Looking Back at 2005...

Looking back at 2005...

Well, another year is coming to an end. I spent much of the year stressed out, and trying to adjust to having 2 kids, while working full-time and keeping up with household cleaning and such. But there certainly were fun and good times too. I’ve enjoyed watching the boys grow and learn more every day. And I feel like I’ve learned a few things too, even if some of them were the hard way. Here are some of the highlights from 2005:

* My biggest highlight of 2005 was completing a personal goal that I’ve had for many years. When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I made the goal that I would go to all 48 continental states before I turned 30. Well, I started 2005 with only 2 states left to go- Minnesota and North Dakota. So in May, I jumped in my SUV and drove to Minnesota & North Dakota by myself (against Joe’s wishes, but there was no way I was gonna give up on my goal when I was so close to completing it!). I’m proud to say I completed my goal! (and Joe got over it). Now I hope to eventually visit Alaska & Hawaii too, sometime before I die. But for now I'm content with having completed my goal (especially since I'm about to turn 30 in March).

* Over the summer I took both boys for a day trip to Onondaga Cave while Joe was out of town for work. I had a great time with the boys, they both loved the cave (even Adam who was only 7 or 8 months old at the time! He rode on my back in a baby backpack and just looked around and giggled). After the cave tour, we played by the river for awhile before heading back home.

* In October I took Brendan out for a "Mommy and Son date" as part of an early birthday present. We went to McDonald’s and sat at the big aquarium and looked at fish, and then we went to see "Dragon Tales Live". It was a great show! I enjoyed it much more than I expected! They did a great job and had cool lights effects, and lots of singing and dancing. It was so cute to see all the little kids in the audience dancing & singing at their seats. I’ve never seen so many happy kids at once. Brendan really enjoyed it.

* Also this year we went as a family to the Black River area for a fun weekend. We played in the river, went to Johnson’s Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks, and cooked hotdogs and smores over the campfire. Even though it was terribly hot, we had a great time and Brendan still talks about it.

* Joe had to do some traveling to Nebraska and Iowa with his job this year. He was gone about 4 different times, for a week at a time. Besides our water heater going out the first time he was gone, and our water being shut off (mistakenly) another time he was gone, and the electric company coming and cutting down a bunch of our trees when they only had permission to cut down 3 while he was gone another time, it actually wasn’t too bad. lol

* We started having monthly date nights this year, the first Monday of every month. That was really nice. We knew we’d never get around to it if we didn’t set up a schedule for it, so that’s what we did. We lined up our babysitter for all those Mondays and enjoyed time as a couple without the kids once a month. Most of those we ended up at a local restaurant & brewery because they have all-you-can-eat crablegs on the buffet for only $5.95! But we also saw a movie or two and ate some other places some of the time.

The rest of 2005 was basically just the daily grind of working, house-cleaning, and hanging out around the house with the boys.

In some ways 2005 flew by, and in other ways it seemed to drag on. Either way, I’m looking forward to 2006 and eager to see what the new year will throw our way.