Out with the Old, In with the New

Here I sit blogging on New Year's Eve. Have I ever mentioned that I don't care for the holiday? (Which is strange because I love holidays even the minor ones that people have only heard of because they are ones listed on those way comprehensive calendars you get for free from businesses.) We did a little noshing at Grandma's and then headed home to put the babe to sleep. I now need to get 8-yr old babe to bed because he has been a major grump these past couple of weeks with no school schedule and staying up late. I also think one of my dogs is coughing up something nasty over in the corner right now but I'm way too tired to go over and shoo her outside. I'll just clean it up later. Is this what my life has become?

Nah! It's the just the end of 2010 and it has been a long year and by that I mean long as in time, not long as in our namesake...

So here's some highlights or possibly even lowlights and maybe some things I'm going to do more/better/different in 2011 (by no means an all inclusive list):

-Funniest thing I saw (some would argue sad, but that's just how I roll) this holiday season was the "bell ringer" at our local Smith's Marketplace unceasingly ring that bell the entire time an ambulance was present responding to someone in aisle 4...we're talking a patient on a stretcher approximately 5 yards from bell ringer guy. Need knows no season.

-Why is it that my 8-month old can hold his own bottle but my 8 year old cannot walk down the hallway at night if the light is not on? That kid got a flashlight for Christmas and all I can say is he better keep it on his belt because Mom's just about had it.

-Why is it that Christmas music begins November 1 but come December 26 you would be hard pressed to find The Carpenters singing that the "Greeting cards have all been sent"?

-January 14th brings graduation for Nate from police academy. Halla-freaking-lujah.

-Big shout out to my neighbors Dave and Steph! They along with another good Samaritan saved me the night of the big storm. Stuck 1.5 blocks from my home on my hill. I was off to the side of the street but of course not off far enough to just leave me car and hike home. I only started to cry when Steph asked over the phone if I was okay.

-You may or may not be receiving a Christmas card from me as of today or later...deal with it.

-One niece and one nephew engaged over the holiday. Congrats! Love what I've seen so far of Derek and Kari. Niece and nephew are siblings from the same family. Sucks to be their parents if you kn$w wh$t I mean.

-Second funniest thing I observed this holiday season...our little family was driving along and passed a house with blinking Christmas lights. Nate asked Jameson, "How would you like to be the little kid inside that house having to turn on and off the Christmas lights every time a car goes by?" To which Jameson simply replied, "Cool!"

-Grateful for those stores that stayed open late-slash-stayed open 24 hours. I got a lot accomplished after 10 PM. I'm sorry dear workers that you had to work late, I really am, but please know of my gratitude.

-I ate way too much chocolate/mint combination foods this season. I don't really even like chocolate/mint. I'm usually way more discerning on how I blow my calories. Ugh.

-It's Great to Be Eight and Jameson will be baptized soon. Exciting, grown-up times.

-I think 2011's theme will be K.I.S.S. (you'll recall the KISS method, as in Keep It Simple Stupid, but I think "Keep It Sane Sister" is much more fitting). Till then, Happy New Year!