We said goodbye to 2014 with a journey down Church Street in the Dragon Parade. Anders was underneath the dragon with his friends and Kuba led the dragon with a bunch of lantern carrying first graders. We then had a small family gathering at Grandma and Grandpas. Anders and Kuba were determined to meet the new year head on and stay up until Midnight. Anders made it, but Kuba fell asleep with Grandpa and didn't wake up despite the loud ruckus made by the noisemakers honking and our exuberant shouts of "Happy New Year!"
It was a mixed year this one. Many good moments, many new and exciting adventures, but mixed with it was some extra special stress. Anna's business HINGE opened in August and with its arrival ushered in a whole new family rhythm. For nine years Anna was the flexible mom who worked from home, managing family schedules, shuffling children here and there, and pretty much holding down the fort. Well, she has been consumed and wrapped up with her new business so this has been a 6 month period of refiguring out routine, chores, and rhythms. I'm not sure it has been all that smooth. I keep watching the boys looking for signs of wear and tear, and they seem to be good as gold. In some ways I judge the effects on our life by how they are functioning...and if they seem to be off it's a big yellow flag that we need to pay attention to. I am marveling at how steady they are when it certainly feels overwhelming to me!
Some other highlights of the year besides HINGE, have been our family vacation to Matinicus in July; first and fourth graders; the arrival of a new nephew and a new great niece any day now; graduation from the Snelling Leadership Institute; Kuba and Anders becoming beekeeping apprentices with our neighbors; Anders first soccer league; both boys starting music lessons in piano and Anders also starting violin; and a bunch of other low key but lovely family moments.
All in all there is much to be grateful for, however I cannot help but feel a certain sense of good-riddance to a highly stressful, ultra busy year. With its exit, I hope enters a more profound sense of peace and serenity for the mom's in this family, with not so much hard work and a more relaxed rhythm. May we also get to school on time more often, have a cleaner home, laugh a whole lot more, and truly enjoy this time we have together on this big beautiful planet earth in 2015.
(and perhaps get a wee bit thinner says the author of this post!)
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