2012 Questionaire - a reflection of the good, the bad and the ugly

As we say good bye to 2012, I look back on this year and all the ups and downs.  

2013 will be a better year. I want to accomplish more goals (personal, professional, family oriented), let go of the past failures in all aspects and live life to the fullest. We are only on this earth for a small amount of time. The only way to truly be happy is to live your own life, not worry about the small things and savor the happiest of moments. 

I will be ringing in the New Year with friends. For as many years as I can remember, we have spent it with close friends. We will continue this tradition!

Jen had this cute questionnaire. Go check out her blog, she awesome! Keeping up with the trend, I decided to join the bandwagon and do the list. I will also be posting my year in review too!

1.What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Took a family vacation as a family of 5 and with a puppy, or three! We went to the beach with 2 toddlers, 3 dogs and 9 people. It was chaos, fun chaos. Not relaxing but exactly what the kids needed.
Gary and I took a Mega bus trip for the first time with some friends. 36 whole hours of adults only, wheee! It was a fun day in NYC.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never really make resolutions because in my mind that meant you were doing things wrong before. I do make goals for myself and I did accomplish some of my goals. (traveling, progress on house remodeling, spending lots of time with family/friends) I did not meet other goals and that is okay. I will just revamp the goals and try this coming year!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not this past year. I do know many people who are expecting in 2013 and I cannot wait to see all those tiny little faces!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
There were some deaths this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
We did not travel outside of the good ol’ USA.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you didn’t have in 2012?
I would like to distance myself from drama. I have enough of my own stuff to deal with; I do not have time to worry about other people’s crud. Being a family of 5 does not allow for much time for me or my marriage and therefor I cannot be taking on other people’s problems.  I will always be there for family and friends, however, I am choosing to not deal with the drama, whining and jealousy of others. Let me know what you need and if it is in my powers, I will do it.
With that said, I would like to have more me time. I would also like more time to spend just with my husband. Everything we do is for our kids, always. That will not change. It would be nice to remember who I am and who my husband is and why we were married and fell in love in the first place!
7. What dates from 2012 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
January 27^th, Dominic turned 10 years old. February 24^th, Charlie underwent her first surgery of tubes in her ears. April 24^th, Charlie turned a year old. My last baby was no longer, technically, a baby. June 6^th, our anniversary.  October 16^th, Logan turned 3 years old. November 7^th, surgery on my hand and then November 14^th when I found out it was not cancer. December 25^th, when Tony formally purposed to my sister!
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
Making it through the year and still being able to laugh at how much money we have spent on medical bills. The last few years have truly been hard on us with this. I may have cried a few times but in the end, we will be okay. The amount of money that we have spent in the last 4 years is so HIGH and although we know it could have been worse, it was bad enough that it could have crushed some families. BUT we made it! And we know that things could have been way worse and we are thankful that they are not. And we are all pretty healthy!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not spending enough time with Gary. Our days are chaos, craziness and full of anything and everything that has nothing to do with just us. I will make us a priority next year. In order to maintain a healthy marriage, you have to spend time with your spouse!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, unfortunately.  My back has seen better days and I fear that I may need surgery again sooner than I would like to admit. I had a tumor in my hand that needed removed. I have some other issues that need medication and hopefully they will be resolved within a few months.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Ooo this is a hard one. We got a King sized bed and it is glorious! But I also got a 50mm lens and am in LOVE with it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gary did everything for 2 weeks when I could not use my hand. Dominic has helped watch his brother and sister a bunch so that Gary and I can get chores done. Logan did awesome with potty training. Charlie does not talk our ear off all day long, so YAY!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Wow, so many and I will not list them. I just hope that they change for the better!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and medical bills and it is sad that they are pretty close in amounts too.
15. What did you get really excited about?
My sister being formally engaged!
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
I really cannot think of one.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
A: Neither, pretty much the same. B: Heavier (boo!) C: Poorer – see above and those darn medical bills.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Take more videos of the kids. I take lots of pictures but videos are few.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Yelling. Worry about how other people will react to things that happen to me.
20. How will/did you spend Christmas?
Families houses, we cut back on the places we go and how much running around we do but we still saw both sides.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
I have a few but my top two: Criminal Minds and Dexter
22. What was the best book you read?
Well I have not read a book that did not contain some type of animal or princess…so there is not answer to this.
23. What did you want and get?
I wanted a mother’s necklace and my husband had bought me one for Christmas. However, I got it early in November when I was pretty sad about my surgery and worried about the outcome.
24. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to win the power ball but did not. HA
25. What was your favorite film of 2012?
I am bad with favorite things but I really did like The Dark Knight movie that was filmed in my home town!
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 34 in October and it was my normal day off of work and I used that day to go to multiple Dr visits and have an MRI. FUN TIMES. The evening, I spent it with my family. I also did not have to cook dinner.
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Trying more new things, I am afraid of change and unpredictable things but maybe a thrill would be fun?!
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?
Since I work from home, comfy is key. But I do like to dress up once in a while.
29. What kept you sane?
This is going to sound funny but my husband and kids keep me sane while simultaneously driving me insane.  My mommy group and twitter friends are always there to lend an ear.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
You cannot control the thoughts of others. Nor can you change the way people feel about things. I have learned to live my life because from experience it is way too short to not live it up!