{Highs and Lows of 2012}

Kate  over at Kate on Thin Ice has started a great blog hop meme-thing  asking what our highs and lows of 2012 were.

So here are my answers to her all important questions...

1. What was your happiest event?

There have been a few big events this year for the Glasgow Mummy family. One of the happiest was my little sister's wedding, and in the run up to the wedding there was an amazing circus-themed hen party. Others include my daughter's first birthday party where we hosted an afternoon tea party at the house. There was also my son's 3rd birthday, one of my best friend's weddings, attending the Scottish Fashion Awards and even some of the smallest of things have been the happiest of days... such as taking the kids to the local park after what felt like weeks of bad weather.

2. What was the saddest thing to happen?

Saying goodbye to one of my best friends who emigrated to Australia in October. I miss you guys so much.

3. What was the most unlikely thing to happen that actually went ahead and did?

Hmmm... this is the question that I've found to be the toughest, and have left it last to complete.

There were a lot of things that at the start of 2012 I thought were unlikely. I saw in the New Year as a newly single mum with two screaming, ill babies (I'm so grateful to Becky who came over with her husband to keep me company that night). I had no idea how the year would pan out and at the time I thought I'd never be happy. But here I am, smiling and feeling very positive about 2013. What a difference a year makes... 

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4. Who let you down?

I'd probably say I've let myself down at times. I wish I was more assertive and a bit stronger for dealing with difficult situations. I've come through a lot, but I think I've still got a way to go.

5. Who supported you?

My friends have been amazing...old & new, real & virtual... and my best friend, who just also happens to be my sister.

6. Tell us one thing you learned.

I can't do it all. It's much harder as a single mummy than I thought it was going to be.

7. Tell us one thing that made you laugh.

I laugh a lot. Sometimes at the littlest of things. This weekend I had my sister and her husband staying with us, and what a laugh it was. One word for you Ali... gestunken!! (You had to be there!!)

8. Tell us one thing that made you cry.

As well as the laughter this year, there has been a lot of tears. Sometimes over big things, and others over sad movies or songs. Tears were also shed in the back of a police van...!!

9. Tell us three things your child or children did to make you feel proud.

My children amaze me every day & I'm so proud of them!

My daughter is learning new words and constantly surprises me with little phrases that she's picked up. The other day she said 'love you mummy' for the first time and I was a very proud parent!

We knew at the start of the year that my son needed glasses to help correct a squint. More recently he has been a super star and has adapted so quickly to wearing his new specs and has been an angel at his check-up appointments.

Both my children are very polite - they say please and thank you (littlest needs prompted still) and just this afternoon, after a friend had visited with her kids, my son said to her daughter as they were leaving (without prompting) - 'thank you for coming to play with me'. That made me proud :-)

10. Tell us one thing that made you proud of yourself.

In May I ran my first ever race, and I properly jumped in at the deep end with a half marathon! I completed the race in 2 hours 12 minutes - I'm really proud of my efforts and we (my sister, her colleague and I) managed to raise a whopping £4500 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

11. Tell us one challenge you overcame.

I guess one of the challenges I faced was to maintain my new figure. After a dramatic weight loss at the end of 2011, was it possible to keep the weight off?? I'm pleased to say that yes, I'm still a size 10. Although I have put on a stone over the year, but I actually think I was too skinny at one point. If I can lose 7 lbs again I'll be very happy.

There have also been parenting things that I perceived as challenges, such as ditching the baby bottles, but it was actually much easier than I thought. Next challenge is to get the toddler to ditch his dummy!!

12. Tell us three things you would like to change about your life in 2013.

I've been giving much thought to my New Years resolutions these past few days.

One is that I'd like to get more organised. This is mainly to do with food - meal planning & cooking from scratch. But also includes planning ahead with friends and family for play dates, visits etc.

Another is that I'd like to bake more regularly with the kids. Ideally once a week, but I think I'll aim for fortnightly to start with.

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My final thing would be that I'd like to make further progress with my 35 at 35 list. So far I've ticked off 7 items on my list, but I've still a lot to do!! I already have one item lined up for January, and hopefully another for the springtime. Watch this space!!

Anyone can take part, and Kate has already tagged a multitude of bloggers - some of whom I would have tagged. So if you would like to be tagged, please let me know.

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