Back To The Routine

Well, Christmas vacation is over!  We spent time with family and spent most of the time relaxing at home and enjoying each other's company.  It was nice having the husband and kids home but I have to admit, I'm a little glad we're back into the normal routine.  I like my peace and quiet and to be able to clean the house uninterrupted.  With time off comes a lot of messes around the house and it's nice to get some housework done.  The decorations are still out so I'm hoping to start putting things away and getting this house back in order.  I can't stand a messy house but it seems the house is always a mess. 

Did everyone enjoy New Years?

On New Years Eve we stayed home and relaxed.  I made a selection of finger foods and the boys watched some football games, played Play Station and then we watched what was going on in New York City until the ball dropped at midnight.  The kids were tired and barely hanging on, but they insisted on staying up. 

Most of the evening I sat on the couch with the dog on my lap.  It was really nice.  To be honest, a night at home relaxing with the family and a 25 lb pug on my lap is something I enjoy more than being at a party. 

There were moments when Brianna wanted me to get up with her and dance along to the music that was playing on television. 

At midnight when the ball dropped we exchanged our New Year kisses and the kids were eager to get to bed.  The neighbors set off fireworks and banged pots and pans.  I don't mind that kind of celebration as soon as the new year arrives, but they were going on for a long time.  Ugh.  These neighbors, originally from New Jersey, are known to be loud throughout the night and it's something that has frustrated many of the surrounding neighbors.  Like I said, I'm okay with fireworks and banging of pots and pans for a few minutes but when it goes on for a half an hour that's just being inconsiderate.  It took me a long time after to be able to fall asleep.

On New Years Day I threw a pork roast, potatoes and carrots in the crock pot.  I know the tradition is pork and sauerkraut but my husband and kids won't eat sauerkraut so I changed it a bit.  We watched a little more football and I caught just a few minutes of the Rose Parade.  My parents came over and my dad went to see Jumanji with my son and I took my mom and Brianna to see Cats. 

When I was in elementary school (living on Long Island) the 6th grade class took a field trip to the city and saw Cats on Broadway.  By the time I was in 6th grade they changed it to The Phantom Of The Opera.  This was the original cast with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman.  My mom went as a chaperon.  She was looking forward to seeing Cats and was disappointed when they changed the show, but we loved Phantom.  I actually think it was a better choice.  My mom has the piano book Cats and always played Memory.   When the movie came out I knew I wanted to take her.  It was a nice movie with a lot of singing and dancing, which my daughter loves.  My mom fell asleep towards the end of the movie, which is common for her to do, and she missed when one of the character's sang Memory, but I teared up when remembering my mom playing it on the piano.  With her Alzheimer's things are getting so much harder and I miss the way things used to be. 

Today the kids are back to school, which means I'm back to working in the cafeteria.  My husband's car is the in the shop so we had to take him to work and will have to pick him up later.  It's only a two day school/work week followed by a busy weekend of basketball games. 

2020 is off to a great start!