The List of Learning, 2017 Edition

2017 was a great year and I feel really good about the goals that we accomplished!

We got a dog (even though it wasn't a German Shepard).

I ran a 10k (without stopping even).
We stopped using credit cards.

Kyle got his truck and stayed out of debt doing it.

I read the Book of Mormon in a new record speed (2 months).

And we went to the temple every month again!
I also knocked a few things off my bucket list, like going on a ride along, paddle boarding, soaking in the crater in Midway and going to a balloon festival :)

The only goal we didn't accomplish was building up a 1 year supply of food storage.

We have all our water saved up though!

We just still haven't completely agreed on how we want to do our food storage. Kyle wants a freeze dryer SO bad, but I'm not 100% sold on them yet.

And we are still working on saving up our $10,000 emergency fund. That will be one of our 2018 goals, along with getting a fence! Kyle also wants to finish the bathroom in our basement.
But the #1 goal: POTTY TRAIN KASEN!

 I also want to throw in the goal to visit a new state. I haven't been to a new one since we were married so it's about time for that kind of adventure.

Lastly, we want to visit the Cedar City Temple. 

I should probably learn to make jam sometime too. We've got some good jam from Kristi this year and it never lasts long enough.

And now for What 2017 Taught Me:

1.  Tai cost about $670 more than Kasen, to bring home from the hospital, but the second night there was worth every penny!
2.  It costs $39.88 more for a "long" office visit with a doctor than a regular office visit. They decide how long "long" is, and you will never know until you get the bill 7 months later.
3. Eating cotton candy, carmel corn and chocolate milk for dinner, at the circus will make Kasen throw up in the middle of the night.
4. Kyle does not know the difference between the smell of throw up everywhere and a poopy diaper. He also does not know how to smell a diaper without getting poo on his nose! haha
5. Ticket stubs will stay in my pocket 100% better than $11 cash will.
6. If a lot of smoke is pouring out of your snowmobile you probably lost the radiator cap.
7. Hot glue holds things together way better than superglue.
8. Nobody needs a credit card, even to "build credit".  
9. Use a whisk to dye Easter eggs.
10. When you have 2 kids, but only take one with you to Costco, it is very easy to forget that you brought any kids with you at all.
11. There is a good reason that cookie recipes tell you to refrigerate the cookie dough. Makes them so much fluffier! So just do it.
12. Baby carriers do not fit in Hobby Lobby shopping carts.
13. Some dogs eat carpet.
14. Some dogs only eat their vomit if it's outside on the grass, but not inside on the carpet.
15. Some dogs are too stupid to walk on a leash. Which also means that they don't know how to run with you on a leash without tripping you either!
16. If you put dog poop in the holes they dig then they won't dig in them anymore, however, this does not prevent them from digging 11 new holes in other places.
17. According to neighbors, 52 degrees is too cold for a dog to be outside...
18. Proactive will bleach your pillowcases. And everything else it touches.
19. Don't go to Lake Powell unless you are staying on the water.
20. Online ordering my groceries is the best thing that has happened to me since being a mom.
21. Provo was not the first city to have 2 temples.
22. Yoga classes are enjoyable. Especially when it's a free trial. With my BFF.
23. Wasps don't just sting, they also bite with their little pincers.
24. Cereal box viewers do not work to see a solar eclipse. 
25. How to Paddle board.
26. After your baby gets their shots, don't leave their band aids on for the car ride. They will peel them off, try to eat them and choke on them in the back seat of your car!
27. If you don't enjoy running races straight up steep hills then make sure to research the routes for races you sign up for and don't ever run the Peach Days 10k.
28. I'd rather run a race in the pouring rain than up a hill.
29. When you go on a ride along you have to sign a paper that says "risk of death" 4 different times. And you might not get home until 4am.
30. Broiling only takes a few minutes.
31. Dogs are in heat for 3 WEEKS! 
32. How to cut snowflakes and use cake decorating tips.
33. Water heaters cost $481.72 
34. Never EVER upgrade your OS without first finishing/exporting your imovie projects. Your year long home video project will be MISSING! 
35. Staying at the Homestead Resort is not worth the bad customer service, but swimming in the crater is. On the other hand Shutterfly customer service is AMAZING!

Here's to 2018, Happy New Year!