2016 - In Review

I love to review my year. Over the years I've adapted the cut and paste form I used to fill out since some of it was redundant or just not really applicable to me. I'm sure it will continue to morph over time.

Places in 2016:

• Idaho (camping on the way to other destinations)
• Wyoming, including Teton National Park
• Montana, including Glacier National Park
• Closer to home: Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Snow Canyon State Park, Zion National Park
• camping in Goblin Valley State Park
• visit to Texas in February for my parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary
• visit to Texas in October so my family could finally meet Trixie and see our kids for the first time in a few years

Noteworthy things for 2016 (in no particular order):

• Eric started a graduate program related to his field of teaching, so he will get a raise when this is over!
• Trixie was released from her supplemental oxygen and nasal cannula in February. Then in July her cardiologist said we didn't need to see him for a year.
• Trixie got tubes in December after four ear infections in less than three months.
• Trixie said "mama" before "dada." Then her ear infections caused her to go basically mute. Then when her words came back "mama" was first on the list.
• I survived two weeks of Eric being away at summer camp.
• My dad survived his heart stopping for an extended period of time (about 10 minutes). (A perfect stranger performed CPR until the paramedics arrived, zapped him with the paddles a few times, then hustled him to a hospital. He was unconscious for about 18 hours and then needed a few weeks of treatment, but his survival was quite miraculous.)
• I taught Ike to read.
• I read a few chapter books to both boys: Little House in the Big Woods, Charlotte's Web, and Matilda
• Ike started Kindergarten.
• Ike learned to ride a two-wheeler with only the assistance of neighborhood children, no adults!
• Felix started preschool.
• I coached Ike in soccer.
• I had a very successful year in work and came really close to beating Eric in the gross earnings race.
• I got pregnant and am having baby #4 in June 2017.
• Eric finished the basement.

Birthdays:

• We continued going to Cold Stone for buy-one-get one. 
• I turned 32 and went to a nice dinner with Eric's parents and then to Luminaria. I bought myself new dishes, which was really my combined birthday/Christmas present. Also I went to work the day of my birthday because it aligned with a day they were having Moochies brought in.
• Felix had a party with friends, and it was a blast. I really should hire Eric out.
• We had a surprise birthday party for Ike's sixth birthday.

A Reflection On 2016 Goals:

• I kept Trixie healthy during cold and flu and RSV season in 2016. I was very concerned about her because of her heart defect, but all was well!
• I did not resume bread-making for our family. I don't even think I did it more than once or twice. But I was pretty good about meal planning and cooking.
• I read all the books for book group!
• I did not get around to hosting a meal at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Primary Children's Hospital, and I feel immense guilt about that.

Goals for 2017:

• Physically, focus on getting steps in each day. That 10,000 step mark is pretty distant for me, especially when I can't go on walks outside. Even hitting half that is a pretty physical day for me. I just want to continue to be conscientious about moving my body and not being sedentary.
• Finish my Personal Progress. It's something my bishop encouraged us to do this year, and I have worked on it in fits and starts.
• Submit some writings for publication in genealogy literature.