Happy New Year

Today is 1-1-11, and I think thats kind of cool. I hope everyone had a nice celebration to ring in the New Year. Bruce is sick, so ours was very low-key. Bruce wasn't up to going out so the kids and I went out for Thai food. Which is funny if only because Stephen has eaten there at least 3 times now in the past 2 weeks. He loves their Mango curry. And then we took Erica to see the new Harry Potter since she hadn't seen that yet. After that we ran by the grocery store to buy grapes and a Red Velvet cake (for Bruce) and we came home. Hannia showed us a Mexican New Year tradition where at the stroke of midnight you eat 12 grapes (supposedly 1 a second for the first 12 seconds but thats hard) and you make a wish on each one. It was fun coming up with all those wishes in such a hurry. I am used to only wishing for 1 thing at a time, like when you blow out those birthday candles.

And so we are now at the beginning of 2011. I hope its a wonderful year for all of us. I know I said my only resolution was to find more joy, but I thought of another one last night. I want to be a bit more adventurous in the kitchen and am planning to attempt at least 1 new recipe every week. Maybe I will blog about it, the keepers and the "never make that again" ones. I figure that no matter how busy I get, I can sneak in at least 1 a week......right?

Kids and stuff

It has been so nice and nostalgic having all of my kids home under one roof again. We have gotten so scattered and so busy that its a rare occasion. I am loving this. Everybody goes home this weekend, and I will be sad, but I have thoroughly enjoyed these couple of weeks. I wish I could have been off of work more.....but who knows, that may have been too much togetherness. LOL.

Anyway, we are wrapping up the old year and welcoming in a new one. I know I should be making resolutions, and setting goals. But I have barely had time to think about brushing my teeth much less making long and involved intentions. I have a history of not keeping them so much anyways. I always plan to eat healthier, which we do....off and on. Or exercise more....never happens consistently. Or being more organized or this thing or that thing. Not this year. I have neither the time nor the inclination. The only goal I am setting for myself this coming year is to be happier. I am more or less happy already. But I guess I mean taking the time to smell the roses, and appreciate the little things. You know....things like fresh coffee, warm kittens, hot showers....I want to savor those wonderful things, and pay less attention to the inconveniences. I may eat healthier, although my goal demands I make time for savoring chocolate. I may exercise more. But whether I do or not, I still hope to be happy about it.

I hope the New Year brings much happiness to all of you too. There is plenty to go around for everybody!