Out With the Old, In With the New

2012

Can you believe it!?!?! It seems like just yesterday was the Y2K freak-out and now its been 12 years!

So I really like goals, actually I really like ACCOMPLISHING goals. So here is what I hope to accomplish this year:

Pay off my final loan

See Alaska
Go on my first cruise (two birds w/ one stone)

Visit Hawaii


Take dance classes


But mostly I want enough and I'm wishing everyone enough this year.

Enough happiness to keep you sweet.
Enough trials to keep you strong.
Enough sorrow to keep you human.
Enough hope to keep you happy.
Enough failure to keep you humble.
Enough success to keep you eager.
Enough wealth to meet your needs.
Enough enthusiasm to look forward.
Enough faith to banish depression.


Happy New Year!

Looking Back... 2011

So in thinking about what I want to do/accomplish in 2012, I first looked back at 2011. At first thought, I didn't really feel I had accomplished that much. It was a bit of a long year and I didn't feel like I had grown or bettered myself. But then, I looked waaaay back to the beginning of the year and started there...

January - Took my last CPA exam - many, many yeahs!!!

February - I threw an AWESOME bridal shower for my sister

March - I received the notice that I had passed the CPA exam!!!

April - A really great birthday surprise from my co-workers, my sister's wedding, and a great family Easter

May - Started my solo trip across the U.S.

June - Saw SIXTEEN states!!!

July - Finished my Ethics exam and CPA application

August - Officially became a licensed C.P.A.!!!

September - Paid off my Grad student loans!!!!

October - Threw the MOST AWESOME sleepover for my nieces & visited Wisconsin

November - New England trip, saw 12 states and brought my total U.S. state count to 48

December - Visited my bestie in Vegas and finally saw a Cirque du Soleil show

I accomplished some MAJOR goals and saw thousands of things I'd never seen before, got the pictures to prove it :) AND I have improved my financial and professional standing. Well I feel much, much better about 2011. I guess it was a pretty solid year.

Jumping, Popping, Eating, Playing in the New Year

I love to finish things, I think that's why I like New Year's, it's another thing finished. I spent this New Year's Eve with family in my hometown Yuma, AZ. I jumped with my nieces and nephews on the Christmas trampoline.

This is a serious dude and hard to get smiles from, but he's aaaalmoosst smiling here. No matter what Tanner is one cute dude.

Lexi & Q peeking out to invite me in.

On the other hand, the newest grand-baby Zoey is all smiles.

Nana and Isaac playing ball.

And my favorite photo of the night! Somebody ALWAYS ends up in tears, its the law of the trampoline.

After playing and munching, the fireworks begun!

Started it off with sparklers. They are still one of my favorite fireworks. I think I get even more excited than the little kids with them.

Then we moved all the little ones back and Papa and Nathaniel started the show.

We had some pretty great fountains.

Nana had to keep the little, little boys on her lap because they kept trying to get closer.

So after a bunch of fireworks I noticed ALL the smoke! Notice the ceiling, the patio roof was COVERED in smoke.

Mushroom cloud!

Look at those fireworks go!

Through the window - Quent and Jonathan just hanging out inside.

We did those snake things last and let the little ones get closer.

They loved watching the snake grow.

Little One Alert! Just had to get closer...

JAIL - aka Papa's lap.

These little ones love their Papa.

After the fireworks, all the kids went to bed. Then the adults played "the game of things." Pretty funny. I saw it at the store a few days later and purchased it, THAT'S how fun! After a few rounds, around 11:30pm most of the adults were falling asleep. My sister and I made them stay up and wait until it was actually midnight. "Happy New Years" was more mumbled and moaned that shouted and we all packed up to head to our respective homes. I was in the car headed home by 12:15am.
PS I started the New Year by getting pulled over by a cop on my way back to Phoenix, I gotten a written warning but no ticket. Hope this isn't foreshadowing my 2012.