Linda over at Sundry Mourning is hosting her annual New Year's Meme.  Check out her answers and post your own on your blog.  It is a great way to remember the year.  (If you leave Linda a comment, she will add you to the list of participants.)

(Here are my answers from 2006.)

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

Yurt Camping… twice.  And it was SO FUN!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Yes I did keep them, but possibly because I kept them simple.

This year my new years resolution is to do Couch to 5k and (this is the important part) actually finish it this time.  I want to run a 5k race this year (just to finish… not to, you know, win or anything).

Give more.

Read the Bible more.

Pray more.

Be more positive.

Savor every moment with my husband and daughters.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

I wish!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, my Grandfather… but I hardly knew him.

5. What countries did you visit?

Canada

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?


More family photos.  More video.  More peace.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?


June 10 - Tessa's ballet recital 

August 27 - my daughter's first day of Kindergarten

October 6 - my 20 year high school reunion

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


I always dreamed that one day I'd have a daughter in ballet lessons, and that she would dance in a ballet recital.  And that dream came true this year (thanks Tessa!).

9. What was your biggest failure?

I had to come to terms with the fact that my five year old daughter does better at school when I'm not around.  That makes me feel like a failure.



10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

We were so blessed this year… the whole family has been healthy except for a few colds, a sprained ankle… and Rogene's post Thanksgiving dinner bout of food poisoning.  Oh, and Tessa had pneumonia twice.



11. What was the best thing you bought?


Ipods!  How did we ever live without ipods?!

Also (don't laugh) we upgraded to a larger garbage can this year.  We were trying to use the same tiny garbage can that we used when there were just two of us.  Now there are four of us, and one of us wears diapers, and there was an extra bag of garbage that wouldn't fit in the can every week.  Bigger garbage can = happiness.

Senseo Coffee Maker (yum)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?


Tessa, my five year old.  She was afraid of a lot of things this year (Safety Town, Ballet, and Swimming lessons, Vacation Bible School, Kindergarten) but she overcame her fear and even managed to participate in recitals and graduation ceremonies.  I hope she learned that she can have a lot of fun when she overcomes her fear and gives things a chance.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


Emma, my two year old.  Well, maybe it wasn't depressing, but Emma is going through the terrible twos.  Two year old behavior can be pretty appalling sometimes.  Luckily she is adorable, affectionate, cuddly and happy (most of the time).  That makes up for the tantrums.

14. Where did most of your money go?


My daughter started private school this year.  Maybe tuition isn't "most" of our money, but it kind of feels that way.  It is worth it, however.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?


Editing home videos.  Big fun!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?


Start of Something New - High School Musical

Praise You with the Dance - Casting Crowns

Get Down - Audio Adrenaline

Captivate - Starfield

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?


a) happier

b) same - but I wish I was thinner

c) about the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?


Exercise, Dieting

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


Complaining, Being Grumpy

20. How did you spend Christmas?


We had three Christmases.  We opened gifts with my side of the family and had a nice Christmas dinner.  Then we did a early Christmas morning at home with just our kids.  As a big surprise for my husbands family, we drove six hours to Canada and surprised my husbands family who did not think we would be able to make the trip this year.  My girls got to open presents Christmas morning with all eight of their cousins. 

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

(Same answer as last year.)  I've been in love with my husband for 17 years.



22. What was your favorite TV program?

Scrubs, Amazing Race, Beauty and the Geek, Grey's Anatomy, Project Runway, Hell's Kitchen, America's Next Top Model, Survivor



23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?


Well, hate is a strong word, but I met someone new at work this year who really rubbed me the wrong way.

24. What was the best book you read?


Love and Respect by Emmerson Eggerich

Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman (I re-read this one)

Sunrise (also Summer) by Karen Kingsbury

Children's Book - This is the Turkey by Abby Levine

Children's Book - This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?


Starfield, Kutless, Casting Crowns

26. What did you want and get?


New cell phone, ipod nano

27. What did you want and not get?

Mac-book

HD Tivo



28. What was your favorite film of this year?


The Nativity Story

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?


I turned 37 and I went yurt camping for the first time on the Oregon Coast.  In May.  MISTAKE!  It was freezing, freezing cold and the kids got sick and barfed all over me.  But you know, it was also really fun and we made some really great memories.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A maid service



31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Business casual for work, Casual casual for home (including lots of pajamas).



32. What kept you sane?

Making time to do creative things like blog, edit home videos, play the piano.  Reading, chatting or emailing friends.  Going to the spa or book shopping with my friend.  Date nights with Rogene.  Taking the kids to water parks on long, hot summer days.


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


Katherine Heigl, David Beckham

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Illegal Immigration… but I try to keep my political views to myself.  With a republican family and democratic friends… I keep my trap shut good.

35. Who did you miss?


I missed my friends Shanell, Stacie and Aleta in Colorado even though I was lucky enough to see each of them this year at least once.

