The New Year's quiz
1. what did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
2005: Plan wedding
2006: Married and Honeymoon!
2007: bought house-got preggers
2008: Gave birth

2. did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2005:I kept most of them at one time or another. I didn't go to Europe with Kent, however.
2006:I accomplished a few more (I keep a list on the fridge and a few more are checked off).
2007: went backwards here
2008: Can't remember what they were- I didn't keep any weight loss if there were any but I feel I was a good mom. Yes I will make more and here they are: Be a better friend, Lose weight / be healthier, start daycare.

3. did anyone close to you give birth?
2005:My Cousin Chu had his second baby this year.
2006: My friends Genevieve and Rich had Joshua and Chris and Trish had Madeline
2007: Angie had Aaron
2008: Myself

4. did anyone close to you die?
2005:My grandpa Charles Anthony Wuennemann died around St. Patty's day
2006: No, thank goodness
2007: no
2008: no

5. what countries did you visit?
2005: Mexico and America
2006: Mexico and America
2007: USA
2008: USA

6. what would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
2005: more money and a single job that makes me happy.
2006: More time with Kent (travel)
2007: better places of employment for Kent and I- time w/baby
2008: In home Daycare

7. what date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
2005: Hurricane Katrina and the poor doggies left in the storm.
2006: September 2nd: My wedding!
2007: April when I woke up and took pregnancy test- telling Kent... yikes.
2008: The day Obama was elected. I cried with joy.

8. what was your biggest achievement of the year?
2005: Being a good girlfriend to Kent and trying to be a good friend.
2006: Getting "one job to rule them all!"
2007: gestating human
2008: Being a Mom

9. what was your biggest failure?
2005: Not going to Europe.
2006: Getting into Guitar Lessons and having to bow out after a month because I didn't have time to practice.
2007: RFYP - I will say no more.
2008: Not getting a better job.

10. did you suffer illness or injury?
2005: It was decided that I suffer of depression
2006: A sprained ankle, sprained wrist, and a bout with a digestive virus
2007: felt ill most of this year
2008: Was healthy towards the end but had trouble with knee problems and a few fevers/exhaustion.

11. what was the best thing you bought?
2005: I bought a bike off my friend, Melissa's, Dad.
2006: I got a lot of gifts this year so I didn't buy anything too major. Maybe my Honeymoon...
2007: house
2008: a baby

12. whose behavior merited celebration?
2005: My girlfriend Genevieve and her husband Dr. Rich got knocked up!
2006: Everyone who went to my wedding! Thanks for coming- everyone was a joy to be with!
2007: Kent - for putting up w/ me
2008: My Popo retired

13. whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
2005: I plea the right to stay silent!
2006: Oh my, this really is an incriminating question. You know who you are...
2007: I hereby eliminate this question- too risky...

14. where did most of your money go?
2005: Bills.
2006: Wedding stuff or bills.
2007: house
2008: House/bills/baby

15. what did you get really, really, really excited about?
2005: Planning my wedding, the prospect of moving and going to school, seeing my parents.
2006: Getting Married and going on my honeymoon. Quitting the school job and working at Reach.
2007: my baby
2008: Friendtoberfest in Chicago '08

16. what song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
2005: ?
2006: "Fly me to the Moon" - Frank Sinatra
2007: "Santa baby" METROMIX!
2008: "Applebottom jeans with the fur, with the fur..."

17. compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder?:
2005: Happy- hooray for medication!
2006: Happier (not due to meds :)
2007: bigger highs and lows
2008: Happier

ii. thinner or fatter?:
2005: maybe a little fatter
2006: a little thinner
2007: fattest ever
2008: Is it possible- Fatter.

iii. richer or poorer?:
2005: Approximately the same.
2006: richer (a little)
2007: way poorer
2008: I repeat, was it possible: Poor

18. what do you wish you’d done more of?
2005: Traveling
2006: Camping
2007: standing up for myself
2008: Spending time with family

19. what do you wish you’d done less of?
2005: sleeping. I slept most of 2005 away.
2006: watching TV
2007: crying and throwing up
2008: eating

20. how did you spend Christmas?
2005: With my honey, Kent, warm and cozy.
2006: with Mom and Dad (lots of food and fun!)
2007: Kent, Mom and Dad- CF
2008: Iowa City with Kent, Lucia, and Grand-In-laws

22. did you fall in love in 2005?
2005:I am always falling in love again with Kent.
2006: ditto
2007: ditto
2008: I fell hopelessly in love with Lucia

23. what was your favorite TV program?
2005: Project Runway
2006: Lost
2007:Intervention
2008: Six feet under (borrowed and rented on DVD)

24. do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
2005: No
2006: Sort of...in retrospect
2007: oh, yeah...
2008: No.

