Happy New Year 2015

Happy New Year! I write from my new laptop (thank you Leo!) with only a small leftover hangover from last nights' celebrations with the neighbors. While not in perfect condition, I can't complain about a thing (I brought the pain upon myself!).

When Nathan tracked out in November, we seized the free weekend ahead of it and took off for the mountains. I always liked the idea of doing this but we don't do it all that often. It was a good idea. We found a great spot on Sugar Mountain, right across from Grandfather Mountain. We had an amazing view, a big two bedroom, two floor condo to stretch out in and two nights to enjoy it. I won't lie, traveling with these kids is not always awesome. The boys resisted the night time set up, Benny refused to wear his jacket in the freezing cold and they ran around like lunatics for the most part, but hopefully we got some memorable moments in there for them. We all liked the view from the living room best - amazing sunrise I was able to see (consolation for an early wake up). We went to Lynn Caverns, did some "mining" and found some cool rocks at a place right near our place and spent several hours on Grandfather mountain. We missed the leaves of the season, but we did have some snow on the ground when we got there the first night. I had been battling a little cold which took away some fun for me, and being between leaf and ski seasons, it seemed many restaurants were closed. We made due and used the kitchen in the condo, though a meal out would have suited me better. We did end up going to a brewery in Greensboro on the way home where the food was good. As for the beer, well, it was too early and they couldn't serve it yet. Oops!

Out trip to NY for Thanksgiving was a really good one. I personally have been doing better, physically, which matters because I have been able to sleep! For a while, I couldn't sleep no matter where I was, no matter what I did and the trips away from home were rough as the accumulative lose of rest wore me down. This time, no problems. Well, the boys were not all that cooperative in where exactly they should sleep but eventually they won and slept on the floor of our room, blankets spread about, little bodies in various positions by morning. One time I found a sleeping Benny head first halfway under the bed, to his waist! The roll and wiggle so much it's amazing they didn't wake each other or end up in the hallway.

We spent a lot of time with Julia and Lily and of course the uncles. Those little girls are growing so fast. Julia is walking and starting to talk - a much different baby from the last time we saw her. The little boys and little girls had fun playing together. It's nice as they get older they are more self sufficient, leaving more time for the big kids (us) to chat.

Thanksgiving morning Pop dropped off the Kepler Kids at Rockland Lake for the Turkey Trot. I had run for a bit to prepare for it. It seemed to pay off as I don't feel like I was in too much pain for says after versus Joey who seemed to be limping a bit. Although he did finish first out of the 5 of us, then Tim, TJ, Me then Greg who walked. I finished under 53 minutes and I had to walk/ run it after the three mile walk because of the awful feeling I get in my left knee after a certain distance. I was mad since I was feeling so good otherwise. Oh well, I did it. And it wasn't even my decision to do it! But I did.

The day before it had snowed. It was a thick wet snow but snow all the same. We had a nice white landscape to run along and more fat flakes were falling by the time the race was over. A well-deserved feeding frenzied filled the day of course. I'm not sure why we go through the trouble of making a turkey and all the trimmings when I'm perfectly happy eating shrimp and cheese all day.

That night cousin Kristen came over and all sat around playing a hilarious game of Wits and Wagers. We put the Lego movie on that night, and most other nights in order to have a few hours of fun without the kids underfoot. It worked for the most part. Almost too well. We were all up way late, until Lily hit her threshold and had a little freak out at the end. I'm surprised ours didn't do the same. They did however go to bed without too much fuss, completely spent from the long day of play.

Benny adjusted for these late nights by having late naps. He fell asleep every day on the couch right around dinner time. While he missed actual meal time, it was rather enjoyable to have one less plate to fuss over and a little less fight between Nathan and Benny. Between his naps and his camouflage PJ's that he insists on wearing every day, it was easy to miss Benny!

Friday was had a slow morning but then went into the city to see a Sesame Street exhibit at the Lincoln Center Library. We saw Oscar in his can, Super Grover overhead, Cookie Monster, Bert & Ernie and Big Bird! He really is a BIG BIRD! The kids were less enthused, but Greg and I were were loving it. I would have liked to spend more time reading, less time chasing. But still, it was a good experience. We had lunch across the street then ventured home; the cold wind made for a quick trip with the little ones.

