Happy New Year!

So for New Years Eve we were supposed to go to a friend’s house for the evening.  Grace had been fighting the gunk that Elijah had over Christmas.  We were waiting to make a call…. waiting until the last minute because we REALLLLLLY wanted to go.  We are not big party people, but this was going to be just a few close friends and their kids and we were going to hang out and there was going to be a babysitter to watch the kids and it was going to be wonderful…  And then, Grace sprang a fever… and sounded like she was coming down with TB or something… and as our friend has cats and Grace was already having respiratory issues, we felt it wouldn’t be wise to go…and she had a fever, so ya know.  sigh. So we stayed home.  hmph.  pout.  whatever. 
The last day of 2010 found us at a park.  Getting out of the house was high on my list, so we could get the germs out.  I had promised Elijah and Grace that we could take the scooter and the skateboard to a local park so they could practice on a smoother surface.  So off we went.  The weather was phenomenal, so that was good.

This park belongs to a local church.  They allow the public to use it and it’s a lot of fun.  We only go in the winter and early spring because there is no shade… and there are no restrooms.  But it’s still a lot of fun.  They have a huge slide and lots of playground equipment as well as two basketball courts.  One of the courts has lower (around 6 feet) goals.  Someone left a basketball at the park, so we borrowed it to play a bit.  Elijah just comes into some sports with such ease.  He picked the ball up and just started making shot after shot.  sigh.  Maybe it will help pay for his shoes for his freakishly large feet! hehe.
After playing for a bit, we headed home for lunch and a nap.  Jerry came home early and we hung out and played for the rest of the evening.  We went to the store and rented a movie for the kiddos to let them stay up a little later.  And by later I mean 8:30, but the freaking kids didn’t go to sleep until after 10!!!  Whatever!  I was ready to go to bed by 11:30, but Jerry woke me up at midnight to say Happy New Year and then we went to bed.  Nothing that exciting, but nevertheless relaxing.
New Years Day brought children up at 7 and a groggy momma, but we got up and had breakfast, packed a picnic lunch, and some beach toys and hit the beach!  It was a BEAUTIFUL day and perfect beach weather (NOT swimming weather!!  though there were several polar plunges while we were there!)  The porpoises were out in full force and the kids were content to dig in the sand and chase seagulls.
 
Really nice day.  A slow and relaxing way to bring in the new year indeed.
On Sunday, the weather was supposed to be rainy… but it wasn’t.  It was cloudy, but it was really warm.  So we went outside for a bit to play around the house, and when that got boring for the parents less than exciting, we loaded up the car and went to a park.  We hadn’t been to Greenfield Lake in a REALLY long time, so off we went.  We played on the playground for a bit and then decided to take a walk to find the big bridge.  It was a lot farther than we remembered, but the kids were troopers and walked the whole way without complaint.  When we got to the bridge we were greeted by seeing turtles and some people out on a boat.  There were no visible alligators to see thankfully.  However, there was a sign warning people not to feed them or, you know, tease them…as if this needed to be stated.  Now, we have seen alligators at the aquarium, and maybe he just hasn’t really paid attention to them, but Elijah, as we were leaving the bridge, looked at me and said, “Mommy, alligators have legs.”  And I replied, “well, yes, they do.”  And he said, “but that means they could come out of the water on the shore.  That makes me VERY nervous.” I tried to explain that while it was a warm day, that alligators really didn’t like cold weather and wouldn’t be coming out onto land.  But he continued to be very nervous and continued to tell me about it as we walked over a small hidden bridge and really didn’t let it go until we were on the main path.  Ah, childhood!

So, as for resolutions… screw them.  I’m refusing to make them.  They would be the same as every year…weight loss, less tv for the kids, more family time….blah blah blah. And while these things are all important, it is not a resolution I need, it’s an ass kicking.  So ya know.  If it happens great!  The kids already have been cut down on the TV….we spend time together whenever Jerry is off, and the weight…well, either it will come off or it won’t.  It’s like bribing a kid to make good grades… it’s what they SHOULD do, so why bribe them?   So there.  That’s it.  2010 is gone, a new year has started and life is going on.  I’m loving my life and it can only get better!!!!