Wednesday, January 02, 2008

New Year

Gee, nothing convinces you it's a new year like the first day back to school. Sigh. I was as ill prepared as Alex and Max. How can our family time, our freedom, our holiday hoopla be over? Wearing their new watches, bathed, and armed with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I walked my two boys to their classes. Max is convinced he is not a good student. Alex cannot bear the thought of another *elective* drama class... all of their electives are mandatory. How many days until Summer? The advent of Summer!


Some days in January you might believe it nearly is Summer. The sky is clear, the lawns are green, only a light breeze makes a sweater a comfortable option. We spent the first day of the new year having lunch at a friend's house. Their front yard is a sprawling playground of flower beds and sunny spots that are ideal for chase, coloring, spreading out and reflecting on the ups and downs of life in suburbia. It was a sweet way to spend a lazy, mellow day.


After 3 Kings Day I will put away the very last of our Christmas symbols and memories. I just love seeing the Christmas cards gathered on the living room wall. I will bundle them together with a ribbon and add them to past Christmases. It's supposed to rain tomorrow which is our only indication that it is still winter, otherwise, with decorations packed and the tree turned to mulch, it could be any time of year. Don't you agree we should impose ourselves on someone and show up at their mountain cabin? We need snow! We need a bracing, icy, snowy winter with a sled ride or two, maybe some ski lessons, frosted window panes, ice skating, sleigh bells. Sometimes blogging is merely thinking out loud...

12 comments:

Natalie said...

I came to your sight from Ree's comments page... We have the same name, so I clicked. What a shocker; we have the same birthday, too! Of course, since Natalie means Nativity Child, that is not too far-fetched. Only, my parents didn't know that when they named me. Did yours?
Happy late birthday to us!!

Oiyi said...

The weather looks heavenly where you are. We didn't get any snow for the Holidays here in New York, but it's freezing cold this week.

Jennifer said...

It just breaks my heart to know that Max doesn't think he's a good student, when he's clearly such a brilliant, creative, capable person. Life isn't about taking tests or getting a grade (and no grade is the measure of who you are as a student or as a person), life is about doing the things you're good at and about building strategies for the things that are difficult. I hope he has a teacher who appreciates him.

turkeyfeathers said...

Thanks for the sweet comments on my blog. I really appreciate hearing that. The clean-up continutes around here too!

It also breaks my heart that your Max is feeling so down trodden by school. My two oldest kids weren't homeschooled, (we were living in s.cal at the time)and going back to school was always such a hard thing after the holidays, especially with one of them having a birthday on the sixth of January which always falls on that first week back. School's today can be so hard on kids. The expectations, the pressure to perform, the cohersion to learn things they have no interest in. It's what convinced me to find alternatives. I don't proclaim homeschooling is for everyone, but it's only been a positive experience for us and sometimes I can't help sharing that. Have a great 2008!

Mama Spark said...

Hey, have I got a place for you to visit, MEEEE in Michigan!!! We have lots of cold and snow, I put photos on the blog of all the snow.

Sabine said...

My children have to go back to school next monday...help...! How will we ever manage, we all sleep till 10 o' clock or later...
You may be jealous of our snow and cold weather, but when I see the light in your pictures..that makes me long for the summer sooo much!
I wish you a very creative and happy 2008, by the way!

Tarie said...

I have to go back to work on Monday. Nooooooooooooo. I will miss staying in bed until noon. Hehehe. Happy New Year, Natalie! Thank you sooo much for throwing confetti my way. :)

Randi said...

You have plenty of interesting things to say! And great pictures, too! Thanks for visiting my blog!

calamitykim said...

It is so cold here we actually turned on the heat- it was down to 30 something. Now, it will warm back up to the 70's- but I am loving wearing my polar tech pants and knee socks and tank top! hahaha! I have to hurry Sadie up - as she wants to linger outside in the cool breeze! I am on to Valentine's Day- since my BD is the day before- it seems to be one of my fav Holidays- hearts afire! Tell the kids that Easter Vacation is early- March 23 and then SUMMER!!!!

nikkipolani said...

Life is a twirling swirling up-ended thing these days and the weather has done its part! Love your wall of Christmas cards (hey, there's my card!). We, too, are slowly undecorating.

Tracy said...

Christmas clean up here too this weekend. Kind of a sad feeling when having to take the tree down and all, isn't there? But I will glad for once to tidy up and dust--LOL! It's snowing here in Norway today and very cold. It's going to be a hot chocolate by the fire kind of day, and with a thick sweater on ;o) Happy weekend to you all ((HUGS))

Laura Jane said...

Sometimes blogging is like thinking aloud...but of course Natalie! You say that like its a bad thing!

We blog because we DO think.