#34, #60, #83 & #84

#34 - Plant a tree - For Mother's Day, from Jason & the kids, I got a Lilac tree. It's small and only had one bloom on it, but it's mine. :) I planted it on the upper side of the house, close to the porch. Here's hoping it grows and grows, spreading that wonderful scent everywhere.

#60 - Plant Lavender - I planted some this year in my flower bed in front of the porch. It took quite well. I don't think it is exactly the same type of lavender I was thinking of when I wrote this list...but it's called Lavender, so I'm counting it! LOL.

#83 - Return to PEI - This is the one I'm been dying to cross off. I so love the island!! And this past July, after three years of waiting, I got to return. We stayed at the same cottages we usually stay in. It was the 100th anniversary of Anne. The kids, having been three years older than the last time they were there (Abby could not remember it at all) really enjoyed it. Awesome time! So relaxing! Cannot say enough about that place.

#84 - Return to Alma - As much as I love the island, that is how much my Mom loves Alma. It is her place. The whole family, minus Dad who never travels, ventured to Alma to spend the weekend together. Again the kids were older and appreciated it all the more. It is the quaintest little place you'll ever find. You can walk forever on the ocean floor when the tide is out and then sit and relax while you watch it all come back in again. Lovely time!

#'s 20, 33, 39, 55, 76, 89, 90, 91 &100

#20 - Act in a local community play - This past May, Jason & I both acted in "Astonishing Tales", a play written by Darcey M. All proceeds went to JDRF's Walk for a Cure. Jason played "David", a comic book geek. While I played "Sage" a goth conspiracy theorist. I had to wear the goth make-up and dress which was fun, considering it's so outside my normal character. Scheduling was quite hectic, what with both of us having to attend practices. All in all, it was a fun experience but I am not looking to do another one anytime soon.

#33 - Get panels in my hair - Last October I treated myself and went over to Shelly's and got my hair cut and colored with blond highlights. I loved it, so I did it again in January. Then I didn't get my hair cut again until last night. In prep for Summer, I opted to have chunkier blond highlights with some red added to the top. Very fun! Yes, technically highlights are not quite the same as panels....but you get the drift.

#39 - Try 10 different new recipes - OK. So since starting this list I have tried at least 10 different recipes. They were(in no particular order)...potato skins, enchiladas, chicken wraps, ice cream pie, cheesecake, drumstick squares, peanut butter & jam muffins, peanut butter squares, meatball subs, chicken bagels, & chicken pot pie, plus a few others I'm sure.

#55 - Get back into reading and read 6 new books - This one has been done for a very long time. Can't believe I never crossed it off before. Some of the books I've read are...The Honk & Holler Opening Soon, House of Sand & Fog, What Remains, Tuesdays with Morrie, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Never Get Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda, One More Day by Mitch Albom, Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher, Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier, Goldie Hawn's A Lotus Grows in the Mud....and many more. As you can tell, I've kind of been in a autobiography phase.

#76 - Go out dancing - This also should have been crossed off long ago. Back in October we attend the Falling Leaves Festival dance in Renous....although the music was country...so not much dancing. :( But after we wrapped Astonishing Tales a few weeks ago, Jason & I went out with a few people to the Opera House....music was NOT country. :)

#89 - Meet someone new with the potential of friendship - This past fall I was asked to help start a outreach program for JDRF. It's a mentoring program that is set up to reach out to newly diagnosed families. It was then my job to seek out mentors who wished to help. This led me to a new friend named Lisa. Her son has type 1 diabetes. She and I have done lunch a few times and talked many a night on the phone. She has become my go-to girl for questions about the pump. So nice to have another mom to talk to.

#90 - Sit down and watch more of my old classic movies.... - This was not hard for me to cross off to say the least. Whenever I am home alone, I always pop in one of my old faves like Rear Window or Casablanca or The Philadelphia Story. Just yesterday I watched Jimmy Stewart's "Pot of Gold" for the first time and then re watched His Girl Friday with Cary Grant. What can I say? I just can't get enough of the classics.

