Happy New Year! and Reflections

Every year on New Year's Day, I get into a cleaning frenzy. It's like I *must* start the new year with a clean slate. I also do this mentally too... taking stock of the previous year and setting some goals for the upcoming year. I really don't do resolutions anymore; there are enough pressures I put on myself where I fail that I don't want to add even more. ;)

I did a big recap on the year yesterday when finishing up my 365 Project, so I won't rehash in detail what the year brought us. I also went through the entire year and picked out my favorite ten photos. I captured so many memories! If you want to take a peek at our Christmas season, I created a Flickr set: Christmas 2010.

I feel very blessed to continue to discover new passions. I'm 41 years old and for the last nine years have defined myself as a mom to a child with special needs. In 2010, I found an artist residing in myself... a girl I didn't know existed. Being a science and math geek my whole life, this has been a startling and rewarding discovery. Creating custom cards for clients, scrapping memories with digital scrapbooking, creating for the best designers in the business, and now exploring photography has brought a sense of peace and balance into my life. When so many of my years have been consumed with doctors, appointments, therapists, specialists, tests, ARD meetings, and worrying about my daughter's future, it's easy to lose sight of my individual self. I'm excited to see what 2011 will bring and I hope to share this journey with my friends and family. Thank you for being such a huge support as I went through the ups and downs of this stressful life and for being a spot of sunshine in my life.

Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas!

I know I've been quiet on the blogging front lately but that's because I've been enjoying my family, my real life, and my children... we've been busy making memories! Today was filled with lots of traditions. Everything from making my famous cheeseball, to scattering reindeer dust on the front lawn, opening Christmas stockings, and leaving milk and cookies for Santa... what an amazing day with my loving family!

Jenny came home from college last week and after changing her major from marine biology to forensic science, decided to move back to Austin to be close to family. We really have an awesome family with so much love for each other! And we all really, really like each other too. My mom is my best friend and lives next door. Now Jenny has moved in with her! She's signed up for 18 credit hours next semester at the community college and will transfer to Texas State or UT next fall.

My mom and I divvied up Christmas duties this year. I did the shopping and she did the wrapping. She is a master gift-wrapper. Every present is beautiful, with ribbons and bows. I am so grateful for her connection to us and her presence in our lives.

The kids are doing great at school. Dominic is just SO smart, it's so much fun listening to his day-to-day musings. A few weeks ago, we were doing the kids' bedtime routines and I was cuddling with Curtis while listening to Dominic read to Anna (at the moment, there are two beds in Anna's room and Dominic has been sleeping in her room). Then it was time for lights out so we were in the whispering, soft giggles and snuggles stage of night-night, when Dominic pipes up with, "Mommy, what happens if you go to jail?" I'm like, "Ummm, what?" "What happens if you and Daddy go to jail?" "Well, honey what do you mean? What happens to us or to you?" "To me," he replies very seriously. "I guess Nana would take care of you, sweetie. But..." "What if Nana died already? She is pretty old." *inner snort* "Then I suppose you would go with Jenny." "Jenny and Chris, you mean?" "Yes, sweetheart, I'm sure Jenny and Chris will be married by then. But honey, mommy and daddy would never go to jail! You have to do something really bad to go to jail." "Like what?" "Like steal something or hurt someone." He is quiet for a while and says, "Oh, okay." What in the world, right?

Anna is of course having a difficult time with this time of year... the anticipation of Santa coming and Christmas morning is driving her (and us) a little crazy. I can't tell you how many times she's asked when he's coming and if she can open presents. Hundreds. She's had a daily meltdown for the last 2 weeks that runs about 20-30 minutes of intense crying in her room. It's like she reaches a boiling point of managing her emotions and just needs that release to be able to cope. But you know the coolest thing about Anna and this time of year? That she is excited about Santa. She'll be 10 in March so I'm happy to be sharing this magic with her.

We are very, VERY excited for tomorrow! Anna especially has asked Santa for something super-extra special and I can't wait to see if he's bringing it. I will have tons of photos to share.

I also want to take a moment to think of my friends who are going through challenging times... a child in the hospital, another holiday with a child in heaven, a rocky patch in your marriage, managing the holidays as a single parent, battling a serious illness, whatever the challenge... I'm thinking of you and holding you tight in my heart. Merry Christmas, my friends!