Ending and beginning

Some random thoughts, on Day 362 of the year.

• Christmas was cozy, and it was chaos, and filled with family: mine (Mom and Jim here from the 23rd through Christmas morning) and Ken's (the full Korean relative kid-stravaganza in the evening). It's taken several days to dig out from under the avalanche of Julia gifts and their attendant packaging. I think we had about a pound just of those stupid twisty tie things that attach toys to their cardboard containers. But this is as it should be.
• Santa did it again. He brought Julia a big ol' Fisher Price pirate ship and it was so awesome she almost ignored all of her other gifts. It has inspired covetousness in several adults. He was also smart enough to put an activity book in her stocking to keep her occupied for half an hour while we waited for Nana and Papa Jim to wake up.
• Having over a week off from work is better than new shoes. No, really. Scott shut 'er down after the lunchtime cookie bake-off on the 23rd, and we don't have to go back until Jan. 4. That's a week and a half of aaaaahhhhh. Getting up when you feel like it cannot be overestimated in its soul-restorative properties.
• Date Day! Tomorrow, Julia's day care reopens, and Mommy and Daddy both have the day off. A whole day together, sans child, to be grownups. Our first order of business is to go see Robert Downey, Jr. be Sherlock Holmes. And then we can actually have lunch without being interrupted. This is huge.
• Spa Day! And this is followed by Wednesday, when I am treating myself to the Blissful Escape at Jolie Day Spa in Bethesda. Five hours of alone time with nothing to do but be totally pampered and relaxed.
• New Year. Well, that's a whole post of its own, isn't it? Resolutions, or goals, or reflections, or lessons. New beginnings.

And what's on your mind?