# 91 - Buy make-up for myself 5 times - This one may not sound hard to most people, but for a Mom who never buys anything for herself...this took time. In the last year or so I've been working on allowing myself to do things for or spend money on...me, so now finally I can cross this one of my list!

#100 - Start work full time at the school - My Mom chose to not come back to work at the school cafeteria after Christmas break. Since I was the spare, I was next in line for a job. So, I have been working every day at the school since January.

#47 & #74

#47 - Get a Lawnmower - This Summer my Mother's lawnmower broke, so her and I split the cost of a new one. It's one of those self propelled mowers that makes it easier to push, plus it came with a mulching bag, which my Mom has always wanted. The old one was near impossible for me to start by myself, which limited when I could mow. But this new one is so easy it's crazy - love it!! Since we expanded our lawn this Summer, and my parents are getting older, the plan is to eventually purchase a sit-on lawn tractor. But for now I'm totally enjoying the walking.

#74 - Accept Abby's going to Kindergarten and get in a good place about it. - Her first day was September 4th. She was very excited to go. I found the first day hard. My anxiety stemmed not so much from the fact that my baby was now in school, but rather diabetic related. It is hard to let go and trust that her teachers will care for her the way I would. But that night her teacher called and reassured me. Day two my husband and I dropped in at lunchtime to check on her. And now I feel so much better. We are very blessed to have such a supportive group of teachers and t.a.'s.

Three More Down...

# 46 - Get a Back Lawn - Technically there is no grass yet, but this week we got the back all bull-dozed, top soil spread and last night Jason and I planted the grass seed. Now it is just a matter of time. Looks amazing! Unbelievable! Cannot wait for it to be green!

# 49 - Go to the Drive-In - The plan was initially to take the kids to the drive-in again, but two weeks ago Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was playing, and well, since we missed it in theatres, Jason and I just couldn't resist. Mom was nice enough to babysit for us(she is our only babysitter)and so we got go to the drive-in alone. Movie was quite long but who cares?.... I love Jack Sparrow! We plan to take the kids as soon as a children's movie is playing.

#81 - Buy My Husband A Present For His Birthday - This one seems a bit obvious, but not for us. Exchanging presents is not a give-in. We usually cannot afford it, and just send each other e-cards or write our own. This is actually nice because we all know that presents don't really matter, it's the thought that counts. But for once I really wanted that feeling of buying my husband a gift...so I did. Money be damned! I spent a whopping $20 on him! Imagine that! This price included a card, tissue paper and gift bag. LOL.

Four More Checkmarks!

# 10 - Try 10 New Foods - This one has been a looong time coming...but it's finally done!

1. 1% Milk (not sure if this falls in the "food" category or not; have since made the switch from 2% - 1%, no idea how we ever drank whole milk as a kid - blech!)
2. hummus & red pepper dip (thanks Kellie!)
3. Cornflake Chicken Pasta Casserole ( no idea what the correct name is)
4. Mocha Fudge Ice Cream
5. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Medallions
6. Chicken Flatza (a la Pizza Delight....Love it!)
7. Italian Club Sandwich(also from PD)
8. Cheesecake
9. Sweet Potatoes
10. Drumstick Squares

#42 - Buy an MP3 Player that I can use while walking - I was given an iPod shuffle at the JDRF walk for raising over $1000. So now there is no need to purchase one...cool!

# 92 - Buy Jewelery for myself 3 times - Good thing I never stated where I had to buy the jewelery since 2 of the 3 came from the dollar store. lol

1. 2 toe rings with ankle bracelet
2. Hoop earrings
3. Ankle bracelet

#95 - Participate in a marathon or walk-a-thon for charity - Team Keenan participated in the recent JDRF Walk for a Cure for Juvenile Diabetes in Moncton. One word - Awesome!

Update Time

#15 - Drink Lemonade on my front porch - I've done this many times over the last month. Granted it was Crystal Light Lemonade....but still counts!

