2011 End of Year Survey

2011 Survey


It is time for the 3rd Annual Year-End Survey! Have fun!!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before? "I taught my class in half of a trailer that is located on our school's soccer field. I've also spent more time walking in the rain than one should have to."

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? "I don't make new year's resolutions."

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? "This was another great baby year! Diana had Landon in March, Lindsay had Hadley in May, Alicia had Luke in May also, Kelly had Eli in August and Julie had Cooper in August also, Nikki had Bentley in October, and Amber had Will in November. Another great baby year!"
4. Did anyone close to you die? "My Great Uncle John Pate passed away."
5. What countries did you visit? "Unfortunately none."
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? "Well I'm getting on the organization track but want to keep it up and get even more stuff organized in my home."
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? "March 24 was our 7-year anniversary, May 21 was Wyatt's 2nd birthday, September 11 was the 10-year anniversary of the World Trade Centers being hit, and December 27 was my Gram's 90th birthday!"
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? "Making Standard's of Excellence in Math, Reading, and Science!"
9. What was your biggest failure? "I don't feel like this was my best "mom" year. I could have done a lot more but didn't."
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? "Allergies."
11. What was the best thing you bought? "Besides my car would have to be my new Sperry's that I bought for Christmas! Can't wait for Spring to get here so that I can wear them all the time."
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? "Mike, as always, being a great father and husband!"
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? "Muammar Gaddafi and the way he ruled the people of Libya."
14. Where did most of your money go? "Unfortunately my money mainly goes to buy things for Wyatt or to eat out. I love to eat out, what can I say!"
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? "Becky and I made Standards of Excellence in Math, Reading, and Science! Go Us!!"
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? "Last Friday Night by Katy Perry."
17. Compared to this time last year are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? "I would say that I'm probably fatter and just as happy and rich as I was before."
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? "Cleaning my house!"
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? "Watched tv!"
20. How did you spend Christmas? "We had our usual three Christmasses; Chanute, Maple Hill, and then ours. We have started a new tradition of making different themed meals for our Christmas day meal. It was great fun and so delicious."
21. Did you fall in love in 2011? "I'm already in love with my guys!"
22. What was your favorite TV program? "Anything reality related. Pretty much the same as last year series-wise."
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? "Don't think so."
24. What was the best book you read? "George W. Bush's Decision Points. It really gave you an insight to his career decisions and wasn't the standard autobiography."
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? "I have to tell you that Fresh Beat Band is really growing on me. Those songs are so catchy and Wyatt and I love trying to learn the dance moves."
26. What did you want and get? "A new car! This vehicle is already saving me a bundle in gas! I love it so much and don't miss my SUV."
27. What did you want and not get? "Not sure. A cleaner house! But I could have solved that problem by cleaning it myself!"
28. What was your favorite film of this year? "It's totally raunchy but I had a blast watching Bad Teacher at the theater this summer with a great group of teachers. And for the record that's not how teachers are, all the time. :)"
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? "I turned 28. Mike and I went out for a nice dinner alone. Toddlers aren't that much fun to eat out with!"
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? "Not sure."
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? "I'm wearing a lot of jewelry and trying to bling it up. I've continued the skinny pants and now need boots to go with them!"
32. What kept you sane? "Becky, my team teacher! She's had to listen to me about school and construction for way to long! Thanks for being a great friend and the voice of reason."
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? "Giuliana and Bill Rancic love their show!"
34. What political issue stirred you the most? "Announcing 2012 candidates for the GOP. Only time will tell on the elections now!"
35. Who did you miss the most? "Lindsay! After getting to see her this summer for a few short days I've been missing her so much more. I think a trip to D.C. is going to be very much needed this summer!"
36. Who was the best new person you met? "I'm pretty sure I didn't meet anyone new this year. That's kinda sad."
37. Tell a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. "I am much more resilient than I think I am and can change with the conditions given to me."
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "I know it's hard to remember sometimes but you gotta keep your head up and you can let your hair down. -Andy Grammar"

Color Match Game-Home made

I saw this game on Pinterest and had to try it for myself. You can see the original here. It was very easy to make these games and I would do it again in an instant. I plan on adding more colors to the game. The great thing is that the games are portable so this would be great for a car trip or the mall.

A way for Wyatt to check to see if he matched them correctly.

The only thing I still need to do is laminate the color boards that the clips go onto. Wyatt was running around the house with the green one and it's already bent up pretty good. We tried playing the green one and he's just not there yet developmentally for it. He knows they are all green and should go with the green but the shades aren't that important to him. So this just may be match each color together regardless of shade. Either way it's a great cheap/free game that was made with love!