36. Who was the best new person you met?


Cedric - the baby son of my dear friend Shanell

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.


(This won't be news to anybody…) Life is short.  Don't waste it being unhappy or bitter.  Choose to be happy and enjoy life.

*also*

If you lose something and sincerely pray and ask God to help you find it, He really will.  I'm telling you, it works!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

We're all in this together
Once we know
That we are
We're all stars
And we see that
We're all in this together
And it shows
When we stand
Hand in hand
Make our dreams come true

*** I'm adding two questions to the meme this year.***

39. Favorite quote of the year?

"I'm not going to have the Kung Pao chicken anymore.  It rocks my world." - Rogene

40. Favorite new blog discovery this year (and how did you discover it)?

Swistle (found by reading All & Sundry. Thanks Linda!)

Chilihead over at Don't Try This At Home had a Blogging Story Carnival a while ago.  Since July 14 (posting late again!) was my blogoversary, I thought I'd join in the fun and give you all some of my blogging history.

 Tell Your Blogging Story

• How did you start blogging?

My husband told me about blogs years ago.  He knows I love to read, and thought I would be interested.  I found some blogs I liked (about infertility or parenting) and read them for years before I thought of starting one of my own.  Friday night, July 14, 2006,  I was looking at my pictures in Picasa, and I saw a "Blog This" button.  I clicked on the button, and now, a year later I'm still going strong.  Click here to see my very first post.

• Did you intend to be a blog w/a following? If so, how did you go about it?

I've always wanted my following to be family and friends (some who live far away).  I wanted this blog to be a way for us to keep in touch. 

• What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?

My goal for this blog is for it to be a history record for me and my family to read in years to come… and specifically for my daughters, so they can see what their childhood was like.   When extended family members and friends who we get to see very seldom tell us they read my blog I feel successful.

• Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?

Yes, for a while I got caught up in doing Thursday Thirteen, Works for Me Wednesday and that type of thing.  It was fun to have a lot of blog traffic.  But after a while I realized that what I really want is for this to be more of a family website.

• What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?

How easy it is to blog, and how fun. 

• Do you make money with your blog?

No.  I wouldn't be opposed to making money with my blog, but I don't get enough traffic.

• Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?

Yes.

• What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?

1. Don't be afraid to start.  Just jump right in.

2.  Don't write anything that you don't want someone to find.  They will find it.  And you will be sorry.

More blog catching up to do… back on June 30 Lisa at Our7Qtpies tagged me for the 5 Random Questions Meme.

The rules according to Lisa… "You get tagged with 5 random questions, you answer them, and then make up five of your own to tag someone with."

Here are Lisa's questions for me…

1. What was it about your spouse that made you decide he/she was the one?

I had prayed about finding Mr. Right.  God made it pretty clear to me that Rogene was Mr. Right, so I had no hesitation marrying him.  It has been over 16 years and I still feel so lucky to be married to Rogene.  He is the best husband ever.

2. What was your favorite pet in your entire life? And why?

I had a albino dwarf rabbit when I was in high school named Button.  I loved that little rabbit even though she left rabbit pellets all over the place, including my closet and inside my shoes.

3. What one thing should you give up? (coke, cookies, computer?)

Coffee.

4. What is your most embarrassing moment? Ok, at least name an embarrassing moment!

I went to a banquet when I was in college where the girls ask the guys.  I had asked a friend and there was all sorts of speculation about if I liked him or not, which made me VERY uncomfortable.  The big night came.  I had bought him a beautiful white rose boutonniere.  It looked absolutely perfect, but almost immediately after I pinned it to his suit jacket it started to look a little brown.  As the evening wore on, the rose died completely, turned yellowy brown and withery and just looked terrible.  People were joking that I bought him a dead rose, and it was so embarrassing.  I can hardly think about it to this day.  Kevin, if you ever find this blog… please know that I never meant to buy you a dead rose. 

5. What is your favorite/most interesting/weirdest job you've ever held?

This is not my favorite job… it is the weirdest one I've ever had.  When I was in high school at a boarding academy it was my job to get the salad bar at the cafeteria ready every day.  I chopped up veggies, opened cans of olives and pineapple, set the salad bar up.  We made our own salad dressing every day, and my co-worker Janet and I would add a different spice to the Thousand Island dressing every day (that the recipe did NOT call for).  Sometimes dill, sometimes oregano, sometimes paprika, sometimes cumin, whatever we could find.  We never got complaints, but I always wondered if anyone could tell that we did that.

I tag The Girl with Moxie, Terrific Teens and Oregon Trails End to answer these five random questions and post them on their blog.  Can you tell that I'm trying to get my mom (Oregon Trails End) and sister (Terrific Teens) back into blogging?

1.  What is your favorite flower?  Why?

2.  What is the nicest thing a guy has ever said to you?  The worst thing?

3.  What is your favorite food?

4.  What is your best memory from grade school?

5.  What are you the most proud of?

Please leave me a comment if you play along so I can come read your answers.

