If Tuesday was through-and-through a dog-poopy sort of day (literally and figuratively), Wednesday redeemed itself. It had been shaping up to be pretty bad, since it was a day promising two meetings, with the afternoon one involving the monthly juggling I find so exhausting: picking up the kids early, dropping them off at Scott's office, and then racing back to my campus to sit in a late afternoon meeting when all I want to do is be home. But the meeting got cancelled! When I got the e-mail about this I felt a surge of disproportionate happiness.

Yesterday I dutifully got up when my alarm rang (I didn't even hit the snooze button once), showered, got dressed, and headed downstairs to tackle making T.'s school lunch. At the bottom of the stairs I paused, and peeked into the dining room. I sighed heavily to myself when I saw the bare spot in the corner, where the tree had stood for so many weeks.

Happy 2011!

2010 wasn't the best year ever; it was difficult, but it wasn't terrible. We all stayed healthy, and employed, and were surrounded by love and family and good friends. We didn't lose anyone we love, and even if times were, for a little while this past fall, dark and uncertain and painful, we made it through to another year, stronger and wiser.

Back when I first became a vegetarian, some 15 years ago, people used to quiz me all the time about things they thought I might miss.

"What about fried chicken?" They would ask. "Or bacon on a weekend morning?"

"How about pepperoni pizza?"

"Or turkey on Thanksgiving!"

"What about a good, juicy burger on the 4th of July?"

My brother called on Monday night, to check up on our trip back and on a skating-related injury I sustained on Sunday (more on that later) and we both agreed that it had been particularly relaxing, low-maintenance Christmas holiday this year, as far as keeping all the kids happy and peaceful together.

When the kids tumbled out of the van and into my parents' house, with the usual chaos and excitement and pent-up energy after 6 + hours in the van, they converged around the Christmas tree, as they do every year, soaking up the look of it, and plopping down on their stomachs to watch the Christmas train chugging around the base of the tree, just as it does every year. I love watching my kids rediscover all the things they savor about Christmas at my parents' house--this is the best part of the trip for me. L.

A few weeks ago a friend of mine posted on her Facebook page that her little son had somehow tipped the entire Christmas tree over onto himself. He wasn't hurt, thank goodness, but several ornaments were, and when I read that I winced inside for my friend. When you set up a tree year after year, and you have kids and loved ones who make or give you ornaments each holiday, inevitably there are going to be quite a few that you keep close to your heart.

A friend and neighbor called on Sunday in a slight panic mode. She was trying to burn some CDs for her sister's little boy as a Christmas gift but their family computer picked that inopportune time to stop working. I invited her to come by and use my laptop and she rushed right over, a pile of CDs in hand.

This past weekend we hosted the annual family Christmas gathering for Scott's side of the family, and we were lucky enough to have Scott's grandmother come from Texas to share in the festivities. She and Scott's mom arrived late on Friday night, long after the kids had gone to bed. The next morning, I was in the kitchen brewing coffee and chatting with Scott's Nana when L. came downstairs, still in his pajamas, excited to see her.