For the most part, all our Christmas finery is down and back in the basement. I did leave up a few shiny things, especially the snowflakes in the windows, because it’s just too sad to put it all away. And now it’s a New Year and I am still getting us all organized. It’s fun and I always get a little manic about it all. Rearranging closets and the basement shelves. Trying to keep all the toys and art supplies and princess shoes and calico critters separate but together is daunting to say the least.
My girls have been ridiculously sweet. We have had such a sweet holiday together. We even went to see Monsters, Inc. rereleased in the theater yesterday. It felt like we had two big kids — well, Jane did take her blanket and did fall asleep on Daddy. No one complained about that for sure. Also, it’s been a nice change of pace for Cate to see her sister in trouble. Jane is acting like a two-year-old. Throwing things. Marching around with her lower lip hanging out when she is thwarted. A time-out here and there. You can guess her favorite words: it’s a tossup between “no” and “poop”.
Cate is really, really into “projects” and one of my New Year’s resolutions is to be very intentional on my days off. Crafts are not my most favorite thing in the world but I am really trying. We did this snowman project that I saw on Pinterest right after breakfast this morning. I also signed us up for Kiwi Crates – they deliver a themed box of crafts and activities to your door once a month. We’ll try it for a couple of months and see how we do.
And I am breathing a small sigh of relief that tomorrow brings preschool for the girls and a work day for me. I love the holidays but it’s also wonderful too to get back into a schedule. I am also looking forward to settling into my job more fully now that the hoopla and necessary fun of Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s is over.
Andrea Y. Griffith 