A Decade in Review

Hard to think that a decade has passed, let alone the first decade of the 21st Century.
The last week of December 1999, I had just got back from spending Christmas in Canada with my family, the last one we all spent together. That New Years Eve, Brandon and I spent the night watching MTV's footage of Times Square while I was scared to death that all technology was going to cease working. Y2K Bug anyone? It didn't help the fact that a few seconds after midnight, MTV's cameras glitched. Scared the crap out of me.

I thought it would be fun to recap the last 10 years.

1999: Brandon and I started dating in October. I was 16 and a Sophmore at North Surry High School. I was in AFJRTOC and French club. My french teacher was from Laval, Quebec. I spent that summer and Christmas in Canada with my family. It was the last one that I spent with family, or in Canada.

2000: I turned 17 in October. Still no driver's license. This was the year that my Dad got into some legal trouble and I had to move in with Brandon's family for a while. I think my older sister moved to North Carolina that year.

2001: My Grama died June of that year, and I spent part of the summer in Canada. I started my Senior year in High School that fall, and graduated "early" in December. I got my license about a month before I turned 18.

2002: Started working at Walmart in April. Did the whole "Graduation Ceremony" thing in May. Started computer programming courses at the local Community College that fall. Quit before the end of the semester.

2003: My little sister moved back to North Carolina from Canada. My Grampa bought me my Dodge Stratus (which I only paid him back a few payments on). That's the New Years that I had planned on spending with my little Sister, but we went to Pizza Hut after church and didn't get our pizza until 1 am. Everyone else in our party got theirs around 11 pm. I still feel bad about making plans and missing New Years with her.

2004: Started going to the gym. My sister moved back to Canada. Got pregnant with Brye. He was due December 27th. Quit Walmart in June of that year. Brandon finally finished moving in with me, and we both lived with my dad.

2005: Gave birth to Brye January 7th. Found out that weekend that my Grampa had lung cancer, and later brain cancer.  No one told me until after I had Brye. When Brye was about 3 weeks old, I drove to Canada with him, and my dad, to spend time with my Grampa. We spent a little over a month with my family. I was bit by the cloth diaper bug.  Brandon and I got married November 5th while my Dad was back in the States. He was taking care of my Grampa. I attempted to go back to school, didn't last long.

2006: I finally went back to work. My Grampa passed away in May. That marked Brandon's first time ever leaving the States. I ended up switching jobs in October. My dad decided to stay in Canada.

2007: Lived with my inlaws for the first 6 months. They were buying a house and we were supposed to be getting their old house.  Bought a truck. Took my cousin to Carolina Beach and almost moved to Canada.  Worked 50+ hours a week, as a waitress. Loved the tips. We moved to a huge house in town in June, and my dad moved back. Got pregnant with Freedom near the end of September and quit.

2008: In January, we finally moved into my inlaw's old house.  My family from Canada visited and I had a baby shower. We spend half their Vacation at Myrtle Beach.  Got into a huge fight with my older sister. Freedom was born May 28th at 38 weeks. Brandon was laid off... a lot.  Brye started preschool, but we pulled him out due to behavior problems. My little sister moved back down shortly after Freedom was born. She went back to Canada in October.

2009:  Brye started preschool. He loves it. Brandon and I have both lost a lot of weight.  We bought a minivan.  Brandon was laid off a few times this year too. In May, I opened a branch of Teeny Greenies. I started working at GNC in October. 

My older sister and I, December 2009 at Aunt Karen's house