A whole lotta nothing... but it's still good!

We are in recovery/winding down mode...

This past week has been about trying to regain our "calm routine".  Getting the kids back to their normal schedule, getting myself used to my new work schedule. (Yes, the hours at the salon have picked up a little) It has been about gaining some of the pre-holiday atmosphere back in our house.

Starting with some play dates...

Carly and her friend Kaylie hanging out.

Carly wasn't co-operating with the funny face picture.

And Christopher decided on Wednesday to help me take down some Christmas lights from the front window.

I literally left him in the MIDDLE of the living room for three minutes, and when I peeked in to check on him, he was in his glory with the lights.  And when I moved him back to the middle of the living room and checked on him again in two minutes, he had found one of Carly's drawings and was happily ripping it to shreds!!

That is my boy with "tired eyes" as I call them, and yes, that is Carly's mangled picture under him!

The best part is that he doesn't crawl forward yet!  He just rolls, scoots and crawls backwards until he gets to where he needs to be.  He is just so dang cute!!!!  And now that he is on the move, its time to lock up the lower half of the house! 

My favorite part of the day is in the morning when I go into his room and am greeted with this sight....

And I love coming home from work to this sight...

My girl got to take her class Llama home, Llama Llama is his name.  She loves when it is her turn to bring the stuffed animal home from school.  She made a cozy little bed for him...

I had to laugh, because most kids would sleep with the stuffed animal, but my girl is particular about which stuffed animal she snuggles with at night. 

Week one of 2012 was good!  Onto week two, with some serious party prepping to do!  My girl is turning 4 in 14 days!



The Next Best Thing

So growing up, New Years Eve was a fun at-home evening with horse divers (hors d'oeuvre for those who get fancy with it) and Dick Clark, the big lighted ball and a bit of old family traditions (yes, we did bang pots and pans on the front porch yelling, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" until our throats were sore).

Some how, over the years, New Years Eve lost its fun for me.  As each year went by, I began to dread December 31st.  Not sure why, it just seemed like every year I was never quite where I wanted to be, and it just didn't have its spark anymore.  And then four years ago, on New Years Eve, my Grandpa passed away.  And I told myself on the way to the hospital that night, to see my Grandpa for the last time, that I was DONE with the 31st of December!  I swore that from this moment forward I would never acknowledge this night, ever again.

After my family left the hosptial December 31, 2007, we went back to my Aunt & Uncle's house to have a toast to my Grandpa and bring in 2008 - it was what my Grandpa would have wanted.  And being surrounded by family that night, not only helped the hurt of our loss, but surprisingly started a new New Years Eve tradition.  Every year since my Grandpa's passing, we have all gotten together and brought in the New Year as a family! 

I LOVE IT!

We have the horse divers, and the cocktails (always a Manhattan in honor of my Grandpa)!  We have the lighted ball with whoever hosts the New Years Eve special now.  This year we had a little "Water Pong" in the garage...

Even the youngin's got in on it....

(No underage beverage sampling went on through out the duration of this game)

Might I also add as a side note that this retired Flippy Cup gamer, helped the girls smoke the guys in 5 rounds of Red Solo Cup Flippy Cup!  Like riding a bike - oh yeah!!

The cousins hung out...

Family enjoyed some quality time together! And my girl got to hang with some of her favorite people!!

There were even some creative wardrobe alterations....

This pic is quite scary looking, when really I knew she was back there and that de-threader was not that sharp!! LOL

And when the new year rang in, everyone celebrated....

Carly & Cayley dancing in the new year

Daddy & Daughter!

And so I like to think that this new tradition was some how one last gift from my Grandpa, to me and my family.  In his passing, we have created some great New Years Eve memories, and instead of dreading this day, I look forward to seeing everyone I love.  Of course having my Grandpa back would be the ultimate greatest New Years Eve...but this is the next best thing!  Happy 2012!