At this time of year, I love to watch the "Year in Review" segments.  It gives me a chance to catch up on everything I missed during the year or that slid right past my conscious mind .  Over the past few years, it seems like more and more things are entering my mind for a moment and promptly disappearing completely.  Knowing that this will happen, here are some of the important happenings at our house this year:

- I cooked plenty of meals this year, but less from scratch than in the past.  I blame having to work in AN OFFICE instead of in the basement. 
- I went from full-time to part-time this year, gradually working less and less as the year progressed.  In the beginning of the year I was working *close* to full-time, and now it's more like 24-28 hours a week. 
- A big part of the reduction in working hours is because I'm now exercising in the morning after our nanny arrives.  This feels very "lady of leisure" to me, but with Marty's working schedule it was the only time that we could find for me to exercise that didn't include getting up at 4:00AM.
- That means that I'm exercising 3-4 days a week for about 45-60 min. a shot, not including walking and playing with the kids which can sometimes be a lot of work.  My left arm looks like Popeye's after holding a child on my left hip for the past 3-1/2 years.
- During my exercise time, I've been watching TV series on DVD (thank you Netflix).  I made my way through Six Feet Under and was so sad to say goodbye to the Fisher family when the series ended.  I progressed into 24 which became something close to an obsession.  I started watching it at night as well, not just keeping it for my sacred exercise time.  My family has Jack Bauer to thank for having clean laundry every single day because he helped keep me awake long enough to complete a few loads every night.
- Marty and I traveled to Florida twice, both times for work.  His work, that is.  For the first time, I was "the wife".  Of course I was his wife long before this year, but this was different.  I wasn't just "his wife", I was "The Wife".  I was the woman whose only purpose was to keep him company.  It's really not that different than normal life, just more relaxing because we were there without kids.
- I stayed at a fancy hotel for a few days in Las Vegas.  It was the nicest hotel in which I've every stayed.  It was so nice, that I took a six hour nap that made us miss our dinner reservation.  And it was heavenly.
- We went to Texas with the kids and actually ate at a few restaurants.  We used to eat out all the time when Martin was small, but with two little ones eating out is almost more than my nerves can bear.  The kids did pretty well, even when Martin ate a whole bowl of hot salsa on his own.  At least it kept him busy.
- I started this blog which has been quite an experience.  It's given me the opportunity to be creative, share stories with family and friends, and document our lives.  Knowing that I'd want to write has made me more attentive to details, paying closer attention to the things that just feel like normal life but fade away so quickly.  Also, it's given me the chance to hear things like "I better make the damn blog" and "This better be on GOnelsons" from family and friends.
- I found the perfect moisturizer and bought a new fancy hairbrush.  These might seem like small things, unless you've found them too then you know.
- I lost some weight, gained some back, and lost some more.  I'm ending the year seven pounds less than this time last year.  Not bad.  It could be SO much worse.
- I entered three contests this year.  One was a hit.  One was a loss.  The jury is still out on the last.  I'm hopeful that the last one will be a winner because Meghan and I collaborated on a recipe together and we're dying to get the prize - a book titled "Beyond Burlap".  It's just so intreguing, isn't it?
- I made almost no art.
- I read less than any other time in my life (with the exception of a good stretch in the spring into summer).  If not for our book club, I may have turned into a complete moron with out any fiction to stimulate my mind.
- I don't drink a whole lot anymore, but have found a new favorite drink for those times when I do.  Single serving sized bottles of Bailey's.  Like the ones they might serve to you on an airplane.  Because apparently I'm that old.
- I didn't get to see my friends enough this year, but am hoping that this will improve as Marty's work schedule reduces in the new year.  Marty and I are going to see Sevda in London in February, and Meghan and I have made a pact to get together once a month.  Kathy and I are defintitely going to make an annual event out of our trip this year.  While this list isn't all-inclusive, it is at least a start.
- I've connected with a few friends recently that I haven't talk to in years - all through email.  I was so happy to talk to Jamie (Bitner) Hodge, Heidi (Berquist) Peck, and Mark (Marjala) Marjala.  What a joy to be able to reconnect with old friends again.
- For the first time since we've been married, we didn't get any new vehicles this year.  This is due to the "car buying ban" I put into place in 2005 when we agreed that we could not even drive through a car lot for two full years.  I have until the summer of 2007 before I'll be subjected to that torture again.
- Marty found the loophole in the "car buying ban" and bought himself a motorcycle.  The next time I impose a ban, I'll have to lay out a few more rules.
- Sophie started sleeping through the night, stopped taking a bottle, started walking, and talks up a storm.  Pretty major accomplishments for just one year.
- Martin sleeps through the night, often staying in bed past 5:30AM, cooks up lots of ideas that frequently get him into trouble, and is becoming a fine young boy...when he can take the time to be a good listener.
- We made it through the holidays without anyone needing surgery or going to the emergency room.  We did have one on antibiotics, one with diarrhea, and one that barfed on the floor.  All of this is an improvement over the past three years, so I count ourselves as lucky.
- I took 3.400 photos and videos this year.  Thank God for digital. 
- I owe a great debt to my parents for all of the help and fun throughout the year.  As always, they give me both support and joy.  I am thankful every single day that the same love they give to me is extended to my kids and my husband.  I could not be luckier.

To anyone reading this site - I'm happy to have you here.  It has been a pleasure for me to write here this year, in some cases knowing who would be reading it and sometimes being surprised when someone would say "I read your blog all the time, I feel like I just saw you yesterday".  What a gift.


Best wishes to you in 2007.  May it be at least as good as 2006, but hopefully a little better.