Monday, December 27, 2010

Reflection Week

Aaaaah.  Christmas is over.  So sad.  It was anticipated for so long with such excitement and joy.  And yet such a relief too.  Normal life will commence again.  Well, as soon as I take the tree down and put all this stuff (fabulous gifts, mostly toys!) away it will.  

The last week of the year is always a year of reflection for me.  I think of the year gone by, and the year to come.  I love a fresh start, a reason to try harder, some way of announcing (to myself, of course - I'm not really into public announcements!) that from now on, things will be different.  Just like the weekend resets itself on Monday for another try, so does the year on New Year's Day.  What do I want to try this year?  What are my goals for this next section of life?  What do I want to see in my children?  My home?  My marriage?  Myself?

I never used to "do" New Year's Resolutions, believing them to be false and mostly forgotten.  I felt one should strive to do better all year, not just for the first few weeks and that goals could be set any time of the year.  And yet. . . I always found myself looking back at this time, and counting up accomplishments, failures, joys and sadness and then looking forward for new ways to get things done.  And so I now am a full fledged believer in New Year's Resolutions.  There's something exciting about starting out full of hope and optimism, plans and visions.

This year, I have quite ideas and goals.  More than likely they'll be trickling in to this blog as time goes by.  Some of them may become a big part of this blog.  I'm going to do a bit more research and planning before I share, though.  For now, I want to leave you with a few of my favorite Christmas photos.  After all, we planned a prepared for weeks, if not months, for that one special day.  It shouldn't be left behind quite so quickly, or easily!



First of all, I just wanted to say that this has been the best Christmas yet for us as a family.  My parents moved their Christmas dinner and gift opening to Boxing Day meaning we only had one "event" out of our homes on each day (Christmas Eve tea at my Oma's, Christmas Dinner at Scott's aunt's and then a second Christmas on Boxing Day).  It was wonderful!  Really, truly amazing!  I felt like we had so much time to enjoy it all!  Will definitely be pushing for this next year!  My kids were so much happier and well rested not to be rushed around - as you can see in the photo above.  Yay!


Love this!  Silas received a remote control car that drives in the water, as per his polite request to Santa as well as a remote control helicopter from his sister.  This is him flying his helicopter with his dad, who also received one.  Apparently they're a little tricky to learn to fly as Silas was clipped on the head a couple of times.  He turned to me after the second or third time, "Mama, I need my helmet."  I found his riding helmet and he wore it for the rest of the flying session.  Makes me giggle, but he was happy.  Look at him concentrating all cute and safe!



For me, Christmas is all about family.  Spending time with those special people in your life, whether you're related or not.  Here's part of that integral core of people in my life.


And here's another.  He's all dressed up in his Christmas best, thanks to his big sister!  I love the tie - makes him look like a used car salesman.


This is my sister's family.  Silas waited all day for them to finally arrive! Gracie's waiting "patiently" for the gift opening to begin.  Presents can be such fun when you're four, and the wait so torturous!



After gifts are opened comes the fun part - figuring all the new toys out!  Here's my other sister - auntie extraordinaire - helping my eight year old nephew figure out his new marble maze.  Not easy with a few preschoolers and a toddler running around!


I hope everyone had a fantastic day full of family and friends and joy!  Let's try and carry this on into 2011 and make some great things happen!


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