Rear View Mirror, 2011

Looking back at a year filled with awesomeness and excitement I'm counting down my ten favorite events.  I will also add a video or two of my favorite songs of the year, and name my least favorite song.  So come along as I revisit my faves of 2011...

#10.  80's night!  There should definatley be more of these in 2012.  And, although I start my list with something a little silly and not nearly as significant as my Team Awesome counter part Rachel and her birthing a child where else can you find awesomely reminiscent music, that (most of you reading this) may or may not have been conceived to??? 80's night had me at Can't Touch This, and will keep drawing me back with Whip It, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Safety Dance, and Always Something There to Remind Me.  And in true 80's fashion I must do all things in excess and here is a little jewel to keep you interested:

#9. Playing Uno with the fam!  Where else can I out drink my husband, sister, and brother in law be served a roll extra flaky and not win a single round of a game that I should be pro at?

#8. Our family mini vacations.  This past year we took sometime to get away even though we didn't venture far.  Places we went included the Renaissance Fair, Bearizona, a spring training game and Casa Grande for a visit with Morgan, Shay & Miss Kayla.  These trips were so much fun.  

My favorite part of the Renaissance fair was probably Mason buying me a claddah ring...

My favorite part of Bearizona was seeing a baby white buffalo born while we were there, and spending our sixth wedding anniversary with the boys on a family outing.

Our Favorite part of spending time in Casa Grande was
getting to see Morgan, Shay, and Kayla.  The boys loved
spending time with their cousins too.

#7. Karaoke @ Antelope Lanes with our Bud family & friends.  Let me tell you Mason and Gabe (Ramirez) sing a mean version of Boys II Men's End of the Road.

#6. Family Reunions!  This summer we had family reunions with both of my parents sides of the family.  We enjoyed meeting all of our cousins, second cousins, and maybe even a few third cousins mixed in there too.  My boys loved meeting the Garduno - Aldrete clan.  This reunion included food, beer, a pinata, and a brunch served in Matt's Saloon.  This is also the day Tucker claims to have became a "real mexican"  insert photo of Tucker in a sombrero...(so apparently that pic is saved to the other computer...the one thats broken...) but you get the idea.  

One air plane ride and a very long car ride later we had made our way to Thermopolis, Wyoming to visit with my mom's side of the family.  That trip was amazing, and again we got to meet family that we had previously only heard of.  The trip included a visit my great grandparents house that I hadn't been to in over 10 years, and it is still just the way I remember from my childhood.

#5.  I got a new boy friend...

Okay not really.  But Francis and I had a blast @ the Bruno Mars concert in Phx.  Despite forgetting to wear our capes (inside joke) we let Bruno sing about how amazing we are, and about how he'd catch a grenade for us, he recounted our first time, we talked about marriage, but eventually we broke it off, which led him to a really dark time in his life filled with liquor store blues and it rained.  Eventually he got over us and spent the next day lazy and not answering his phone :(  (It is quite possible that the only people who read this and understand it are Francis & Rachel and for that I apologize for everyone else I will try to make it up to you with a little diddy by the man himself.)  I <3 U Bruno!!!

#4. Halloween!!!!  Here's the nights cast and characters:

Ricky Bobby ...... played by Mason Kent

Rotting Mummy.....played by Tucker Kent

Frankenstein.........played by Keaton Kent

Batman.......played by Zak Kent

Superman.......played by Eli Kent

& last but by no means least

A random honey bee.....played by the awesomely fantastic queen bee herself Jessica Kent!

# 3. Date nights with my husband!  I love getting out with him and reconnecting!  He is a wonderful husband and father I truly appreciate everything he does for our family.

# 2. Watching my boys grow and learn everyday.  I am blessed to spend my life surrounded by my children.  I have more happiness and love in my life than I ever thought I could possibly deserve, and I thank God for everyday I get to spend with them...even the messy house, haven't slept for more than 5 hours a night, its 7 pm and everyone is hungry moments; I cherish them all.

# 1. White Water Rafting!!!  (Need I say more?)  It was freaking amazing!  Including being thrown out of the raft!  I loved it and can't wait to go again!!!!

As a side note the rest of our Wyoming vacation was pretty awesome as well but we all really loved the rafting.

  And, like I promised favorite songs: 1. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO 2. Crazy Girl - Eli Young Band 3. Fly - Nicki Minaj & Rihanna.  Songs that are completely stupid but no matter what I do I can't get their horribleness out of my mind....1. Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith (although if I have to listen to this I prefer the Glee Cast version.) & lastly Moves Like Jager - Maroon 5.

So here's to you 2011!  And, be warned 2012 I dare you to be 10 times as awesome as 2011 was.