2011

My life runs at a pace that is common to today's mom - warp speed. Remember when we were kids and Christmas vacation lasted forever? By the time you got back to school, a lifetime happened. You could go to back a whole new person. Time was methodical and our minds were devoted to a few things. I wonder if my kids think their summer break and Christmas break last so so long. I can remember long summer days in a row where the world was quiet and hot and consisted of reading, dinners, bike rides. As September approached, I knew I could start 5th grade a whole new person because I hadn't really seen friends outside my neighborhood in 3 months. I remember climbing trees, riding my bike to the library....the heat, the sprinklers, the smell of my mom's supper telling me it was time to come in. Time was perfect.

Now I sit here trying to look back at 1 full year of my life. Nearly impossible. I can't really remember last January 1. I can't remember what books I've read or Peter's voice last year. So in looking back, I try to think of the highlights.....travel, the kids being happy, work accomplishments, Rob and I still loving being married to each other.... I also think of the challenges.....work, parenting difficulties, Peter starting school. All in all, I live an incredibly blessed life. So it's tough to ask for anything from this world because I have so much. But if I could ask for a simpler life, I would. The fantasy of less technology, less noise, less pressure, less food options, less entertainment options.......less.........intrigues and comforts me.

I have learned a lot in 2011 -

I learned to play more to which I can credit The Happiness Project

I learned, the hard way, that I need to have better work boundaries.

I learned that it's hard for me to feel like I disappointed people.

I learned that I can loose weight at 43.

What did I do in 2011?

I had lots of fun travel - camping, 2 trips to Door County, Disney, a weekend with friends in Indy, a winter and a summer trip to our good friends in WI.

I drank more in one year than I had in a full decade - thank you McGoons!

I helped plan a huge fundraiser.

I got to sell real estate in my favorite hood - Lincoln Park.

What will I miss from 2011?

I will miss that for part of 2011, my baby was still in preschool.

I already miss when my girls were at the same school.

I will miss that my kids were 11 and 10 and 5.

I will miss this time - even if it's at warp speed.