Saturday Tim and Jen came back up for another visit and dinner, Sunday was a laid back day. We could have gone home then but we were glad to have waited until Monday after the holiday traffic died down. It's hell on 95. But we made it in great time, leaving at 5am and getting home well before dark. Early is the way to go. It was a nice trip. The only thing lacking was Matt and his girlfriend Katie who were supposed to join us until plans changed last minute. One of these days perhaps we will all be together again at the same time.

The week we returned we had lots of little things happening, Disney on Ice - Frozen (that everyone we know went to!), book club, guys night out, etc. Nathan had school for two weeks, then a two week break again for the holidays. A strange time, these on again, off again times at school. But he has continuously adjusted well.

This break for holidays has been nice. It's been raining a bunch so not a ton of outside stuff happening. But I think the boys really just like being home. And now with Christmas behind us, they have lots (I mean LOTS) of things to keep them busy. They make out well every year. While I cringe at the stuff they acquire (it's freakin' everywhere) I must think less of the mess and more of the love that is showered on them everywhere we turn.

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Since I last wrote Benny has made some great strides. We changed his bed from crib to toddler bed. While in NY he was still having potty trouble. But since he seemed to be doing it on purpose (going #2 in his pants) we started to punish him for it. It didn't work. So we stopped and when we did Benny asked me, "I'm not gonna have to go to my room now?" I told him no, he was a big boy and had to make up his own mind about it. The day after that he put the stuff from his body to the potty and has been amazing with it ever since with few accidents. He's now out of his diapers even at night. We are very proud (and relieved!) that the diaper days are behind us. Benny also likes to ride Nathan's big boy bike, with the training wheels. He is such a big boy now. Yet, he will still curl up on me and fall asleep, like today. My baby.

My Big Baby is anything but. He had a friend over last week and we were outside on bikes and scooter. After not avoiding the muddy sidewalk like I has suggested, Nathan was on the ground, crying, and there was blood. Lots of it. Dripping down his nose, I corralled the kids back one by one, got Leo to come help and then we were discussing where to go for emergencies. Leo took him to the new ER down the road and he came home with four stitches. Yikes. We were lucky to have gotten almost six years without emergencies. The luck had to run out sometime.

But like I said, Nathan was not a baby. He cried. He freaked a little when stitches were first talked about. But he got used to the idea. By the time he was numb, he was a brave boy and got fixed up. I wasn't there for it, which I both hated and was grateful for. Leo said it was sad and traumatizing, plus I would have fainted watching a needle go through my kids face. Soooo, maybe better not to be there. In any case, the stitches were out a couple days after Christmas, the scab has fallen off and it's healing nicely already, only a week and a few days after it happened. Here's to no more ER visits anytime soon.

New Years, as mentioned, was spent with family and neighbors. In the afternoon, G'pa Truck and the Kokers came over for lunch, a long walk after and kid play time. Then, with no rest we went up the street. We've been close with the Carroll's for years and have gotten to know the Ladwigs this year as well. The kids are comfortable there and we always have a good time. We know we are so lucky to have close neighbors that are so much like family.

Big Leo's house has begun being built and he expects it to be done before spring, so another family member, turned NC resident. My own Dad was here a few days ago on his way down to Florida for the winter. On Christmas Day we had almost all the parents here too. These kids are so lucky to have them all around so often.

And so a new year begins. Last year was a great one; Leo is doing great at work among all the other blessings we have. We hope it's not a matter of having that Fraggle Rock which Leo had since Christmas last year. I made him another once since strange things were happening suddenly as soon as we passed it along to Danielle. On the other hand, if it does have good luck, I hope it works for her this year!

Speaking of good stuff with work, because it was a banner year for Valiant, the yearly meeting is being held in the Bahamas! (Sure beats bowling!) We will be staying at Atlantis with a large group of his work people. We leave Wednesday and Gigi and Grandpa get the boys for five whole days. Wow. That's a long time. They will have a blast. I'm pretty sure we will too. Not a bad way to start 2015.