They're Heeere!

(Imagine me using the creepy Poltergeist voice when you read that!)
Our tickets for the Cotton Bowl have finally arrived and they are pretty!

December 27, 1921

My grandma is 90-years old today. I wanted to recall all of the events that have happened since then but there are so many to name. Some that I think might be newsworthy but not necessarily to her. I love her so much and only wish she could live another 90 years to be with me and my kids like she was when I was growing up. I love you Gram!!

Our Christmas

We had a very blessed Christmas this year in the Glotzbach house. We spent another wonderful Christmas at home enjoying the chance to lounge in our pajamas (until 11am), fixing a late lunch, and just being with each other without any sort of time constraint or worrying about being somewhere at sometime.

Combine and Tractor

Now he can cook while I'm cooking!

To finish off our Christmas evening Mike made us a Mexican feast and it was fantastico! He made jalapeno cornbread, Mexican corn, chicken nacho dip, steak and chicken fajitas and we even have the fixings for fried ice cream. We didn't have the fried ice cream tonight because we were all so stuffed from the dinner but I'm sure later this week we will break it out and have some. I think making a different meal for Christmas is our new tradition and an exciting one at that! Good thing Mike is such an adventurous and brilliant cook! :)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Maple Hill Christmas

On Christmas Eve we go to my in-laws house to celebrate Christmas. This was a wonderful Christmas because of the addition of a new cousin for Wyatt and Adrian to play with, Bentley. Though he didn't play much with them because he so small. I'm sure next Christmas he'll be chasing Wyatt and Adrian around the house just like they were chasing each other around.

Animal puzzle from Nikki, Eric, and Bentley

Showing Grandma Audry the cool puzzle!

What every boy needs; tractors!

Unwrapping some more presents.

I think Wyatt's favorite part of Christmas was helping Uncle Eric pass out the presents. He helped my mom at Chanute Christmas but he really liked helping Eric because he knew what his job was and he fully dedicated himself to it. I think this is going to be his new thing at Christmas time!
Adrian and Wyatt had a blast playing with each other's presents. I think their favorite one was Adrian's stick horse. They both wanted to play with it but didn't want to let it go, so they both rode it taking turns being the one holding the reins. It was a hoot! :)

Santa's Little Helper

Helping Santa bring presents to all the good boys and girls!

Chanute Christmas

This weekend we went back to Chanute for Christmas. We arrived Friday night to a houseful of people and Wyatt got to stay up probably the latest he's ever stayed up. Once he finally went to bed my brother, Matthew, convinced me that we needed to go out to the bar. So we went to Rod's Bar played pool and drank beer until 1am! Trust me when I say that's the latest I've been up in a long time, probably years! Having a small child will do that to you.
On Saturday morning my dad and Grandma came over and we opened presents and ate lunch together. We were really excited to see how Wyatt would react to Christmas this year. Last year he wasn't really into it and just wanted to play with a single present once it was opened. This year was more like last but at least he opened the presents and I didn't have to do it.

Giving Poppa Flash his present.

Showing my mom his pictures.

Dump Truck from Uncle Matthew. Once he saw this the rest of the presents were over!

ABC puzzle from Poppa Flash.

Poppa Flash showing Wyatt how to open his car bank.

Opening Great Gram's present.

Getting jammies from Nana.

Wyatt and his Great Gram! My favorite picture of the weekend.

After our Christmas and lunch it was nap time. Everyone took a nap not just Wyatt, literally everyone in the house fell asleep and took a nap. Once we got up we headed over to see Stacie, Jacob, and Abraham. We played over there for several hours and had dinner with them. Then it was time for bed and we were all but happy to oblige and head to bed as well.
On Sunday we went over to my grandma's house for most of the morning and then went back to my mom's for a lunch of leftovers before we headed out. I had to get one more picture of Wyatt because my Uncle Tom has been in town and this was his first time meeting Wyatt, ever.

Uncle Tom and Wyatt

Secret Santa

This year I decided to ask my girlfriends if they would want to do a Secret Santa with the kids. They agreed so Landon, Layken, Hadley, Abraham, and Wyatt were onto the gift giving. I'm hoping this is something that we can do every year with the kids and hopefully this is a way for them to feel close even though we are all over the U.S.: NE Kansas, SE Kansas, Louisiana, and Virginia. I put everyones name into a hat and then sent a message to each person saying who they drew. Wyatt received his Secret Santa gift from Hadley today and he was psyched. He grabbed the box and drug it around the house wanting to open it. So of course we had to open it. (I couldn't wait until Christmas. I'm just as bad as a kid when it comes to presents.)

