I’ve never been a big New Year’s Eve partier. Even in my most wild of college days, which weren’t all that wild, I never got into the whole New Year’s Eve Big-Shebang. In fact, one year found me taking NyQuil (I had a cold) and going to bed around 9:00, only to be grumpily woken up by phone calls at midnight. The first New Year’s Eve in our new/current house found me waking up to the sound of (illegal) fireworks at midnight which made me really grumpy as they woke my sleeping one year old.

What can I say? I like my sleep.

We usually like to stay in, put the kids to bed a little later than usual and see just how late we can really stay up. I’ll be honest: it’s rarely midnight. As much as I like my sleep, FireDad likes his even more. A few times we’ve talked about braving the elements and going to New York City (without kids) or even visiting Pittsburgh (like I did #10yearsago) or Columbus for their festivities. Then we remember that we’re old souls.

But this year we’re getting all wild and crazy.

We’re packing up the kids, two bottles of wine, a pot of meatballs, Mario Kart, an extra Wii remote and the camera(s) and heading… over to our friend’s house for games, food, drinks and apparently a Mario Kart race off. That’s how we roll. The sad thing is that this is the biggest plan we have ever had for New Year’s Eve in the history of our marriage. We’re awesome.

The truth is that our plans, while not all that wild and crazy, sound like a blast to me. Our kids get to have fun with other kids. We get to attempt adult conversation over the roar of five children racing, playing, laughing, talking and likely arguing over something. Did I mention the wine? I did? Just thought I would mention it again so that I can say FireDad is the designated driver tonight. Safety is so important. Remember that yourselves tonight, okay? Good job.

I don’t think I would be doing anything overly outrageous tonight even if my children were merely figments of my imagination. I prefer low key to lots of people and noise (except on Saint Patrick’s Day in Pittsburgh). Some of that may be my social anxiety. Some of that may be the fact that I prefer yoga pants to anything remotely hip. Some of that may be the fact that I don’t like today’s music. And, really, I think some of it is because I like to take time to reflect a bit on the year we’re closing the door on and that’s rather hard to do when you’re yelling at your friends just so they can hear you. I mean, I’m loud but I don’t like to yell at my friends. Often.

Volume aside, or perhaps in spite of, I’m excited for this evening. Good friends, good food and what will hopefully be a good time. Sounds like a great way to end a very good year, doesn’t it?

Happy New Year!

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Also, as a quick aside, I went with this for my January 2010 desktop. You can download it here. It makes me happy.

It’s official. National Blog Posting Month (fondly known as NaBloPoMo) is over and I’m a winner. In fact, not only did I write 30 posts in 30 days, I actually wrote thirty-one posts in 30 days. I’ve always been an over-achiever. Or something. The real reason is because Blogging United Fight for Preemies fell on BigBrother’s birthday. Hence the extra post.

So yes, I churned out a post everyday for a month. I’m tired. I have nothing else to say. My brain is mush. That said, I did have a few posts that I enjoyed, like the boys separate birthday posts. Politically, I reminded people that we don’t just vote once every four years (and, good news, my husband gets to keep his job). We got the dreaded swine flu and lived to tell about it… apparently. Photography wise, I enjoyed some great Wordless Wednesday captures, flu ones included, and participated in all but one You Capture challenge this month (1, 2, 3). (You Capture is hosted by Beth of I Should Be Folding Laundry.)

The biggest challenge for me during this year’s NaBloPoMo was blogging on the weekend. I started a series I called Weekend Outtakes which was basically a picture (or two) and a brief description of our day. Much easier than the deep, thoughtful, introspective stuff I normally churn out. Right? Ahem. Amusingly, I only almost forgot to blog once. I had just snuggled down under the covers at my fairly early self-imposed bedtime when I sat up and said, “I forgot to blog!” I got it up there well before midnight as I’m a big loser awesome and go to bed early. Win.

So, yes, I’m a winner this year. The little graphic on my sidebar says so. And the one on this post. I’m thorough.

