Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

It's 9:15 on New Year's Eve, and it's just baby and me sitting at the computer. Our plans for the evening fell through when my sister's family all came down with a nasty GI virus. No fun. Lucy got invited to a friend's house, Eustace is working, and Victor's a little under the weather himself and did not resist a relatively early bedtime.

So here we sit, bambino and I, me typing and she pulling whatever she can reach out of the desk drawers. Seems like a perfect time to reflect on the highlights of 2008 - a year soon to be history.

Here are my top 10 of the year (in no particular order):

1. Job change. We agonized over this for, literally, years. It's been good on so many levels. Thanks be to God.

2. Felicity learns to crawl, walk, run... It's so much fun to witness a baby's 'firsts.' It never gets old.

3. Lucy makes her first confession. I used to take her with me into the confessional before she was old enough to understand everything. I can hardly believe she's old enough to experience God's healing grace in this special way all by herself. This milestone is all sweet, no bitter.

4. Victor conquers swimming lessons. When I signed him up for his weekly class, which lasts an hour, I was apprehensive. This involves strange people, water over his head, following rules and directions. He's done it, by golly, without any trouble. Oh me of little faith.

5. New 4-seasons room and patio. This home-improvement has been great for us. It's as if we can be in our backyard, but still indoors, all year long.

6. My brother's wedding reception. This was all about fun and happiness. Their wedding was in 2007, so technically, I can't talk about that.

7. Roasting marshmallows over the fire. We invested in one of those free-standing firepits. Many an evening was spent hanging around the fire with friends, neighbors, family, or just us.

8. Book-it Nights in Spring and Fall. This is a regular event for our homeschooling group, and I'm pretty sure Eustace and I enjoy it just as much, if not more than, our kids. Book-it Night rocks.

9. The Nutcracker. Participating in a professional production is a lot for a 7-year-old, even one with as much energy as ours. During performance week, she volunteered for her first nap in 5 years. Nevertheless, what a wonderful experience it was!

10. Cheering my husband on in his first running race in 10 years. He is a faithful runner, but often in the basement on the treadmill, which is not nearly as exhilarating as a race outdoors. He works so hard that he hardly ever has a chance to do something fun like this for himself. He did great. We didn't stick around for results, but I was counting, and he was one of the first 10 to finish. Good job, honey.

Well, goodbye 2008. You have certainly provided us with both blessings and challenges, hope and frustration. Tonight, I feel like focusing on the good, and I'm finding plenty of it. I could write about so many other things - new babies, fun with friends and family, vacations, successful potty training, on and on. God is good, and we'll keep praying through whatever happens in 2009.

Happy New Year.

Snow Bunny

No Problem

Victor's Christmas list:
A remote-control racing Garbage truck that can go the speed of sound.

Lucy's Christmas list:
A sewing machine, but anything anybody gets me will be great.

Really Spoiled Rotten

The Lazy Mom's Solution to Holiday Cheer:

1. Hire your favorite mommy's helper (in our case, Maggie).
2. Go to the basement to 'wrap presents'.
3. Listen to your happy children upstairs baking cookies with fore-mentioned mommy's helper.
4. Goof around on the computer.
5. Wrap presents without interruption.

Pay particular attention to step #1. Finding a helper who is willing to bake with 3 children underfoot is key. I am truly spoiled rotten.

Spoiled Rotten

I'm referring to myself.

I sat in my warm house, shopping at my computer, watching my kids play outside this morning and thought, "gee, this is pretty nice."

We have no pressing engagements today, and everybody is healthy at the moment. We can afford to buy gifts and keep our heat at a comfortable level, and technology allows me to get send presents to my friends and family without having to drive across town in freezing weather with the kids in tow.

Therefore, I'm feeling pampered today. I'll sit for a second and relish the peace and contentment of just staying at home.

Who can resist...

...a request such as this:
"Mommy, can I please be excused from the table for just one quite long minute?"

Welcome Baby Anne!!!

We have a brand new Goddaughter! Born yesterday, she was just a bit early (4 weeks), but is doing fine! I don't have any of the details we female-types crave (weight, length, nursing stats, etc.), but her daddy (Our dear friend Steve) called right after her C-section delivery to let us know of her arrival!!

Shannon, her mom, and I have been best friends since college. And, since they were married, she and her husband said if they ever had a girl, they would name her Anne. So, good St. Anne and I have been waiting eagerly for this day for 8 1/2 years. Shannon and Steve had one, two, three boys (great kids, by the way, and 2 are our Godsons) - the third born on MY birthday 3 years ago.

Just when we were sure the Y chromosome would forever dominate their family, along came this sweet little surprise yesterday. And, on Eustace's birthday this time. Pretty amazing.

So, I am praying today for this new little bundle of sweetness, her mommy, daddy and brothers. May their home be filled with little-girl tenderness and lots of pink this Christmas.