2009 Rewind

Me and AJ New Years Day 2009

AJ, Luke and Annie (my nephew and niece, Steve's sister's kids) New Years Day 2009

AJ, Parker and Adreanna (my nephew and niece, my brother's kids) sledding on Boxing Day 2009

2009 was super great! Here is an overview of last year:

* all attorney dinner * Gainesville, FL * AJ turned 2 * AJ's playdate birthday party * painted the office yellow (straw) * tissue paper flowers with 4H East kids * Entered an art auction with a painting of a dog and a stone bracelet * Madtown * 1st Madison farmer's market of the year * UW Madison Spring Football Game (AJ's first football game- he LOVED it!!) * Visit with Paske's * Visit with Steph * Boston * FENWAY!!! * North End eating * History strolling * New, big TV, entertainment center and basement painted gold (while we were in Boston) * Block Party (so windy and cold!) * 7 year anniversary * Hillie's grad party in Minneapolis * June parties including one at our house * visit with Johnson family * #34 * Gary & Earlene come to visit * pimped out garage * annual family reunion (Koehler family) at our house * VEGAS!! * Spa at Bellagio * GREAT eats in the desert * coming home a winner!! * zoo with a bunch of Dietrich's * visit with Julie and family in Hancock * visit with Stacy and her girls * Minneapolis visit to see Carol, Mark and Hillie before Hill goes to Georgetown * party at Mella's (with croquet and my team won!) * girl's night out * fairy and gnome party at museum * visit with Steph and her boys * another successful Road Rally * fairy party at our house * Martha and Patrick's baby welcoming shower at our house * visit with Gary * 2 huge trees cut down in our yard- it changed everything! * Birds in Art dinner and reception * Wausau Festival of Arts * Firehouse open house * Talk Like a Pirate Party at John & Nancy's * visit with Mark & Jen * Apple Orchard * OctoBIRDfest at the museum * Pumpkin patch * Gary & Earlene visit * Trick or Treating with Mower Man * hired Nikki our super awesome babysitter * started volunteering at Boys & Girls Club in the Art Room * Jeanne's party * Click, Clack Moo at The Grand * Lucy's party * Kim's party *Thanksgiving up north * B&B Party * Wildtree Party at our house * Mobile Meals Holiday party * Chicago with mom * Met my blogger buddy, Mel in Chicago * One of a Kind Art and Gift Show (I will blog about this) * good eats in Chitown * Marty & Laurie's Holiday party * Mosaic star ornaments with 4H East kids * Steve's 35th and an awesome bottle of wine * Mella's holiday open house * Christmas * sledding on Boxing Day * Christmas with the Dietrich's * opened an ETSY shop!!

Whew! What a year! It seems we upped our popularity this year since it seemed like we were invited to a lot of parties but we also had a few too. Seemed like we were always busy and 2010 is going to be busy as well. Fun busy. We have a trip to New York planned for March and a family vacation to Florida (Captiva Island) in May that we are looking forward to and a few big projects for me. I opened an etsy shop to keep me on my toes (hopefully!) and I have a custom invitation job early this year (500 invitations) that will keep me very busy and up late at night.

Please visit my new etsy shop!! http://www.mypepita75.etsy.com/ It includes artwork from both me and my mom.

Happy 1 year anniversary to me!

So 1 year ago today I decided that 2 blogs weren't enough and started this one. So I say Happy Anniversary to me. Guess what? I am doing the exact same thing on New Year's Eve that I was doing last year- blogging, editing pictures and trying to catch my breath. I don't particularly care for New Year's Eve. People feel forced to have fun and stay up late. The service is usually slow and sub-par. It is generally icy or snowy out in these parts. It just feels fake to me. Maybe it is because I have never really had an awesome New Year's, maybe it is in my genes as my mom doesn't like it either, I don't know. It is a day of reflection more than anything for me. I'd much rather stay home and spend a normal night with my family and be hangover free tomorrow.

Anyway, I did have a list of goals for 2009- some of which were achieved and some that weren't... Here was my list for 2009:

1. 15 new card designs for My Pepita's Magic *
2. Read 15 novels *
3. Try a new recipe once a week *
4. Go to church at least two Sundays per month
5. Make at least one silver piece
6. Clean out the storage room *
7. Throw an awesome fairy party *
8. Build a fairy house in the woods behind our house
9. Paint the new office, basement, downstairs bathroom and AJ's room *
10. Hang our artwork *
11. Try one felted project
12. Keep up with 3 blogs *
13. Do one scrapbook
14. Do something a little rock star

Well, the asterisks indicate which ones I did... But number 9 gets a half of an asterisk- I didn't paint the downstairs bathroom because I actually decided to keep it the color it is for awhile anyway and I have yet to paint AJ's room. I did try a new recipe once a week for the most part- sometimes it was 2 in one week if I didn't get to it the previous week. I even made a new delish casserole tonight! I cleaned out the storage room BUT it is a great big mess once again! This summer was crazy busy so I didn't get a chance to build the fairy house. And the rock star thing that I want to do I may still do... just in 2010. I need my girl, Kendra's help with it and I think she might do this with me too. My husband will probably kill me but- oh well! :)

My 2010 list is not ready yet but I will probably have some of the goals from 2009 that I didn't get a chance to do on it. Look for my list in January!