It’s been two months since I’ve last blogged – WOW! I can’t say that I’ve had too much to say – and the thing is I’ve wanted to blog but I don’t think many people read this. Maybe it’s because I don’t update it enough. Sorry folks. I am going to make a real effort (I’m serious this time!) to keep this blog updated for your entertainment purposes.
Since I had so much fun blogging about my Top 10 in 2008 which you can read here, I’ve decided to do it again this year. So, in no real particular order here it goes, my most memorable moments of 2009:
1. Cooper’s Firsts

My baby boy turned one on March 11. This first year flew by literally in the blink of my eye. He got his first tooth, took his first steps, said his first words and I was fortunate enough to be able to witness them all! Jared and I have made many sacrifices in order for me to stay at home with him full-time and it has been quite a challenge, but being able to see all of these firsts has been worth it.
2. The BIG move

“Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in a small town
Ah, that’s prob’ly where they’ll bury me..” – “The Coug”
It was Memorial Day weekend and the hottest one I can remember. Temps were in the high 80’s and maybe even in the low 90’s. Jared and I rented a U-haul truck, packed up our things and made the Hillsboro move all by ourselves. Since we hadn’t found a house by moving time, we moved in with his parents. Although it was challenging for everyone living under one roof, we didn’t have to think twice about it and we are forever grateful to his parents for welcoming us with open arms.
3. Eagle Hurst Ranch

In July our closest friends, the Sweets along with their families and the rest of our family packed our things and headed to Steeleville, MO for an entire week of vacation at Eagle Hurst Ranch. I’d never heard of this place, but Jared’s family has a history here. His mom vacationed at Eagle Hurst as a child and continued the tradition with Jared and his sibs when they were kids. It had been quite a few years since they were last here, but it was like they had never left. This place is summer camp for families. You sleep in a cabin and all of your meals are cooked for you. Games, tubing trips, square dancing, marshmallow toasting and swimming are just a few of the things you can do at this ranch. It truly is a vacation. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do and you get to drink and lounge in your pajamas all day.

Farkle
One of the highlights of this trip was Farkle. Farkle is an old dice game and is pretty simple to play. For those of you who need a quick tutorial you can watch this video starring Fanny Farkle. It became a necessity to play Farkle every free moment and everyone began using the word farkle as much as possible. Farke you!, I just got farked and I’m farked are just a few of the phrases that were coined, but because of all this Farkle madness, I am currently farked out.
4. My High School Reunion

UHS class of 1995
1-9-9-5 we’re the class of 95 gooooooooooooo rockets! It doesn’t seem like it’s been 14 years since I’ve graduated high school. Typically you are supposed to have a 15 year reunion, but since our classes are so small I thought what better idea than to have a joint reunion with the class ahead of us. My classmates agreed and in August we joined forces with the class of 1994 at what better place than the Philo Tavern. It was great to see all of my old friends from both classes. I spent the night reminiscing those high school days and saying “remember when…” I had the best time and I wish high school reunions could happen more often, but it also made me realize how much I enjoy where I am at currently in my own life and that I would not trade places with anyone.
5. Farm Aid

Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, Wilco, Gretchen Wilson, John “The Coug” Mellencamp and various other artists once again came together to put on this concert to help raise awareness of factory farming and the imp0rtance of organic food. It was an all day festival held at Riverport (I know, I know it’s now called Verizon Wireless something or other but come on, it will always be Riverport) just outside of St. Louis. The beers were $9.50 and the organically grown food (which was delicious!) was $10 but the memories that were made by all are priceless. We claimed our spot on the lawn, played Farkle in between sets and sat back to have one of the best times I’ve ever had at a festival.
6. Homeward Bound
“Home where my thought’s escaping,
Home where my music’s playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me…” – Paul Simon
Ahhhh, finally our own place right here in Hillsboro. We looked at a variety of houses in town and they fit in one of two categories: a dump or way out of our price range. My sister-in-law, Brandi had been trying to get us to look at her friend’s house whom was considering selling. The house was a bit on the smaller side, but needed NO repairs or updating. I repeat NO repairs OR updating. We weren’t exactly excited about the neighborhood it was in therefore, we refused to even take a look. But, after looking at a bunch of dumps (houses that is! HA!) we agreed. As soon as we step foot in the house we were sold. I immediately started picturing where I would put our furniture and how I would decorate this and that. It just felt like home. We took a look, made an offer and three months later moved into our new home.
7. Hot Nuts!

I had a blast this past summer in my new hometown with my new friends and family. What’s great about this place is that even though it’s pretty small (Pop. 6,000 or so) there are lots of bars here, two of which are open till 3:00 am and a winery in the next town over. Every weekend tends to be the same. You see the exact same people at the exact same places. It is in no way ever exciting and don’t ask me why I like to go back, but I do. One night I was out with some friends and we noticed a little nut warmer on the bar (pictured above). Now, keep in mind I’ve been to this bar hundreds of times and have never noticed this thing. For some reason one of the people in my party actually ordered some for a snack then left them on the bar. My friend, Dan and I thought it would be a great ice breaker and conversation starter if we went up to random people whom we didn’t even know and ask them if they wanted some “hot nuts”. For some odd reason we couldn’t get enough of this. We asked people for hours and laughed until we cried. Now every time Dan I see each other we simply refer to each other as “Hot Nuts!”

Hot Nuts!
8. Back to School
This past summer I made the decision to go back to school to fulfill my dream of becoming a RN/midwife. I will begin that long journey in March when I will take my first class to become a CNA. I’ve got years of classes ahead but it is a journey that I am extremely excited about. You can read more about this here.
9. I joined the Gym

I grew up in a household where diet and exercise weren’t important. Mix that with a sugar addiction and a lifelong struggle with weight and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. I joined the gym seven months ago and have been going religiously. Granted, I haven’t lost one single pound, but I am beginning to accomplish my goal of getting healthy. I hope this time next year weight loss is on my top 10 list.
10. Guiding Light Comes to an End

Bye-bye to my TV family
As most of you reading this know, I was a dedicated fan of the longest-running daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. I watched the show for over 20 years and was sad to see it go. I was even quoted in Springfield’s newspaper, the State Journal-Register for a piece that was written about the show going off air (I’m such a nerd sometimes!). I will always remember how the show ended (it was left up in the air) and the fact that it indeed did come to an end in 2009.
There you have it. My top 10 in 2009. I am truly fortunate to live the life that I do. I cannot wait to see what is in store for me in 2010. What’s on your top 10?