So, here it is…the New Year! Am I the only one that is relieved that Dec. 25 is over? It’s not that I don’t like Christmas. I love seeing family and catching up. I love getting all the Christmas cards, even if I haven’t sent one in years. Your cards are fun and cute and I love them! And if you’re reading this, you know all about my life anyway, because I send an update almost every week. I just can’t stand the pressure of Christmas. I was relieved when Mel and I agreed to giving cash instead of trying to find appropriate gifts for teenage boys. Figuring out my own immediate family has been a challenge, without extending it outside that parameter. So, after Christmas, I get to take a break. And then we go on our almost-annual ski trip. It’s consistently one of my favorite family times. I get my kids to myself AND I get to ski! How could it get any better? Of course, I also get five hours each way in the car to realize that maybe I missed the boat on some of my child-rearing. The Haldeman jokes are loud, frequently inappropriate, and almost always involve singing (think Eddie Murphy Boogie in Your Butt)…even at 5am. I thought that the early departure would nearly guarantee sleeping kids, but I was wrong…oh so very wrong. On the up side, my kids can rhyme really well, so that’s something, right? Did you just YouTube Boogie in the Butt? It’s painful, in so many ways.

So, enjoy 2019. I am planning to. As of right now, I haven’t broken any resolutions. Of course, my resolutions are soft, involving little hard commitments. You know, eat better (peanut butter is good right?), drink less red wine (although some is good for me…and those around me…especially when they are singing Boogie in the Butt), give more of myself (really difficult to quantify), spend more quality time with those I love (is there anywhere I can buy time?), smile and laugh often (I’m not that bad at this already), sleep more (it would be nearly impossible to sleep less), hug more, judge less, and try TRY try to stress less. See, in the one complete day of 2019, I am holding strong! I thought about adding a cleaner house to the list, but then I remembered that I don’t have any intention of doing that.

As I sit here, my four kids and Abby, Trent’s girlfriend, are playing a card game called Super Fight. They are uproariously loud, battling it out over whether jazz hands or secret service win the round. I’ve heard about a hording gorilla mom in a meat bikini (I took offense), and a super small spider with stabbing hairs and an infinite sausage lasso (as if a spider isn’t enough). I love listening to it. I love my rowdy crew, even if they sing questionable songs! And so, I toast to 2019 with my half glass of wine! And I sign off because it’s time for me to join the game. Have a happy, healthy 2019!