Thursday, January 27, 2011

Updates 2011

It's been a while since I've written on here. A good 3 months to be exact. To be honest, I missed it, and there are so many things floating around my brain at times that will hopefully have the chance to come out bit by bit. I stopped writing last year because I was seriously burned out; oftentimes it was the choice between sleep and writing, then I was at a point where it wasn't much of a choice any more. Working 40+ hours a week and still being a hands-on mom to two little girl, a wife, daughter, sister, and friend just took a lot out of me. But my desire to write has become stronger and stronger, and here I am.

What has changed since last year over here? I got my contract with Siemens and due to the better salary and more time off (how do 30 days sound?), we'll be able to treat ourselves to a trip to the States in March/April and spend Violet's first birthday with her Grandma Cat. We celebrated an awesome Thanksgiving (late, since everyone had to work on Thursday) with family and friends; during our 4 years in the US, Thanksgiving has almost become my favorite holiday, because it focuses more on spending time with each other than consumerism. And of course I have this special memories of my first Thanksgiving celebration with a special young man and turkey stir fry back in 2005 :-) The Yule holiday was finally as picturesque as could be. We had tons of snow, which "forced" us to stay home for Christmas Day instead of visiting my family; Lily decided to make up for it with a spontaneous trip to the playground, facing down thigh-high snow and a somewhat hesitant and snotty Mami. New Years.. Well, what shall I say? We slept through it. I remember thinking: "That's not normal" when a former student once told me that she and her family had slept through the night at New Year's Eve, and here we are. But to be honest, there are so many New Year's Eves to come, and sleep was just more important at that point.

During this last months I managed to reconnect with some old friends and make some new ones, start and complete some projects, laugh, cry, and pick myself up again. It's not always easy managing everything, but seeing the love in my girls' eyes makes up for everything. Right now, Miss Violet is starting to walk and Lily is getting ready for starting kindergarten next Tuesday. I can't believe how fast time flies and would give a lot for it to just stop for a while, but then again I can't wait what each new day brings. And while reflecting on this past year I can't wait for what this new year, which is almost a month old already, brings (hopefully less change than last year!). A belated "Happy New Year" to all of you!