I was tagged for the 7 Random Facts meme by Monkey Giggles back on May 10. 

Yes, I've been behind on my blogging since May 10 (at least).  Certain things are keeping me from blogging… you know, kids, laundry, dishes, outdoor summer activities.   I'm making an effort to catch up, and you can tell by the pile of dishes in the sink! 

"Here are the rules as passed on - Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven people to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!"

7 Random Facts about Laughing Mommy

1.  When I cook I like to cut stuff up on paper plates instead of cutting boards.  I never feel like the cutting boards are clean enough.  (No, I'm not a germophobe.)

2.  I've been avoiding our local Library for months, even though my kids and I really enjoy their weekly story time, because I noticed that we get sick every time we go.  Tessa keeps asking me when we are going back to the library, and I give her a vague answer but in my head I think about getting sick again and the word "NEVER!" comes to mind.

3.  In the morning I have to do everything in a specific order or I will forget something.  For instance, I have to brush my teeth, then floss, then put on my watch, then moisturizer, then put on make up.  To deviate from the plan is to forget something.  It is just easier for me this way.

4.  When I send someone an email I reread it first and try to imagine them reading it… what it would sound like to the recipient.

5.  I'm more afraid of black spiders than brown ones.

6.  I'd like to try bungee jumping, even though it terrifies me.

7.  I would wear sandals all year round if I could.  Flip flops too.

Welcome to my krazee mind. 

I tag…

1. Pam at Terrific Teens
2. Maris at Oregon Trails End
3. Kiara at Kay's Blog
4. Rogene at Real Tech Solutions
5. Howard at Hodges Blog
6. Karen at Cheese and Whine
7. Katkat at No Diet Coke for Mommy

Can't wait to hear the weird stuff about all of you!

Favorite Song From Childhood: Pretty much any song by the "Heritage Singers"… my parents played Heritage Singers records every Friday night and Saturday.  ("Comin' Back to Jesus"/"The Longer I Serve Him"/"Thank You Jesus"/"If Heaven Was Never Promised to Me"/"Praise the Lord, He Never Changes" stick out in my mind as a few favorites).

Favorite High School Dance Song: "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" by Wang Chung and "Kiss Him Goodbye" by the Nylons

Senior Class Song: "Happy Together" by the Nylons.  I'm not even kidding.

Favorite Rock & Roll Song: "Bad Medicine" or "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi  and "Photograph" by Def Leppard

(Deedee's answer totally made me laugh.  It is “Shook Me All Night Long” by AC DC. Don’t judge me.)

Favorite Disco Song: "Stayin' Alive" - I don't know who sings this song… I picture John Travolta singing it.

Favorite Country Western Song: "Something More" by Sugarland and "Who Says You Can't Go Home" by Bon Jovi/Sugarland

Favorite Pop Song: (from my college days) "A Little Respect" by Erasure and "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul

Favorite All Time Love Song: "I Love You Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel - (MESSAGE TO BILLY JOEL: IF YOU START SINGING THIS SONG AT YOUR CONCERTS AGAIN I'LL COME TO ONE.  OTHERWISE, FORGET IT!)

Favorite Break Up Song:  "Girl Can't Help It" by Journey

Favorite Make Out Song: "I Do (Cherish You)" by 98 Degrees and "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer

Song That Always Makes You Cry: "What Sin?" by Morgan Cryer and "Let There Be Peace on Earth" by pretty much anybody and "Friends are Friends Forever" by Michael W. Smith

Songs About Your Kid/s:

Tessa: "Hold on to Jesus" by Erin O'Donnell
Emma: "Little Stars (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)" by Jim Brickman
And "The Skidamarink Song" and "Jesus Loves the Little Ones like Me, Me, Me" and "Fingerprints of God" by Stephen Curtis Chapman for both!

Song That Reminds You Of Your Husband: "Still the One" by Orleans, "You're Smiling Face" by James Taylor, and "I Will Be Here" by Stephen Curtis Chapman

Favorite Christmas Song: "What Sweeter Music" and "The Angels Carol" by the Cambridge Singers and John Rutter

Favorite Gospel/Praise Song: "Ancient of Days"/"Trading My Sorrows"/"All in All"/"Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" 

Favorite Ringtone on Cellphone: Ringtone?  Ringtones are for cool people.  My cell phone still has the original, loud, rocky song blaring.  (I'm lame, I know.)

I added some categories to the meme, because these songs were very important to me, but don't fit into any of the above categories. 

Favorite Song to Listen to in Hard Times (in college): "Friend of a Wounded Heart" by Wayne Watson

Favorite Song to Listen to after a Miscarriage:  "That's the Way"  by Jo Dee Messina

Favorite Songs the Helped Me Survive Infertility: "Sometimes He Calms the Storm" by Scott Krippayne and also "Adonai" and "Dreams I Dream for You" by Avalon

Oooo, now I have to go listen to music so I can remember more of my favorite songs and come back to change my answers.