Confessions of a Serial Swooper

It’s official.

Christmas is over.

The tree is on the curb, the decorations boxed up in the storage room.

Big Brother’s back at school and Little Brother’s back to hanging with Mom, waiting patiently as I peck away at the computer before we head to the YMCA for a little post-holiday exercise.

And, while I’m admittedly relieved to be back to the routine, there’s a lot I loved about these last few weeks.  There’s a lot to be thankful for.

We managed to cast a hideous stomach bug out of the house just in time for the arrival of Grammie and Uncle Mickey, who joined us for my successful attempt at a 1st Annual Christmas Eve Fondue Feast.

And then there was a special note for a special man.   Complete with the requisite, homemade, Santa-monogrammed cookies.

Christmas morning was particularly sweet for us this year with kids ages 6 and 3.  They feel the thrill of it all so deeply.   There were, probably, too many gifts under the tree but it was so hard to resist each item…knowing the delight each would bring on such a magical morning.

For example, a certain little boy who loves Buzz Lightyear was delighted with his own set of wings.

(Well done, Uncle Mickey.)

And a slightly bigger boy who still dearly loves his stuffed “Bunny”…

…received a hand-painted version to hang on his wall.

(I mean, come on.  How beautifully done is that?  I cried the day it arrived in the mail.  Thank you so much to Jennifer Maher who is all kinds of awesome and will do something this special for your munchkin too.  Find her by clicking here.)

Oh, and it snowed.  But unless you lived in a box for the last few weeks, you’ve heard about it.  It snowed.  In December.  In New England.  Shocking.

But, it was pretty cool for the kiddos.

Oh.  And dogs.

We headed up to Vermont for a few days after Christmas to visit my parents.  And, I don’t know what it was (maybe the holiday, maybe the fresh air, maybe we’ve all been growing up a bit) but it was as fully functional happy family time as we’ve spent in a long time.  Don’t get me wrong.  It’s always nice to visit.  But this trip?  Just somehow…nicer.

Husband and my Dad took the boys skating at the local hockey rink…

…which resulted in some exercise, some male bonding and, of course, some well-earned hot chocolate.

Isn’t it really all about the hot chocolate?

We all genuinely enjoyed our time together and it felt like we left at least a few days too soon.

__________

So, here we are.  Back home from travels, back to school and 2011 has officially arrived.

The Pats are in the playoffs and all is right with the world.   Well, except for this stupid hair…

But, I “forgive you your tresses”, Tommy dear.

‘Cause if you make it to the Superbowl a little more  than a month from today?

I’ll be watching you from here.

Happy New Year, friends.