It wasn't the best, but it was still a damn good year.

Tonight I am alone on my couch watching TV by myself. My husband has been in bed all day with the flu and the child is of course in bed. I am trying to think of remarkable things that happened this year. As I do every New Year's Eve, I fall short. I convince myself that nothing extraordinary has happened. But as I look through folder upon folder of photos from the last 12 months, I realize that the year has been far from boring and one of the most special yet (in its own way).

We rang in the new year with two of the best friends we could ever ask for.

(and for the sake of saving my hide, they were in the middle of a remodel. the kitchen is all spiffy now :P )

We made silly faces with silly babies

We ate lots of good food

We had our fair share of heartbreak

Painted chubby piggies for the first time

Made crude jokes at the cat's expense

Wore silly hats

Did our best to save those we could...even when we knew in our hearts it was all for naught.

Spent time with family from nearby and far away

We did arts and crafts

We had fun in the summer sun

Built forts on vacation when the TV stopped working

Got all dressed up

Turned two years old

Hung out with the cool kids

Celebrated awesome dads

Completed goals in the nick of time

Let go of painful (albeit) silly memories

Welcomed a very anxiously awaited friend

Got closer with nature

Got a new 4-legged pal

Celebrated birthdays with friends

And achievements with family

Wore fun costumes

Made fun of the cat some more

Misbehaved at a children's amusement park

Gave back to the community

Picked on the cat again

Overcame fears

Spent time with awesome Aunties

Got thoughtful gifts from far away friends

And now we are just plumb worn out

This year may look plain ol' ordinary to everyone else in the world. But to me its been extraordinary. With every passing year life is so much more than I ever expected or ever thought I had the right to hope for.

Here's to another great year. Another chance to get it right. Another chance to get more than you ever hoped for.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”

- Edith Lovejoy Pierce