The fact that we welcomed 2011 while huddled under blankets and with several space heaters on full blast left me thinking, “This must be a sign that this is going to be one tough year.” Not that I’m superstitious but boy did that premonition ever come true. Turns out, having our a/c unit go out during the holidays (which was the coldest part of winter and then it broke again in the hottest part of summer) was one of the easiest challenges my family faced last year. Most of those struggles I can’t write about because I’m simply not as candid as other bloggers and, more importantly, they are not mine alone to divulge. (Someday soon I hope I can because there are important lessons to share.)

None of that is to overshadow the best news of the year: that my husband and I are expecting our third child! How bizarre it is that our oldest child is a freshman in high school. Before I know it I’ll be sitting on the hard bleachers, my butt totally asleep, watching her get her diploma. Where does the time go?!?

Another year gone…

I never got into some of the biggest trends of the year, like planking or Angry Birds. Here’s what I will remember about 2011:

Best fiction book I read: The Way the Crow Flies

Best nonfiction book(s) I read: 3,096 Days in Captivity by Natascha Kampusch and Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony by Jeff Ashton

Best movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Best TV show: The Office (always) and seven years after the show ended I finally discovered Dead Like Me, which co-starred the exquisite Laura Harris. So sad that show had to end over creative differences.

Best reality TV show: Mob Wives
(I’d give the Best Reality TV Show Moment Award to Drita and Karen for their fight on the rooftop in the Season 1 finale. Holy crap, I thought someone was going over the edge!)

Best new song: “Love You Like a Love Song,” Selena Gomez & The Scene

Song I couldn’t get out of my head: “Mercy,” Duffy

Vacations: Rocky Point, Mexico (could have lived without the stomach flu though) and Disneyland in July

Best quote: “Reality hits you hard, bro” – George Lindell. (In fact, that pretty much describes this year for me.) I give the best quote runner-up to Madison for “none of your bunnies.”

Best thing I ate: Lucas’ Smashed Potatoes at Thanksgiving

Proudest moment: When it’s all said and done, I am the proudest of how my entire family bonded together when things got rough

2011 in a word: Trials!

Sad goodbyes: Borders, Harry Potter movies, Amy Winehouse and Steve Jobs

If I had 2011 to do over again: I would have blogged more, flossed more, and been more productive

What I am most looking forward to in 2012: The birth of my third child in April! Moving into a new house and kicking myself in the butt to meet some of my writing goals.

And in 2012 you can also find me each week on Today’s Mama.

Here’s to a happy, healthy new year!