2011 was quite a year. Looking back on it I honestly didn't do much more than drive so much that I now have more mileage on my car than my husband does on his, and he's had his car for a good year or two longer. What with spending time with Johnny, my mom's death, moving, weddings and showers it seems like a busy year but I'd guess I spent most of it in my car.
Event number one: Mom's death.
It's almost been a year, but it feels like yesterday. I can't believe I made it through this year without her and I really wish I hadn't had to.
Event(s) number two: seeing my extended family a whole lot more. I know this doesn't really seem like an event, but due to Mom's death I got to see my CT relatives and they got to come spend time in Ohio for the very first time I think ever, other than Erin's wedding in 2009. For one of my cousins it was her first time out here and it was kind of fun taking them to places like Chipotle, which for some strange reason they don't have on the East Coast.
Event number three: Anne (finally) got married!
Jarrod's been part of the family since the two of them were in the 7th grade and now, ten years later, they're happily hitched and living far away in Virginia. This even also proved that, no matter how much you fight when you're kids, when you become and adult your sisters sometimes become your best friends. If you had asked me when I was thirteen if Anne would choose me to be her maid of honor I'd probably have laughed in your face.
Event number four: Johnny and I got married!
If you want my advice, never EVER plan a wedding with people who live an hour or more away from you because it is the biggest pain in the you know what and is kind of stressful. I'm just proud that we pulled it off, that my colors didn't look bad together, and that I have heard a number of compliments on our reception. One person said it was the "funnest" wedding reception they'd been to.
Event number five: my sister got knocked up! We're finally going to have a little Blood kid running around. I mean, I technically became a great aunt when I married Johnny because his sister is 20 years his senior and has a daughter who is only four years behind us and she already has a kid and a half. But this is one of my sisters and it means that whenever I get knocked up she can help me out.
Event number six: the holiday season, married, sans my mom.
Christmas, though a little different, was great fun. It's always a strange Christmas when it takes place on a Sunday because no matter what Dad will NOT cancel church. If you asked him he'd tell you we're already celebrating the reason for Christmas every Sunday anyway, why take the day off when it's an even better reason to celebrate? Anywho, Johnny and I started the holiday with him working and me at home cranking out Christmas cookies for Jennie because she didn't have time to make them. When he came home we got dolled up and went to see his parent's and exchange presents, etc, and then went to his mom's church in Bolivar to watch her sing. Immediately after we drove to New Concord where we opened all the family presents together. This has never happened before, but since Anne and Jarrod were planning to spend Christmas day with Jarrod's family it was the only chance for the whole group of us to get together.
Not to toot Johnny's and my horn, but from my estimation the presents Johnny and I gave tended to be the favorites. We gave Dad an iPad, which I don't think he has let out of his sight since he opened it. We gave Jennie Tennis Shoes by Noel Streatfield, which apparently she already owns but her copy is missing the last twelve pages. As soon as she unwrapped it she opened it and proceeded to read the last twelve pages before unwrapping anything else. We gave Anne a backpack shaped like Darth Vader. She squealed when she opened it and immediately put it on and didn't take it off for the entire night. We gave Jarrod thick, warm hiking socks and those hand warmer things. As he's a Marine and in training in winter he was very grateful.
After the present opening excitement we played CatchPhrase. Anne insisted I be on her team so that, if necessary, she could reference Gilmore Girls to me to get the right answer, and we all discovered just how intelligent our reticent men are. Since we women are kind of loud and talkative it's hard for the men to be heard. Until we play a game.
Christmas Day was a blur of driving and food and suddenly it was over. Johnny and I are lucky in that his family and mine don't live so far apart that we can't see all of them at holiday time.
Event number seven: New Year's Eve.
Johnny had to work and I spent the entire day cleaning and attempting to do laundry. Our washer has decided rinsing is too difficult so we have a pile of laundry a mile high. We ended up spending the evening together eating hot dogs/brats and sauerkraut and watching season 8 of Smallville until 11:58 when we went down to watch the ball drop. Quiet, uneventful, just the two of us.
Here's hoping that 2012 has just as much love, joy, and friendship, if not more, as this past year has.
If you suffered through this post, congratulations!
Happy New Year, friends. :)
