Random Superlatives of 2011

Okay, before I start I have to say that 2011 has not been my favorite year and I am more than happy to bid it farewell. However, I also believe that all of life's experiences are important--even if we can't see why at the time. So with that, here are some of my favorite (maybe not-so-significant) things from the year...

Coolest experience of the year: heading to the outdoor roof swimming pool/hot tub with S up at Snowbird just as a huge rainstorm was coming in.

Second coolest experience of the year: catching a shark. Yes I'm putting this picture up again because it's Awesome.

Biggest milestone achieved: turning 30. Obviously.

Best movie (which I didn't expect to like so much): Moneyball

Worst movie: Transformers Dark of the Moon. (I fell asleep! During a battle scene!) Not even worth linking up to...

Most starstruck moment: Meeting a Blue Man after seeing their AMAZING concert with S.





Favorite new (I hope) tradition: Doing dessert only at The Melting Pot with S. Also, their Hot Chocolate is Terrific.

Best (and first) clambake I've ever had: The Black Pelican



Favorite "Laugh till I cry moment": A tie between "Spontaneous Cleavage" and "Faxing Things Up."

Best baked goodie: Golden Graham S'mores

Worst cooking disaster: Messing up Jello 2 hours before a party. Seriously. Who screws up Jello?!

Biggest blessing in disguise: My hours changing at work.

Favorite gift: the handmade quilt S made for me for Christmas.



Best photo editing website I can use for free (and is user-friendly as well)(and is how I add text to all of my photos, in case you are wondering...): Picnik.com

Favorite book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Inspirational!

Proudest parenting moment: Teaching Bean how to do a rimshot! Okay, I'm proud that she knows her colors and shapes, too... ;)

Favorite song that I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I like as much as I do: Blow by Kesha and only because Bean busts a move every time we hear it.

Favorite song that I sing at the top of my lungs in the car: Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5/Aguilera

Biggest accomplishment: Finally running my first race (even if it was just a 5k.)

Favorite new hobby I can't wait to break out again in 2012: Mixed Media via Donna Downey. Also, I was starstruck when I met her too.

I think that measuring time has become easier since Bean was born. I also think that time has gone faster. Just in the last few months we've hit some pretty big milestones.

First Haircut

I really wanted to just grow Bean's hair out so we could skip the Bangs Phase altogether. I held out a long time, in fact. But one morning while she was having breakfast, her hair was starting to really aggravate her. I realized that I was being a little silly (and selfish) so I decided to trim her bangs. I don't cut hair. Ever. I butchered S's hair trying once.

I apologized to Bean as I pulled her hair out to be trimmed, saying that she was, in fact, my guinea pig and that I would probably get better but to not expect much for the first little while.

Before.



After.



I didn't trim that much, just enough so that she could see. A month later she needed them trimmed again. This time, I felt more confident and ended up trimming off a lot!

Big Girl Bed

I really wasn't looking forward to this transition. I liked knowing that she could safely play in her crib so that I could get a few extra minutes of sleep if I needed too. I was also concerned that, since she doesn't like to stray far from her routines, she would throw a huge fit when it came to switching beds.

She proved me wrong on all accounts.

S made it a lot of fun to say goodbye to her crib and hello to her Big Girl Bed. She "helped" move around the beds and picked out a new bedding set at the store. She slept like a champ the first night and, although she rolled out of bed a few times (Seriously. I found her asleep in the middle of the floor one night. A bed railing followed shortly after...) she hasn't had any problems. The only difference is that this is what I walk in to see in the mornings:



Initially her mattress was on the floor. As of last night, she is officially sleeping in a twin bed, box springs, headboard and all.

Preschool (Kind of.)

S and I were originally planning on enrolling Bean into preschool next fall but lately she has been so antsy (and kind of acting bored.) Preschools don't normally enroll mid-semester. So I decided to look into doing a sort of homeschool version. Our first unit was 4 weeks ago and I think it has been a HUGE success! After breakfast I ask Bean, "Are you ready to go to school?" And she exclaims "School!", runs to the couch, and waits for a book (we start with a story.)

I told S awhile ago that I thought I had missed the mark and that I should have taught elementary school. He gave me a strange look. Maybe because I complain about having 17 kids in nursery. Anyway, this has really helped fill that kindergarten-teacher-urge I had. Plus I really think Bean is learning and having fun and that's what matters, right?

So for now we're doing the homeschool thing. We'll see what preschool plans await her in the future.