January

OK, you are just going to have to take my word on it that our Christmas break was great. I had big ideas about making a long blog about the holidays, but never did, and now it feels like a million miles away in the past. But, we had a wonderful break, great family time, busy holiday schedule, then a nice, quiet week in between Christmas and New Years. I posted pictures a few entries ago, and that is as good as it's going to get! ;)

So other than the holiday rush, here is what we have been up to. We have watched a lot of movies, Baylor basketball, and football. Here are pictures of my kids watching tv. Yes, fun and exciting things to blog about! My brother and SIL got the kids a lot of old school movies for Christmas, and we have enjoyed them.

Over the holiday, I read 2 really great books! I always appreciate a book that I can't put down, and when I do put down, I can't wait to pick it back up again. The Lost Hours and Firefly Lane were great. I am planning to chose one to do for book club and can't decide between the two.

I finished both books up by New Year's Eve. Speaking of that, does anyone else feel like it is crazy that we have started a new decade? That the 80s were 3 decades ago? We let the kids stay up until midnight that night. I remember holding our 6 week old, Matthew, at the stroke of midnight in the new millennium 10 years ago, and what a huge difference one decade made. Now, I am thinking that Matthew will be a sophomore in college at the turn of the next decade! How quickly life is passing by!

I absolutely love January! I love starting fresh. I love my house after it has been decorated to the hilt with Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas decorations. Everything looks a little stark, but I appreciate that. I like the feeling of starting over. Reevaluating our lives and making changes. I tend to crave making big meals for the family and sit down for dinner more in January. After so many parties and events in December, it is nice to stay home. It's just too cold to go out at night! I also love that our activities slow down so much this time of year. School activities are at a minimum, and we are only involved with Upwards basketball through our church. I also enjoy the cold weather, and I haven't been disappointed this year! 8 degrees yesterday! It hasn't been in the single digits in Waco since 1989. It has been an unusually cold winter.

Here is Mary Beth starting up ballet again after a month off. She asked me what I was going to make her for breakfast tonight, and I realized for the first time, that she is no longer calling it "break tist". She is also stopped asking to put on her "nightdown". So many of her sweet baby expressions are fading away. She has grown up so much this year, I can hardly believe it. I will ask her questions, and she enjoys spelling out her answers. She reads everything in sight. Where did my baby go?

While watching our movies, basketball, and football, I still like to keep busy. Here is my latest project. Of course it isn't finished yet, but I am excited about how it is turning out. I have graduated into putting texture in a scarf, and I have learned to do cables. So much fun!
That's about all going on around our house right now. We are enjoying a slow paced start to the year!