Happy New Year...Already??

Another year has come and gone and I, for one, am shocked by the way the days turn into weeks, and into months, and before you know it another year has begun. I had barely gotten used to writing 2010 on my checks and here it is 2011 already. Good grief!

We had high hopes of ringing in the new year with a Pacers game followed by a party with friends but due to some (ahem) gastrointestinal distress experienced by the Joe Bug, our plans were derailed. We did make it to the Pacers game (though Joey and I only lasted half of the game) but then decided to call it a night and hang out at home. The good news is Joey wasn't sick, just suffering from a challenge in titrating his MiraLax dosage. It's feast or famine when it comes to poor Joey's bowels. He either can't go for days or is a volcano of poop all day long. Too much information?

Anyway, Jarin and Adam came by to hang out for a bit on NYE and the boys decided to have a sleepover in Ben's room so they retired early. Dean and I attempted to watch a movie but both hated the one we selected so we ended up watching mindless TV while waiting for the countdown with Dick Clark. I woke up Dean at 11:57 p.m., we kissed at midnight, and that was our wild and crazy new year celebration. Happy New Year!

We did celebrate a New Year in a big way on January 1, however, by getting rid of Joey's crib and changing table and introducing his new big boy bed!! YAY!

Joey is sooooo excited to have a big boy bed (he got Ben's bed and Ben inherited Uncle Craig's old trundle bed). The following day, both boys picked out new bedding. I have no pictures of the new bedding but I assure you the purchasing decisions were very carefully and thoughfully made ("no cartoons" was Ben's requirement before settling on a brown comforter with orange and blue stripes and blue sheets and Joey fell in love with bright orange sheets and a sports themed comforter).

I am amazed how "big boy" Ben's room is now. I think it will pretty much look as it does for the next 15 years. Ben also inherited Uncle Craig's old desk. I can find him at the desk at any given point during the day creating masterpieces...I caught Jack watching him hard at work the other day! Joey's room, obviously looks a lot different now too. He is ready for a new coat of paint on the walls, but he really loves spending "quiet time" in his room now and laying on his bed reading books.

The trundle bed has been a big hit....even with Jackson!

The boys attempted a sleepover the first night and Ben fell asleep with no problem but Joey eventually opted to sleep in his new bed.

Joe naps great in his bed and sleeps well...once he falls asleep. His new freedom is just prooving to be too inticing right now so he gets up and down....and up and down...for about an hour and a half before giving in to sleep. He also has been waking up at 5 a.m. and coming in to get Dean, who graciously goes and lays in Joe's bed, where they both fall back asleep for another hour or so. And then another day begins at 6:30 a.m. We are NOT sleeper inners.

Four days into 2011, it looks like it is shaping up to be a decent year. The boys started back to school this week (which we were ALL ready for) and it is nice to get back into our normal routine. We did pack in a few playdates last week, including a bowling trip with the Matelics.

Ben also participated in Billy Keller's Basketball Camp at the Fishers YMCA. He had a blast.

So cheers to a new year and cheers to a return to scheduled days. Routine is not boring, it is a welcome friend, whom I am so happy to have back in my life.