2009 Year in Review

Happy New Year's Eve Everyone!

I know Time's and Forbes and CNN all have their "2009 Year in Review" events, but these are MY 2009 Year in Review Events.

So much to be grateful for--and to smile about.

Highlights
 

* Spending another year with Dave.

* Adopting LuLu and Ray.

* TONS of memories with the kids. They make everything worth it.

* Dave and Jonah being with Gpa Mike when he passed away.

* Taking the whole family to Gpa Mike's funeral--and spending 3 days with Dave's fam.

* Dave losing 30+ pounds (yeowwwwwwwww!).

* Jonah, Kaya and Paigey going to new schools--and liking it!

* Camry working with Andrea!

* Health.

* Temple Celebration--Jonah and Cam.

* The innauguration of Barack Obama.

* New Temple opening in our neighborhood.

* Visit from Pat, Bet and cousins.

* Snow. (Jonah snowblowing.)

* Sun.

* Kindra (yes, the sun leads me to Kindra--in the chronology of my brain).

* Rain.

* Julie & Julie (the movie, the book, the cooking it inspired...beef bourg).

* Serving in Primary for nearly 3 years.

* My mom learning to email.

* Getting grass in our backyard--and having the Copper Rose Way Village install it (thank you!).

* Dave and I being employed.

* A crazy fun bday.

* Single Ladies by Beyonce. Enough. Said. The parodies. The video. Glee. (Oh, and Debi D having that as her ring tone. Holy crap life is fun.)

* YouTube viral "Wedding" video--to Chris Brown's "Forever."

* The book, "Power of Now."

* Blogging.

* Flowers.

* Email.

* Pork loins/Jeff and Janae (PS: Janae asks me one Friday night in April, "do you plan to adopt again?" And 10 minutes later, a social worker calls me to ask if we'd be willing to foster kiddos for 5-8 weeks in the summer. The kids? Ray and LuLu! Note to self: Janae has direct line to BMU, Big Man Upstairs.)

* Going to meet the Pioneer Woman with Amy B.

* Miss Saigon with Ang, Whitt, and Liz (persistent, you guys are!).

* LuLu keeping her finger after the "church chair incident."

* Getting laundry cubbies and a huge bookshelf--both gave order to my life! Ahh!

* Getting major dental surgery and surviving both the procedure and the bill.

* Empanandas!

* Swimming at the Daybreak pool this summer . . . a lot (like on LuLu's bday, in the rain--the only ones there!).

* Snuggies.

* Glitter toes.

* Surviving the Justice System and DCFS process.

* Visits from Gpa and Gma Hucks--and Gpa surviving a December heart attack!

* Bowling at BYU.

* Dodger game/Dave and kids.

* Baby kitty, Chase.

* Heather and Toto.

* Chelene.

* New babies--lots of them this year.

* Glee, Chuck, Modern Family, Ugly Betty.

* A MAJOR firework show on Copper Rose this year (thanks Andersons!).

* Jen's idea to decorate Heather's home for Christmas. Best feeling ever.

* Meeting Jamie Gaga. I love you (you, too, Mike!).

* Oh! And Sirius Radio. Love it.

Lowlights

* Gpa Mike passing from Alzheimer's.

* Passing of sweet Brigham.

* Dave traveling a lot. (The high to this--he never stays longer than he has to. Crazy travel guy.)

* LuLu's finger "incident" at the church. Holy meat grinder.

* Not exercising. At all.

* A lot of bad hair. My own.

* Being less patient than I should be.

* Not getting to CA to see my family.

* Losing Fajhdi and Sebastian the cats. Ugh. Painful to lose pets.

* Getting cranky over things that really don't matter in the big picture.

* Losing sleep over things that really don't matter in the big picture.

* American Idol--not my favorite season.

* Not getting down to see family this year.

* Not launching "Deseret Housewife on Hysteria Lane" (THIS is the year!).

* Not writing "It bothers me that you bother me," the book. (Mom's title, my story.)

* Caring too much about the dishes being clean.

* Not taking a vacation with Dave.

* Texting too much.

* Too much McDonald's. I. Can't. Stand. It.

* Not getting out to see Mary/Rory or Christine.

This is still one of my favorite photos of the year.

(It makes me think, "There's greatness in all people. And that there's work to be done, Dawn. Get out and do it." I'm pretty sure it's the message President Obama was sending me as he took a quick moment to collect his thoughts before this event.)