New Year, New Town, New Hobby

Top 8 of 2010

8. We enjoy a wonderful vacation with family in San Diego. Luke gets splashed by Shamu, which he finds to be less than enjoyable; however, Matt and I disagree. It was great hearing Luke say, "I don't like that Shamu!"

7. Luke goes to Mr. Ben's pre-school classroom. Mr. Ben inspires Luke to play guitar and various other stringed instruments. Additionally, Luke becomes quite the card shark with Slap Jack being his specialty. Luke thrives and makes great friends and memories. I have to say that Mr. Ben is the type of teacher you pray to have your child encounter. His enthusiasm and passion for teaching definitely recharged my teaching batteries each day.

6. Matt pays off his car! Enough said!

5. I get hired to teach summer school. The best day of summer school was mystery water day. We devoted the entire day to mixing different substances and colors in water. The kids loved it.

4. I get hired to teach 1st grade! First graders can be a lot of things, but they are always funny. I will have to create a top ten list just based on the funny things that my room full of munchkins have said. The best part of teaching first grade is clearly the comedy.

3. Matt gets a new job in Tucson, and we achieve our 5 year dream in just under 4 years. While leaving my first grade class is bittersweet, I am now honestly looking forward to what the pretty desert has in store. Pretty desert may seem like an oxymoron; however, if you have ever visited Yuma and then Tucson, you can clearly see that Tucson is like a desert Eden compared to the Yuma desert.

2. I graduate from NAU with highest honors. Matt mistakes Summa Cum Laude for some type of sumo wrestling honor. Hearing Dr. Hess read my name and honor was purely fantastic. Mission accomplished.

1. We find out that we are expecting a new little munchkin in June. Luke is warming up to the idea, so long as he gets to teach the baby how to ride a motorcycle. Deal.

Hopes and Aspirations for 2011?

2011 will be a year of changes, but that being said, what year is not? I don't like resolutions. I don't like the idea of creating grand prophecies for a new year. I do, however, feel that a new year provides the opportunity for each person to make the most out of life, family and time. I am sure that this year will have its roses and thorns, but I like the idea of remembering to stop to smell the sweetness of each rose, while also remembering that the pain of each thorn is temporary.

I have a very good life right now. As I type, my husband is making breakfast, and my son is sitting in next to me asking me questions about dinosaurs. Not bad. Not bad at all.