For the first time since we got back from our final Christmas trip (which I will be posting about at some point), I don’t feel like a complete slug. I mean, seriously, I don’t think you could have less energy than I’ve have for the past two days. And yesterday, T. had to go out of town on an overnight trip….it’s a wonder all four of us survived. I wasn’t sure we all would, especially the kids. But we did. And then I woke up this morning at about 7:00 am and heard what I thought was a bus outside. Up until Sunday, I thought Henry had school yesterday (Monday), until I looked up the school calendar online (apparently preschoolers don’t get calendars to take home) and “realized” that he didn’t have school until tomorrow (Wednesday). Which was great….I was a slug, after all. But then I heard the bus this morning and thought about it as I laid in bed, and figured out that maybe he does have school today. I called the school, and yes, he has to go today. It’s a darn good thing that he goes in the afternoon because otherwise, I’m sure we would NOT have survived. I get a little tense trying to get going in the mornings. That’s the understatement of the year, by the way.

Anyway, I have several posts to write about our last few Christmases and they involve uploading pictures, and there was that whole slug thing I was dealing with. So this morning, I’m unveiling a new design and making a list of ten things I learned this last month as we celebrated Christmas after Christmas after Christmas.

10. I no longer really care about New Years’. I don’t even stay up for the ball drop anymore. And I’m perfectly fine with that.

9. Henry is old enough now that he doesn’t need “grandparent detox” anymore, apparently. And E. Belle’s a little young to need it still.

8. Ivy, however, very much needs it. A big, cold turkey dose of it. She has not responded to anything we’ve told her since Saturday without mentioning grandma. Any grandma. “Ivy, let’s brush your teeth.” “But, my want to go to gwamma’s house waiter(later)!” “Ivy, finish your breakfast.” “But, are we gonna see gwamma?”

7. Kansas weather is CRAZY. Of course, I knew this before. I grew up here. But one day last week the kids were riding horses in 50-60 degree weather, and the next, they were sledding in 8 degree weather.

6. I hate packing. Whether I pack stuff for all five of us in one big suitcase or three different duffel bags, I never have enough room.

5. Christmas and pregnancy don’t really mix.1) I gained 10 pounds between doctor’s appointments (four weeks apart). 2) I don’t travel well these days. 3) I don’t sleep well in other people’s beds.

4. I do, however, enjoy that the only parts of my body that get too hot as I’m moving into my third trimester this time around are my feet. Holy cow. I was sweating through the first three pregnancies like a horse in Arizona. Or something.

3. Dramamine is a wonderful thing.

2. So are nap time car trips.

1. As much as I enjoy decorating for Christmas, seeing everyone, and choosing the perfect gifts for the kids and T., I am really stinking glad that there are 12 months until next Christmas.