Celebrate: Endings and Beginnings

There's a symmetry I like in our family holiday celebration. We end and begin each year together as family. Our boys and their families come home to celebrate over New Year's. 6 kids, 3 dogs, 5 adults. 1 bathroom. It's chaos. I'm not going to lie. And I love every minute of it. Morning begins with cuddles for Grandma. We'll have coffee and hot chocolate and talk before the other grown-ups come down. I'll find out about school and listen to silly conversations. I'll find out what books they like to read and what books they are reading in school (not always the same thing, as you know). Chloe and the other dogs will do their best to budge in on those morning cuddles and grab a few of their own. We'll make plans for summer and Grandma will begin her countdown to lake time. Saturday afternoon will find basketball and football games on TV. Card games and board games will be played. And there will be food. Lots of food. Presen