I wonder what this is?

Getting a little more into ripping the paper off.

Thank You Hadley for my Pizza Shop!

Christmas Card

Our Christmas Card

This year we wanted to send a photo card and as I was checking out my coupon sites I found a deal that I couldn't pass up. Cardstore.com was having a 70% off sale on their stock of Christmas cards! Hells yeah!! This is a sweet deal for me because we send 50+ cards, that's what happens when you have a big family. So I ordered my cards and entered the discount code and my total for 60 cards/envelopes and free shipping was: $17.82. Yes, you are reading it correctly! That's a savings of $41.58. I have to say couponing is paying off. It saved me a bundle on gorgeous cards to send everyone. Too bad the picture was the best one of the bunch to put on it. Yes, the picture of Wyatt not even looking at the camera was the best one! Trust me when I say if we ever decide to do a Christmas card of outtakes we would have too many to choose from.

Happy Holidays from the Glotzbach's!

Winter Program 2011

This year Wyatt was in his first Christmas program! His daycare put on the program for all the classes except the youngest one. Well he's in the second to youngest one. So I knew that it wasn't going to be a big production but I must say that once we got there is was a little more of a production than I thought. It was at the WHS auditorium and we got there about five minutes before it was to start. We walked in and the auditorium was packed! Apparently, this was going to be a big deal. And to think that we almost didn't go! We would have been THOSE parents!!! After the shock and awe of the packed auditorium I quickly got him to his teacher and they whisked him onto the stage. I wished I known the time for the curtain call.
They get situated on stage and the curtain pulls open and he's sitting there with the other kids ready for his moment. And boy did he enjoy his moment. The pictures don't do the performance justice. The shook bells to a recording of Jingle Bells.


Ms. Megan M's Class



Everyone is watching Ms. Megan for their cue!

Just to give you an idea of the stage and crowd.

Giving themselves a hand at the end!

Once Wyatt's class' performance was over they left the stage and the kids were dispersed to their parents. Well Wyatt was apparently only getting warmed up because he started crying and wanted to be back on the stage ASAP! He felt like his performance wasn't over and he needed more lime light. We eventually left because he kept crying and yelling to be back up on the stage to play his bells. He wore the bells that he had during the performance to bed that night because he wanted so badly to keep performing. That's my boy! :)

Kicker

Wyatt has been doing a really good job at catching a football. He's not 100% but he does well. So Mike decided to add another level to the football game for Wyatt. He decided to see if Wyatt could kick as well. So Mike held the ball for Wyatt to kick and he did good.

And kick!

Trying again!

After the kicking lesson Mike showed Wyatt how to drop the ball and kick it. Wyatt watched and was eager to try it out. When Mike gave the ball to him he threw the ball and kicked BOTH feet in the air at the same time. He flew backwards and landed on the floor with a loud thud. So Mike decided to have him practice dropping the ball first and then incorporate the kicking. That went much better the second time around!

Dropping the ball lesson.

And the kick!

When I Grow Up...

This morning as Wyatt and I were driving to Manhattan for his 6-month ENT check-up for his tubes he was talking up a storm. The main topics of his conversations these days are usually centered around farms, animals, and things with wheels. So as we were driving he saw the cows in the fields and tractors and kept talking about how they were his and what he would do with them. Then as we got into town I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. I didn't know how he would respond to this question of even would know what I was talking about but he responded without hesitating: a farmer! He wants to be a farmer when he gets big. He kept talking about his animals and what he would do with them. He then started talking about how his cousin, Adrian, was going to be a farmer as well. She would get to drive a tractor while he drove the combine. Then we came into town and he told me that Adrian would live on one side of the street while he lived on the other side. He would even let her take care of the animals if she wanted!
I love that he's so vocal now and can express this elaborate story to me without me having to guess what he's talking about the whole time. My little boy is getting so big!

Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree

We have finally put up our Christmas tree. I realized this year that I have a ton of stuff for Christmas but don't really care for any of it! So our tree didn't get a lot of decorations this year and that's okay. If I could I would just put up a tree with lights but I'm not sure how long that will last. So there are a handful of ornaments on our tree.

Christmas Tree 2011

Happy Wyatt

Checking out the few ornaments that are on the tree.