And what did you do this year??

So, as I looked back on my blog to see when I last posted, I was shocked - it was just after the New Year when I last even looked here. Where has the year gone?? Why was I so busy?? What did I even do this entire year?? I got out my datebook to check it out...
- We bought a new treadmill
- We celebrated Matea's 2nd birthday
- We went to a retirement party
- We bought a new vehicle
- We flew to a 90th birthday party for Mike's mom
- We went to a blues concert in Hayward
- We went to Duluth for an Olympic's opening ceremony party
- We celebrated Carson's 4th birthday
- We went to the Mpls. Home and Garden Show
- We sat on the deck and drank coffee for the first time on May 7th
- I went out on a couple of girl's nights for dinner
- We went to Florida for two wonderful weeks!
- We sat on the beach for days on end...and loved it!
- We had daffodils in the garden on March 2, which was a first
- We spent Easter weekend in Duluth with the entire family
- We went to the Duluth Home and Garden Show in Duluth
- We made a new perennial garden in the back yard
- We redid the tree rings on the three boulevard trees out front
- We redid one flower bed off the deck
- Mike went to Eau Claire for a two-day seminar
- We babysat Maggie (one of our three granddogs) for a few days
- We both went to the Cities for a business seminar for Mike's job
- We rode the light rail downtown from the Mall of America and had dinner at The Hard Rock Cafe OUTSIDE on the evening of April 20th!
- I sold some clothes at Dannie Duluth consignment shop
- Went to South Carolina to watch my nephew graduate from college
- Celebrated Peyton's 6th birthday (from a distance)
- Went to a coworker's wedding (he was a bachelor till almost age 50!)
- Went to Duluth for a lot of weekend trips
- Went to a James Taylor/Carole King concert (finally, after 30+ years)
- Went to a Get Motivated business seminar
- Went to Duluth to see our newest (4th) grandbaby - Jolynn Victoria!!
- Planted a garden
- Mike helped Brandon move into a new place
- Had Katie and Matea here for a long girls'weekend while Mike, Aaron, and Brandon went to Chicago Blues Fest
- Planted a lot of new bushes in the yard and lots of flowers in the deck flower boxes
- Had new neighbors move in next door
- Went to the airport to welcome Jen home from her World Race trip
- Celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary!!
- Went to a Twins game courtesy of Dave and Jodi!
- Went to a welcome home party for Jen
- Babysat Peyton, Carson, and Bootsie while Aimee and Chad were in Mexico
- Had a visit from Beth, Joel, Mandie, Josh, Jodi, and Jolynn
- Fell down on an ACORN in the driveway and sprained my ankle and got scraped up! Stupid!!
- Had a surprise visit from Aaron, Katie, and Matea right after that and they brought us dinner and spent the night
- Went to the State Fair
- Had an overnight visit from Jodi and Jolynn
- Had a week and a half visit from Jodi and Jolynn
- Had a couple day visit from Brandon over Labor Day weekend
- Helped a neighbor host a Neighborhood Block Party (2nd annual)
- Went to Peyton's Victory Riders Horse Show
AND.....drum roll, please,
I collapsed after this was all accomplished!!

So, now I know what I did this summer (oh, and this doesn't include my every day typing, washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.) That was done in between all my galavanting around the country!

Hope you had as fun of a year as I have had!
Until next time...

Taking it Easy and Being Thankful

Today is a weird day for me. I have NO typing to do, so am doing some normal household things that I never get to do unless I am running around like a maniac trying to get them all done. Granted, they get done routinely, but not without a lot of hubbub and racing around to finish the normal household tasks (dishes, laundry, etc.). I am enjoying just being "normal" again and not trying to accomplish too much today. In some ways, that is good, in some ways that is bad. I seem to get more done when I "have to" do them, so to speak. Days like this make me feel like I need to lie down and take a nap instead of doing housework! When I have things that are under deadline (like my work), I get a lot more done. I guess I do need a few days like this every once in a while, but probably not too many! It is nice, though, sometimes to have a "free" day like this.

We had a nice Christmas and New Year's. All the kids made it home on the weekend of the 11th through the 13th, so that was when we had our Christmas. It was a fun time and I really enjoyed having all three grandbabies here at one time to hug and kiss as much as I wanted (or as much as they could stand!). We did get a nice family picture, which is now my wallpaper on my computer. I love looking at it every time I walk into my office on my big computer screen. Oh, and next year, we will actually be able to see our fourth grandbaby, since Jesse and Jodi are expecting their first baby in June! Do you think I'm excited?? I am beside myself waiting for the big event. I know they are both anxiously awaiting the arrival of their little one also. I remember those days - waiting for my first to be born and I had the wonderful blessing of having TWO babies the first time! Wow! Talk about exciting!! Anyway, I am thankful for my family and what God has blessed us all with. I am thankful for the good health He has allowed all of us to have for the most part. He has blessed us with so much. Thank you, Lord! You are so good!

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year. May God bless you richly.