The PERFECT Break and New Beginnings

So, it's Monday the 7th of January, 2008. This is the day I thought I would be dreading. But wouldn't you know, I've been so busy dreading dreading it that I forgot to dread it at all, and it just snuck up on me. Today is the beginning of the new year for us, and the end of our much anticipated break. Noah and Andrew are back to school and I'm back to the hum drum. I should be bummed-- really bummed. I mean, we had the perfect break. We had the ideal--albeit simple-- Christmas celebration, a quiet New Years, and an even quieter birthday for me. We soaked up the late mornings, early nights- movies, fun, and tons of time for family togetherness all here is the quiet little 'ville. It's over and it's time to get back to the wheel, and I'm finding myself surprisingly okay with it. Really. I'm glad that the break is over, and I'm thankful for a new year to try harder to be better and do more. We started the break with a list-- well two lists. The one I had been compiling for months of projects that had been put off or pushed to the back burner in anticipation of "someday", and another list we sat down as a family and made at lunch after the last test of the old year. We wrote down a list of everything that we wanted to do together during the break. And guess what-- we completed every item on BOTH lists with style-- and then some! My super-star husband was incredible. He helped without complaint as we built new shelves and re-organized and deep cleaned the entire house and our storage unit. He helped me finish up some long-forgotten projects that I've been meaning to complete with a smile-all-the-while. Then, he made it a point to let me sleep in every morning. He gave me more back rubs and mani-pedi pampers than I've ever deserved, he cooked and cleaned like a happy little elf, and he made this break incredibly exciting for the kids. The kid's list was much funner than mine. They wanted to play every board game we owned, see a movie in the theatre, build a snowman, go sledding, spend a day at Going Bonkers, ride on the carousel, visit the temple, take family naps every single day, and make gingerbread treats-- and we did it all!!! Check out our holiday photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/argough/Christmas2007. Andrew's additions to the list were easy-- we watch the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy and all of the Indiana Jones flicks, we completed several rounds of phase ten, and we took it easy every chance we got. He's happy. I'm happy. The kids are happy. We're all SO HAPPY! :) So- goodbye perfect, wonderful break. We loved you while you were here... but HELLO NEW YEAR!!! Hello new beginnings, hello second chances, hello blank slate. We're so glad that you've finally come!