Happy New Year

Mia returned from her family's trip to North Carolina just in time for a little New Year's celebration. Her first sparklers. Aaron, mommy and I were standing by. I was a nervous wreck, but she had fun and gratefully there were only a couple of sparklers to burn.

Highlights of 2010 Collage

Highlights of 2010. Lots of things were going on in the world this year but these were the big events in my life. Mia started school. Roger's daughter and her family came to visit and we had a good time at the beach. Stephanie and Cory had a beautiful wedding at her father and stepmother's house in Virginia, Jaime and Aaron got engaged and they moved into their own apartment. The grandkids are all doing great and we had the usual birthday and holiday celebrations. Life is good and I am grateful. I pray for a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year for 2011 for everyone. (This post was updated to include one more pic of Jaime with the hula hoop.)

New Year's Thoughts for 2010

Don't have a picture to share. Thought about Christmas mugs. They are the first thing to come out at Christmas and the last to go. Strange the pleasure it gives me to get them out each year.

The children were here for New Year's Eve and it was sweet. Jaime and Aaron took them out on the golf course where fireworks were popping all around. They set off a few of their own and Mia overcame her fear finally learning to count down from 10 and then say "BLAST OFF". I am enjoying quiet moments with Jonah who is nine and can be quite moody sometimes. I can't just hug and squeeze and tickle him anytime I want anymore. Sometimes he doesn't like it. But he comes in to sit with me and talk quietly sometimes. Like Christmas morning when we were the first two to get up. That happened on New Year's Eve, too. He decided to stay up and see the ball drop in Times Square. He was hoping they literally smashed the crystal ball, but I told him they just lowered it slowly. He wondered why they weren't counting down several hours before midnight. I stayed up with him and we did count down together. I was sorry I didn't get a little hat and a horn for him. Jill was with her mommy.

We have lots of challenges ahead. Mia will need more surgery this year. Jaime's friend Aaron is leaving to go to Kuwait tomorrow. Roger's sister, Mary, who already had a broken arm with pins at the wrist fell on the SAME ARM and broke her elbow. It hurts me to even say it. She has had surgery on the arm and is bravely working on healing again. Roger and I are getting over the flu. Thankfully, he only had a cough and is doing well. Our friend, Alan, has been very sick with it. I feel a lot of love and concern for all of us today and hope for a happy, peaceful future in 2010.

I have enjoyed opening a new world through blogging. It has truly added an extra dimension to my life to meet new friends from all over the world. Happy New Year to us all.

New Year's Wishes

A grandchild safely stashed in front of the tv eating oatmeal or chicken noodle soup and watching Dora the Explorer -- a comforting sight for a grandmother when the grown children's problems are much more difficult to solve.

Both Jonah and Jill stayed over last night and Jonah and I indulged in an old tradition of watching Jurassic Park and eating chocolate milkshakes as we did when he was little. He was never afraid of that movie even when he was two. I don't know how or when he saw it for the first time. I only remember that the part where the dinosaur tries to eat the children alive was his favorite. He and I knew the dialogue by heart and were both asleep in no time on Friday nights when we popped it in the VCR. We had popcorn and chocolate covered peanuts last night instead of ice cream. Jill watched it with us and somehow didn't get scared once or wake up with nightmares. Her natural fear seems to have been overcome by her enormous desire to do everything that Jonah does. Jonah is eight now and it has been a year or so since we watched this movie together. This is probably the last time for this particular ritual.

This morning we built a beautiful fire and made pancakes and bacon for breakfast. With all the problems and worry in the world, it is these little moments that mean the most to me and that I hope the children will remember. Roger seemed to enjoy them, too.

Tonight I hope to have dinner for Karin and Alan for New Year's Eve and a belated anniverary party. I hope Alan feels well enough. We will pick up a bottle of champagne and I cooked some chicken and red wine yesterday. It smelled wonderful. I had trouble saving it for tonight. I imagine we will also babysit for Mia so her parents can celebrate a little.

I wish everyone a safe and warm New Year's Eve with someone they love and a Happy and Hopeful New Year for 2009.