25. what was the best book you read?
2005: Harry Potter #6 was pretty good.
2006: another Douglas Adams book. They are pretty funny
2007: Paolo Cohelo- Zahir
2008: I'm going to pick: "Time Traveler's wife" and "The confessions of Max Tivoli" because they got me reading again.

your greatest musical discovery?
2005: That I hate R. Kelly's multi par song "In the closet"
2006: Shakira SHAKIRA!!!
2007: METROMIX CHOIR
2008: Dr. Jean

(I don’t know what happened to 27 and 28)

29. what did you want and get?
2005: I wanted a nice place to have a wedding and I got it... wedding still on the way!
2006: a happy and joyous family filled wedding!
2007: I didn't know I Wanted it but I guess pregnant...
2008: I wanted a healthy beautiful baby and I got it.

30. what did you want and not get?
2005: I generally want too much so I won't bore you with the list.
2006: (shhhhh.... a wedding band)
2007: job stability
2008: A better job.

31. what was your favorite film of this year?
2005: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
2006: maybe "Running with Scissors"
2007: maybe "Once"
2008:I sorta went bananas over "Mamma Mia" b/c of Colin Firth (my idol).

32. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
2005: I turned 28. I can't remember. Must not have been too exciting. Unless it was the one where I got the New England travel guide from Andy and JR- In which case I had a nice breakfast at my friends' Melissa and Sarah's house.
2006: Low key again. I think it was a nice European lunch with my friends and dinner with Kent.
2007: parents came up- I turned thirty and played poker
2008: Made treats for work. I probably had dinner with my folks and played poker with my friends.

33. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
2005: Traveling to Europe with Kent.
2006: Ditto
2007: if RFYP didn't flop
2008: To get Lucia in a room with all her Obert cousins (but she met them independently, briefly)

34. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
2005: Kinda sloppy. Sometimes i dressed up but mostly I just wore what I've been wearing for the last four-ten years. I don't buy new clothes very often.
2006: Improved... more accessories and a little more razzle dazzle.
2007: Boo! fat pregnant clothes.
2008: VERY relaxed: a lot of knits

35. what kept you sane?
2005: Looking forward to moving, going to grad school, my friends, and Kent.
2006: Knitting
2007: Mom
2008: Poker nights with my friends

36. which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
2005: Definitely Colin Firth.
2006: Maybe Johnny Depp
2007: maybe Obama
2008: Definitely Obama

37. what political issue stirred you the most?
2005: Hurricane Katrina and the poor doggies that were left in the storm.
2006: Gay Marriage... want my friends to be able to get legally married in name.
2007: 2008 election
2008: Election of Obama

38. who did you miss?
2005: My parents in Mexico and Kara in Australia.
2006: My brothers and their kids... after getting a taste of my family I want more of that too!
2007: Same as above
2008: Maddie, Patrick and Aaron

39. who was the best new person you met?
2005: i think my best new people are the new associates that worked in the same classroom with me, Jessica Gordon and Brian Rath.
2006: Friends from work at Reach.
2007: does Brian Hagmeier fit here?
2008: Cindy Evans

40. tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
2005: There is no such thing as constructive criticism. To construct is to build up and to criticize is to break down and pick apart.
2006: Stay cool- don't lost yourself to stress.
2007: Don't move up too fast then get knocked up- your co-workers will be assholes.
2008: Love what you got.

41. quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
2005: The lyrics to "I'm telling you now" by Keb Mo'
2006: Lyrics to "my hips don't lie" - FUN FUN FUN (Chicago's bachelorette party, the wedding, and out with my friends! Also a lot of workouts to my ipod)
2007: "multiply life by the power of two"- Indigo girls
2008: "Patty cake Patty cake Baker's man"

New Years slogans:

I really enjoyed my friends New Years slogan e-mailing last year. So if you guys and other various readers still check this blog lets get the slogan party rolling!
We have a little over a day to nail one down. I will start with some obvious ones:

1. Feelin' fine in '09
2. Walk the Line in '09
3. Thin on a dime '09
4. Hear those church bells chime '09 (for anyone getting married).
5. Sublime '09

Now it's your turn.

snow... SNOW... SNOW!

It has finally warmed up (to 40 degrees). Lucia and I went outside and I built (she watched) a snowman. I will post a pic as soon as I have him properly accessorized. Here are some pictures of our snow from Christmas Eve.

X-mas '08

Here are some shots from our holiday. Lucia was very happy with her gifts and currently doesn't know where to play first because she's so excited.

A huge hit was the stuffed animal toys that she loves to carry around like babies, kiss, rock, sing to and hug while she closes her eyes and goes, "HAummmmmm."

A nice part about that is that she also likes to BE hugged while she hugs the toy. So Momma gets a taste of what its like to have a baby who cuddles for once.

Well, anyway, she's up from her nap and I have to cut this short.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Snow Angel

We are amidst a very "white Christmas" wonderland these days. Lucia and I try to make it outside when the sun is warm on the new fallen snow. First we borrow the neighbors sled and I pull her around. Later, I laid her on the ground and flapped her arms and legs and she was delighted to find her first snow angel. Today, it is 20 below zero and the chances of us going out for anything are grim. But for now, the house is quiet as baby and daddy sleep.