Here at the Mitey Mite household, New Year's is celebrated by sleeping through it. Several years ago I realized that the calendar would change with or without my participation, and as I am perpetually sleep-deprived, I would enjoy the sleep more. The Professor told me there were a lot of fireworks going off last night, but I didn't hear a thing.

The holidays were lovely. We had the Professor's daughter and her family here on the 23rd. His grandsons, A and B, don't like family gatherings on Christmas, so we did it ahead of time. Now everyone in my family is full of energy and enthusiastic about things, while A and B are much more reserved. I frequently think that I just haven't pleased them at all with the gifts because I only get a polite Thank You. But this year they got their own light sabers, and they actually grinned from ear to ear and immediately started playing with them. A is 16 and B is 10, and that is the Very First Time I have ever seen them actually play with a present.

There were 19 here for Christmas, and lots of playing going on. (See Nerf Darts on Ceiling Fan post, below.) I had a MyTwinn doll made for the Professor's granddaughter.

These dolls are like Barbies : $5 for the doll and $50,000 for the wardrobe. But they are so much fun! The Little Angel has certainly enjoyed hers. I especially wanted Little Girl to have one of these, because dolls seem to be either blue-eyed blondes, or black. I have yet to see an Asian doll, and while I don't think this one quite looks Asian, she is certainly closer in looks to Little Girl than any doll I could buy. Little Girl seemed very happy with her (though, to tell you the truth, she seemed even happier with her own copy of Bambi, which she watches every time she comes here.)

Now I am trying to un-decorate, start my ham and black-eyed peas, and make plane reservations to Costa Rica for spring break. I promised Skater Dude and D-Man that I would take them there. Just one little problem -- the tickets that cost $400 last March cost over $1000 this year, but just for that one week of spring break. That difference is pretty much the money I budgeted for hotels, meals and activities. So if I can't use my miles, and I'll bet I can't, we will either have to go to Mexico, which D-Man has already nixed, or wait until school lets out, which sounds like it may be a problem for Skater Dude. Nothing is ever simple!