Goodbye 2010; Hello 2011

Yes, it's that time of year to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. And what better place to do than in my long-neglected blog. (Is anybody still out there???)

Looking back, I would have to say that 2010 was a pretty good year for me and my family. Oh sure there were challenges, including our ongoing concerns with Charlotta's seizures and the news that she would need major back surgery to correct her scoliosis. But in the glass-half-full spirit of this blog, I need to acknowledge that some really great things have happened too:

• Our family (and extended family) are all relatively healthy and doing well.
• Last Easter I got to take my younger daughter Ashley to Toronto to visit my Dad who has Alzheimer's and is in a nursing home.
• Our kids are getting older and -- if I can be honest -- it's getting more fun and easier to do things with them.
• We had lots of fun getting caught up in the Winter Olympics that took place in Vancouver -- it was a great thing to experience!
• We "reclaimed" the basement suite in our house and now have an amazing, renovated basement to use as additional living space. This is has actually been HUGE in terms of our family dynamic and the words "go down and play in the basement" have a way of automatically rolling off our tongue these days.
• We've gotten to know some families in our neighbourhood and have made some new friends. We're also making more of an effort to stay in touch with old friends.

What will 2011 bring? It's hard to know, but there are some things that I would like to focus on:

• Being a more patient parent (oh yes, this tops the list)
• Exercising more (what New Year's resolution list would be complete without that one?)
• Trying to not sweat the small stuff and not dwell on decisions or situations that are out of my control.
• Communicating/talking/connecting more with my husband (Ladies, you know what I'm talking about, right?)
• Taking my vitamins everyday.
  
• Keeping our house free of clutter, which involves knowing when to throw out/donate/recycle things as well as being more thoughtful about what I purchase ("Do I really need that extra serving platter even if it is on sale?")
• Eating and serving more whole, unprocessed foods for me and my family and less processed, packaged foods. (To this end, I plan to bake chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with the kids tomorrow in preparation for back-to-school lunches).
• Living in the moment and not planning/worrying/thinking about what's going to happen tonight/tomorrow/next week.
• And probably three other things that I haven't thought about yet...

If anyone happens to be reading this post, why don't you tell me what was great about 2010 or what you resolve to do in 2011...