, all, all the stars...
Me - that's right
Tater - then he made all the animals and then
Adam and Adam's Brest Friend Eve...

Have a great week everyone!

Warning: This post contains *whines* and *gripes*

I've had a rough couple of weeks... Overwhelming sense that I'm messing stuff up - at work and at home... no real proof in the pudding one way or the other... just insecurity I guess...

I guess I've just been focusing on the negative... the times I said or did the wrong thing... the bad food that I ate when I'm supposed to be sticking to my diet... and I haven't wanted to bring down the blogosphere with my mood... but if I can't be totally honest and real here... in this safe place where none of you even know who I 'really' am... where can I be?

I'm coming out of the funk... getting a better perspective... looking on the sunny side of life...

I guess we all have a let down after the holidays and that was mine... I'm disappointed I suppose. Copper was given a great schedule starting in January... 7am-5pm Tuesday-Friday... evenings and weekends off... then two people quit to go to the sheriff's office and now his got 11am-9pm Friday-Monday and is off Tuesday-Thursday... ick.

I know that next quarter it will shift again and it might be a new schedule but we are only 2 weeks into this one and I'm already sick of it! PRAY FOR ME!

I've also discovered that the main hinderance to my weight loss is that I'm a bored eater... and with no Copper around (and not a ton of money for going out and entertaining myself) I'm bored... a lot... I'm working this problem... thinking of cheap and entertaining things to do... for me and Tater-tot on the weekend. And I'm sticking to my weight loss program... attending my meetings... counting my points... and not cheating...

Identifying the problem is half the battle right?!?!? Now I'll be able to resist Cherry Sours (10 are 3 points) and Chex Mix (2/3 cup is 3 points) -my two latest cravings!

Better days are coming... brighter times are ahead... and we are all along for the ride!

So remember, friends, what the Monty Python boys always say...

Nobody expects a Spanish Inquisition...

That dirty boy...

I don't know what they did at school today... but I guess it was fun! Look at his dirty little hands!

This morning on the way to school we stopped a light and the car next to us was....

COPPER - in his squad car patroling the school zone...

Tater tot thought it was so cool to see his Daddy in his police car... as we pulled into the school parking lot he said "What a great Daddy!" (I couldn't make up something that sweet!)

Happy Friday everyone!

Copper's Fox

Monday is Photo Phunday!

New year's Eve! The Slumber party of all Slumber Parties! At Mom's with Aunt B and Aunt P, Mom and me... and Tater-tot... (Mom's husband B was there too but stayed scarce with all us crazy women running around.)


Aunt B brought some cute Christmas crafts for us to try out. This is my attempt at a Hershey's Kiss Angel.





And a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Tree










And a Candy Cane stick horse (made with felt). I must say I'd forgotton how much hot-glue burns your fingers...








The ladies and Noah having a celebration... (To be honest this pic was taken New Years Day because we forgot to get out the cameras at Midnight - that's why there's sun glare!)






Finally - the best for last - This is the craft project that my mom taught us... mine turned out pretty good I think!

New Year's Questionairre

Giving credit where credit is due - I stole this from Eternal Sunshine who stole it from someone else who, I don't know, may have actually made it themselves... or maybe they stole it too...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Started blogging...

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year because resolutions are meant to be broken - but I resolved (in a self-evaluating moment not associated with New Years) last year to lose weight and I did.... I lost 30 and have gained 10 back for Christmas... This year I similarly resolve in a mental ceremony having nothing to do with the date on the calendar to continue my weight loss journey toward losing another 70 (probably will take more than a year - and I'm okay with that).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?A long time friend from 8th grade (whom I'd lost touch with in recent years) had her first this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?Eternal mentioned our uncle M in her post... it's still doesn't seem like he's gone.

5. What countries did you visit?
In 2008 - or ever? - in 2008- I may have gone a few places in my mind... but that's it.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I have everything I need. oooh... I'd like more willpower where food is concerned!

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
September 11, 2008 is the date my husband, Copper, started his new career as a police officer.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 30 pounds...

9. What was your biggest failure?
Gaining 10 pounds...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Do paper cuts and pimples count?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
two things -Garnier Nutritionist Nutri-Pure microbead cream scrub (oil free) and Skin Renew daily regenerating moisture lotion (w SPF 15) (for the money the best I've found - and I'm a picky "mary kay" user)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Tater-tot potty trained this year... at last!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
So many politicians, so many financial 'experts.'

14. Where did most of your money go?
chicken nuggets and apple juice - seriously though, mortgage and car are the two biggest ticket items.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I seriously enjoyed the 2008 Bejing Olympics.

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2008?
I don't listen to 'new' music... so I really can't answer this one.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Playing with Tater-tot, moving, loving...

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complaining... being lazy...

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I already spent it... and I mean SPENT (LOL)

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Copper

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I'm in so deep I can't see the surface... but that didn't happen in '08... it's been ongoing since 2001.

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
Ummm... I have one night stand on each side of the bed...

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Chuck, NCIS, Eli Stone, Monk, Psych.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
As we tell Tater-tot "Hate is an ugly word that we don't use in this house."

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon - If you haven't read her Mitford series of books you MUST go to your local library and check them out!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My son's skills on the recorder may have had a chance to revolutionize the industry but alas the recorder is broken... and so quickly after getting it in his Christmas Stocking...

28. What did you want and get?
A new job/career happiness for Copper

29. What did you want and not get?
I actuallyapplied for a promotion and work and didn't get it... I think its for the best but it still stung...

30. What were your favorite films of this year?
The only new movie I saw this year that actually came out this year was Sex and the City... but I seriously dug Transformers, and Knocked Up, both of which I saw for the first time during 2008.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
32 - (not question - 32 - I was 32 years old.) Copper made homemade Zuppa Toscana (If you've eaten at Olive Garden you know what it is!) It's a creamy soup with potato, Italian sausage and kale. He found the recipe on the Internet and made it for me... and we had Italian salad and bread sticks too.

32. What's one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My 2008 was awesome!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Incredible Shrinking Woman... baggy because I've lost weight is IN...

34. What kept you sane?
Copper

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
"Fancy?" whoever made this questionnaire must be British...

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politics in general were stirring this year...

37. Who did you miss?
Copper - during each and every shift.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Bloggy friends

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Singing:
"Have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry.
When you get impatient you only start to worry.
Remember, remember that God has patience too
And think of all the times when others have to wait on you."


40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
See 39... ha ha... Seriously. Copper graduated the police academy in August 2007 and didn't get that first job offer for over a year (result of living in a really small town just a little too far away from everyone that's hiring!). So patience, and trust in God's timing and plan were big lessons this year...

Happy New Year everyone! Let's make 2009 remarkable!