Sparkle

The girls would have gone back to school today after a few weeks off for the holidays.  But it's cold and snowy and school was cancelled at the last minute.  So we are given a surprise extra day.  One we will spend hunkered down at home in our pajamas.

The past few weeks have been at moments loud and boisterous and quiet and still.  Busy and hectic.  Slow and dull.  Warm and cozy.  Cold and slippery.  Long enough to make us all ready for the rhythm of our regular days.  Short enough to make us look forward to breaks again.

Holiday 2013 included Nana, Papa and their giant dog Sami.  Saving some holiday baking to do and share with Nana.  A few walks with just Papa and I and the dogs where good conversation always happened. Card games and Bananagrams.  Each of us breaking into song when "Take Me Home, Country Roads" came on the radio.  Usually at the top of our lungs.  Teasing each other only the ways that family can.  Piling on the couch to watch another football game.  Or another in a long list of shows about Alaska.  Watching in amusement as my 15 pound dog stole the bone from the 90 pound dog over and over and over again. Soaking in the hot tub and the good conversations and solutions to world problems that resulted.  Continuing the tradition of each person saying something about the other as that one gets their food at Christmas dinner. It's such an easy thing to do and always results in the warmest, fuzziest feelings and I love that it's my children that keep that tradition going strong.

However the memory that will stick out the most from this year will be the impromptu group hug in the kitchen that turned into humming and dancing in a giant sway-and-step back-and- forth that had us all smiling and breathing in unison.

Now January is here and it's time for me to haul out the vacuum and clean up the sparkle from the holiday that even Harpo has stuck on her nose.

Wishing you all love, health and happiness in 2014.  And always.

-dana