# 22 - Print out pictures and frame them and put them in photo albums - Done and done. We bought a new canon printer for Christmas so I finally had ink again....but now it's gone. :(

# 27 - Start a new family tradition - (This is more of a hope category. I suppose one has to wait years to see if it actually takes.) We organized a giant yard sale to raise money for JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes. Raised $1000! I would like this event or at the very least participation in the walk and raising money for the cause, to be our new family tradition that we do every Spring.

#45 - Buy a new houseplant - I did this shortly after Christmas. I think it was in January. A palm tree. It's nice and tall. Looks great against my blue wall. Unfortunately it doesn't thrive well in our geographical location and I fear it is dying.

#59 - Stay out in the rain - Don't remember if this was intentional or not.....but it happened. lol.

#61 - Write or email a letter to a celebrity that I really admire - Not sure if this counts but I'm counting it anyway. I have commented several times on Wil Wheaton's and Rosie's blogs......no reply though. :(

# 71 - Go ice skating - I don't know if you could call what I did skating...but I was on the ice wearing ice skates. It had been quite a long time so to say I was a bit rusty would be an understatement.

#77 - Go out somewhere, drink and not have to be designated driver - This actually happened a few times. Sherry's work Christmas party, Raelene's house warming party, to name two. Neither time did I get really tipsy but still shouldn't drive.

# 78 - Go for a walk while it's snowing - Sure it was only over to Mom's...but was still enjoyable.

#80 - Buy my husband a present for Christmas - To most people this one would seem like a give-in, but not for us. We usually cannot afford such luxuries. This year, however, we threw caution to the wind and exchanged gifts. Very nice.

#88 - Call Judy and catch up - Ok. So I didn't actually call her...but I did add her to my facebook friends. lol. The modern phone call? And now we can see what is going on in each other's lives whenever we want.

#93 - Buy three new pairs of shoes - This actually happened at the same time! Imagine! For someone who never gets to buy herself anything this was quite the occasion. I actually bought 4 pairs of shoes! Two pairs of sandals, one dress shoe and one pair of flat sneakers. Together I think they only cost me $30. The dress shoe and the running shoe were each only $5! Gotta love those sales!

I Think I'm Ready Now

If you'll look below, you will notice that the last time I posted in this was Friday, July 21, 2006. Then nothing. The reason for this is that the next day, Saturday, July 22, 2006, my daughter Jules got diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, followed by my daughter Abby's diagnosis, just three short weeks later. Needless to say, this list has really been the last thing on my mind. But those rare times when it did enter, I would go to this site and see that date. The BD(Before Diabetes) date. I guess part of me didn't want to ever post here again. Just leave that day, that life, frozen in cyberworld forever.

But time has passed, and life goes on. And so, must I.

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# 12 - To video our new house's arrival. Check! It finally arrived on September 8th.

# 13 - Move into our new home and spend our first night in it. Check! Our first night here was October 28th.

# 14 - To have all the rooms in our house painted the colors I want. This one I'm actually surprised about. I thought it would have taken us much longer. But Jason and I spent many a night painting into the wee hours and ...Voila! Finito!

# 16 & # 17 - Decorate my new home for Halloween/Christmas for the first time. Done and done.

# 26 - To do something that I would normally feel guilty for without feeling guilty. This one could be crossed off many times. One of the perks of having a disease in the family is that it really helps you to prioritize!

# 32 - To grow my hair down past my shoulders. It was pretty much there by Jules' diagnosis but I got it cut off soon after. Too much work.

# 37 - But a queen sized bed. Check! And I must say it is wonderful!

# 38 - Sell the trailer. We did and it's gone. It was really quite sad to see it go. So many memories.

# 54 - Purchase a pellet stove and have it installed in our new home. It was installed on Halloween day. We love it. Throws great heat without the mess.

# 87 - Buy a new bathmat. Sure, this one didn't take much effort. But still....

# 94 - To find a charity that suits me. Boy did we ever? www.jdrf.ca