As for December, I’ve created my December desktop. I went with this desktop from Eva Kipler Designs this month for three reasons: 1) Christmas-y without annoying me or being pink and annoying me, 2) room for two pictures, 3) the one picture space fit our dorky family picture I took last month. Win, win, win. I needed room for two pictures because while I knew I wanted our dorky family picture, I also needed a photo of myself and that gorgeous husband of mine as our anniversary is also in December. Everybody now, “Awww.” See?

December should be a busy month. (See also: OMG! I’m alone for 10 days!) While I have no intention of blogging everyday, I do have a lot to say so it’s all very well and good. We’ve got normal holiday requirements (parties, get togethers, concerts to attend) along with Munchkin’s birthday, my parents’ anniversary, our anniversary, lots of writing, lots of work and a bunch of other stuff. Today I’m going to put on my Insanity Cap and take the boys to get their pictures taken with Santa.

Furthermore, I hope to keep in the true spirit of this season. Yes, it’s busy. Yes, I’m stressed out and mostly alone with the kids for a large chunk of the month. But it’s my favorite time of year. Why? Because of things like what Burgh Baby has done. She gives me hope. I’m cried when I read that post. I have to believe that people are generally as good-hearted as my friend. Similarly, I do believe that FireDad and I are going to “Elf Someone” when he is home this weekend. What about you? What are you doing this month?

November has arrived. Bringing with it the slippery slope toward our birthday-and-holidays extravaganza. As of today, BigBrother’s fourth birthday is in 16 days and LittleBrother’s second birthday is in 23 days. Their presents, except for one, are in house. I do not have the cake ordered though the invitations are on their way to me right now. (Of course I made my own through VistaPrint. Did you know that I’m giving away 50 holiday cards?) As far as Christmas presents go, the boys are almost done. I know what I’m buying others. (And my Christmas cards are ordered, of course.)

I’ve taken the pink off the site as it is no longer Breast Cancer Awareness Month. November is Adoption Awareness Month which I’m sure I’ll write about elsewhere. Our header features Thanksgiving celebration images. It’s also National Novel Writing Month (of which I will not be participating in this year, thankyouverymuch). Thankfully, it’s also NaBloPoMo which I may or may not succeed in finishing. I did find two desktop backgrounds that I liked this month but, sadly, they each only offered room for one picture. Despite having some great solo-pics of the boys this month, minus their costume pictures, I don’t have a great one of them both. So while my desktop is pretty the photo itself is rather boring. Oh well!

Here’s the one I chose. (And this is another great option which includes an iPhone background that I think I’ll use.)

Considering our busy schedule and the fact that I start my new job tomorrow, I’m sure November will be a very hectic month. Here’s hoping that we remember to stay thankful day in and day out. (Even if we do seem to have some respiratory malady up in here. Ugh.)

It’s October? It’s October! Fall is in full swing. Don’t believe me? View my You Capture challenge post for today! That said, it’s also time to change up my desktop wallpaper. I have a dilemma this month and I need some help.

I chose this desktop from Design by Dani. It’s bright and colorful but still Halloween-esque. It fits exactly what I was looking for this month. The only problem is that I don’t know which picture I should use. Take a look.

Do I go with the boys in their fall initial pumpkin shirts? (From this Etsy store at a great price.)

Or do I go with the boys in their Aeromax firefighter costumes (review next week) in a cute picture taken after the fire?

Dilemma indeed. I currently have the one with the fall shirts sitting on the desktop but I just want to keep switching back and forth between the two. I love my two little firefighters as well! Such a hard decision. Let me know which one you think I should use for the month in the comments!

I saw a few other nice October digital scrapbooking desktop wallpapers out there in my search. This one at Digital Scrap Cafe was light and lovely. And this one by Traci Reed’s Team Blog, while without a calendar, was definitely adorable. (Plus I have a love of ones that allow for three pictures so I can have one of each child and either a nature shot or one of them together.)

I leave you with this lovely October quote.

“Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.” – Carol Bishop Hipps

So true. Enjoy your beautiful October.