In the Books

Boy, another holiday season has come and gone.  It really does feel like just the other day we were unpacking the moving truck and hauling boxes into our new house.  I remember telling Craig, even on that blistering July day, I really wanted to have Christmas in our new house this year.  That Craig, he always delivers. 

 The girls have been out of school for close to two weeks.  I had envisioned them spending a few days with my parents while I got the rest of the holiday festivities in order, but unfortunately, my mom fell ill and my folks weren't able to make it up for Christmas.  It was different not celebrating with them, but my in-laws filled the house with their presence and presents.  Family is family and that's is what makes the memories.

The girls were staying up way past their regular bedtime over the break, even getting to stay up to wait for their Uncle Brandon to come in from NYC late Christmas Eve.  While they waited for him, they prepared for the arrival of another favorite fellow of theirs.

Then, with much pleading and cajoling, we got them to go to bed.  Teeth brushed, pajamas on, snug as bugs in their make-shift camp-out on the floor.  Their heads hit the pillow and the silence was golden.

Why yes, Coever sleeps with an eye pillow. Beauty rest assured. 

In the morning, the girls showed remarkable restraint and let everyone sleep in until about 7:15.  Everyone was pretty agreeable to that time frame, though I did think Mo and Co were going to shank Brandon when he didn't get out of the bed after their multiple attempts to rouse him.  While we waited for him to come to get up, the girls were content to decimate their stockings before the main event.

And finally, to the gifts! Months and weeks of carefully hiding and wrapping, storing, and planning on my part: decimated in a matter of minutes.  Their smiles and cries of, "I got what I wanted! I got the whole set!" -- priceless. 

In the aftermath of the great unwrapping, there was food, lots of food.  Remarkably, we showed restraint this year and just had a modest brunch followed by a deliciously cooked dinner from my dear hubby (I like how at Thanksgiving and Christmas, Craig helms the kitchen!).   

There was lots of loving to go around, too. 

And the requisite silliness that comes with a revolving door of family and friends.

In the midst of all of this, I realized I have been living the past two weeks like it's my first time home on a college break? 

Sleeping in? Check.

Shuffling around in yoga pants all.day.long? Check.

Grubbing down on food? Check.

Hitting up the movies? Check.

Reading books? Check.

Date night with the hubs? Check.

Spending time with family? Check. 

Generally avoiding schedules and just letting the day unfold? Check and check.

I weaned myself off of Pinterest and Facebook a bit, too.  Talk about Christmas miracles.  The past two weeks have been great and it seems appropriate that it all comes to a close just as this year does, too.  

I can't even begin to remember where I was 365 days ago.  Despite years of conditioning to improve myself as the new year rolls around, this time last year, I kept it realistic and adopted a "new year, same Hilary" mentality.  That was not a hard resolution to follow.  

In truth, however, I did do some things this year that lead to a better me. 

*I started a business and am enjoying the successes that have come with it.

*I wrote more.  Last year, I blogged 80 times.  This year, this post included --128. 

*I broke some old habits (nail biting) and picked up some new ones (Pinterest).

*I stayed active and hung up my running shoes in favor of kettlebells. 

*I flossed. . .occasionally.

*I was a better wife and mother than I was last year.

Not a bad go round, if I do say so myself.  

So I'm sitting here in the living room New Year's Eve with Craig dozing across from me on the couch.  Our tree is naked, save a few strands of lights.  It's shedding like it knows we're about to haul it out to the curb and it wants to leave a few thousand reminders of its presence.  The ornaments and the scant decorations we did have up are ready to be tucked back into the attic.  The fridge is puzzle of ziploc bags and tupperware containers of leftovers, gonna-eat-its, time-to-toss-its and a few cans of Fresca.  The girls are up to their eyeballs in Christmas: Part Deux at my parents house.  2011 is steadily putting one foot in front of the other, coming to a graceful end, while 2012 is stretching out it's hammies in preparation for the journey ahead. 

I'm ready.

Oh! I almost forgot.  I started another new project, but it won't be ready until June.  Here's a preview:

Happy New Year!