++Hello 2013!++

Does anyone still read this?  I know the grandparents miss it.  And some friends who used to be long-distance and are now in town even told me they miss it.  The truth is, I kind of miss it too.  So, I've committed to coming back once a week and updating you with a little Ten on Tuesday action.  I won't capture everything, but it's all better than nothing.  Maybe I'll even update you on a little of what we've been up to over the last year or so.  Oh, and just remember that this goes both ways.  A little love in the comments section never hurt either. 

1.  We are officially getting re-acquainted with snow and cold in our family.  Or, in Claire's case it's really just acquainted since she's never lived in a cold weather state.  She's adjusting well but has told me more than once of her plans to move to Florida when she grows up because it is hot there.  Ironically, she's never been there either. 

2. Wyatt LOVES to shovel.  He has always been game for yard work.  So glad it seems to have carried over to the wintertime work as well.  So far I have avoided all shoveling.  I intend to hold on to that streak for as long as possible.

3. I'm so far behind I'm not sure what all needs catching up on.  Did I mention that we have a Kindergartner?  The bus comes for him at 8:08 every morning and delivers him back at 3:27 and what happens in between is somewhat of a mystery.  He read me a book tonight, and last night too, so it must be working, whatever it is that they do there.

4. We've had a major case of the sickies around here lately.  Wyatt missed his last day before break with a fever.  Claire puked on New Year's eve while we had about 40 people here (as an aside, if you want to clear out a party in fifteen minutes flat, get your preschooler to puke) which turned into a wonderful stretch of days for us being tied to our house and just when we thought we were out of the woods, Wyatt started fevering all over again.  Can't we just be healthy?

5. We're getting a new cousin in early March, our first Pacyna cousin.  Claire is convinced it's a girl.  I really hope she is okay if it's not.  I also hope she is okay with sharing her Aunt Taylor with a new baby.

6.  We celebrated Christmas here in our new house.  It was great!  Our house was built in 1941 and at times there are parts of the original house (it's gone through some additions in it's life) that maybe aren't as suited for life in 2013.  It is a perfect house for Christmas though.  Tree in the living room window, stockings hung by the chimney, hello Norman Rockwell!

7. In case you need photo evidence here we are.  A little self-timer magic!

  But, to be honest, these are my faves.  A little more "us".

8. Lucky for Wyatt his school doesn't do any type of Holiday program so I can't treat you to an image like this, this, or this.  Claire had plenty of times to shine.  She sang front and center in front of our whole church, volunteered to go up front for her preschool chapel time with parents and rocked her ballet performance...all 60 seconds of it.

9. What else is new around these parts?  Mark and I are recommitting to health once again this January.  I'm not one for excuses (ok, so maybe a little bit) but both a move and a bulging disk in one's back are not so great for one's physical fitness.  We're trying to strike a balance between holding each other accountable and pissing the other one off.  Not so easy.  So far, so good.

10. So, a little out of order but I had to share one last photo.  I fear this will be the last year my kids will wear matching jammies on Christmas.  It makes me so happy though.  Here they were on Christmas morning in their new slippers (each perfectly suited for their personalities), checking out the loot from Santa.

See you next week?