'09 has just begun and already it's flying by

Wow, it's been almost a week since we visited! I sure hope you all enjoyed staring at my most recent photos that I posted instead of reading the non-existent insightful words about my Christmas and New Years or maybe even those pesky resolutions that I may or may not have made for 2009. However you look at it, time has not stood still even though a new year has begun. We had a quiet Christmas celebrated at home with the boys and then celebrated again later in the day with my Mom & Dad. We also enjoyed a nice dinner that my Mom prepared and really just spent the day relaxing and hanging out. I don't think I would have chosen to celebrate it any other way, unless you include celebrating it with ALL of my family near and far. In a nice, warm, tropical locale like Tahiti. But then it just wouldn't have felt like Christmas so who am I kidding? New Years for us was just as quiet. We opted to stay home this year unlike years past and to be honest I think I was asleep by 12:15AM. We did manage to watch the annual fireworks that a group of hikers set off at midnight exactly from the top of Pikes Peak, all from the comfort of our home through Isaac's bedroom window. In the eleven years that we've lived in Colorado, we've managed to see them TWICE. As soon as the show was over, off to bed we went. SEE ABOVE. The morning of New Years Day however was when the excitement arrived at the Jones household when I had an unexpected encounter with something at the landing of my upstairs staircase in the wee hours of the morning. Yes I was still half asleep, and yes it was still dark out but I know a moving critter when I see one. Actually let me rephrase that, when I feel one. In a scramble to find the light switch all the while watching 'The Critter' I flipped on the light (and woke up the entire house) to find a wee little brown mouse hauling ass DOWN the stairs. It reached the bottom and made a sharp right turn to disappear into thin air. I spent the next 15 minutes or so ranting and raving out loud (to myself) wondering WHY it was upstairs and also? Where did it go? I went back to bed when I had settled down, however resumed hunting as soon as I was awake and had consumed my morning coffee. Make no mistake about it, the hunt was on at that specific moment and even now as I type this, it's not over. (Mouse Count = 3) (And I think there are more (most likely yes?) taking advantage of our warm cozy house and quite possibly mistaking our pantry as The Old Country Buffet). And for those of you that dare to inquire, I will share with you the details of Capture Number Two, with the disclaimer that it is not a story for those with a weak heart. Or stomach. And if you are wondering, NO, I am not afraid of mice. Just grossed out by them because THE POOP. It's everywhere. Also in the days we enjoyed away from work it snowed! TEN INCHES worth. I was so relieved that the kids could actually use their winter gear that they got for Christmas because I knew for sure as soon as we bought it that not a speck of snow would fall for the rest of winter. We also got hit with a horrible sickness (everyone but me), and Isaac had his first ear infection since he had tubes put in. Which let me add, we found out after visiting the doctor that the tube in the ear that was infected was sitting at the base of his eardrum at the time of the diagnosis. It has since fallen out, which we can confirm as Keven pulled something small and blue from Isaac's ear when giving him his round of ear drops. It is not at all what I expected it to be. Our schedule has pretty much returned to normal since the beginning of this week meant back to work for Keven and I and daily drop-offs at daycare for the boys. Keven Jr. goes back to school tomorrow and then the routine will be as it was before the holiday. It's amazing that Keven Jr. didn't forget hardly any of his sight words in the two weeks he was out. Seems like ages ago that he stepped foot in his school. I hope that the week goes off without a hitch, wish us luck! So, there you have it. Our New Year brought us furry little house guests, 10 inches of snow and resolutions that may or may not include: learning sign-language, knitting, watching more movies & reading more books, getting better organized, diet & exercise and more travel just to name a few. It's 2009 - I'm shooting for the moon.