Happy New Year

Hello all -

Happy New Year and Happy January Birthdays to all who qualify!

What did everyone do for New Year's? We were pretty laid back this year, as is the case these past years with children. No more waking up with a hangover on someone else's couch! What? That shocks some of you? *snicker* Much easier recovery these years, that's for sure.

We stayed home with the boy children. Around 6:30 p.m. Ron's sister and family came over. They brought stuff for pizza and we had stuff for pizza and we made pizza. My boys love my nephew, and we didn't see them much all evening. It is so strange that even Zane is big enough to play for long periods of time without constant monitoring and care. Although, I take a leap of faith that Ryan and Spencer will be keeping a bit of an eye on him, too! We had a variety of snack-y stuff out and every so often a blur of motion would materialize, and the snack trays would be significantly reduced when the air cleared. I also got them pop. That was a big hit as none of them get pop very often. I am lucky to be one of the chosen few my dear niece girl loves, and I spent a lot of the night googling at her and snuggling her.

Mom and dad popped in for a few minutes, and mom brought up chocolate baked goods. Go mom! Mom told us a story about her car and men and how they think they know everything. What's that? You girls all are nodding your heads. Ah, yes. We've all been there! She told dad a few weeks ago that it smelled in the car. Could a mouse have died up in the motor? "Hahaha...No, of course not....hahaha!" Then, the last week or so each time the car was started the window would roll down. Yesterday, the check engine light came on. Dad opened the hood of the car and what do you suppose he found? Do I need to even finish? Well, ok. All together now - A Mouse Nest! And, the mice had chewed through some wires as well as stinking up the place with their deadness.

It was our intention to play cards, but that never happened. We all just visited and before we knew it, Grace was fussy and ornery and it was 11 o'clock.

After they left, Ron wanted to go to bed but the boys and I were determined to wait those last twenty minutes to see the ball drop. Ron is such a party pooper! He tried to go to sleep, but the boys got in bed with me and we watched the gala and noise-making at Times Square. We TRIED to be still and quiet....somehow Ron was still up and stirred himself enough to count down from 5 with us. Then, much hugging and kissing and shouting of "Happy New Year" commenced and I was happy to see the excitement and joy abound! And, because it is my nature, I immediately began thinking about how this thrill over such little pleasures would soon enough be a memory too.

But for now, happiness reigns in our little world and I resolve this year to try to hold it a little tighter and cherish it a little better...and sneak in as many more hugs and kisses as I can.

So what did you do?

*edited to add* Ancient Chinese Proverb: Better to end up on someone else's couch in yesterday's clothes than to end up on own couch in someone else's clothes.