Elf on the Shelf 2013 – Day 1

What better way to jump back into blogging than to announce the arrival of our dear friend, Cosette, direct from the North Pole?

I can’t believe it’s been a year since Cosette arrived on our doorstep with a note from Mr. Claus himself. This year has flown by. I know, people say that all the time, but this year seems to have passed at a particularly alarming rate. In a way, maybe that’s good. Steven and I needed a little space in between us and 2012. On the scale of life, 2012 ranked off the charts as the worst year ever. 2013, on the other hand, has treated us relatively well. It’s been a busy one, and not without its frustrations, but overall, we’re pretty satisfied.

Currently, we’re enjoying a semi-lazy Thanksgiving vacation. It was just the three of us this year, and while we missed having a houseful of family to celebrate with, we were also sort of glad for the break. We’ve been running at a frenzied pace since the summer ended. Stevie is taking a math class two nights a week, which means hours of homework and studying after putting in a full day of work. And my schedule literally exploded mid-September with work trips, freelance writing gigs, photography sessions, and a 12-week writing course to help me jumpstart the memoir I’ve been working on for a few years now.

To say we’ve been busy is an understatement.

I always know I’ve spread myself to thin when I get sick. Usually, I manage to skate through cold and flu season without much of an issue. In fact, other than my annual doctor visits and Cadence’s birth, I haven’t been to the doctor for an illness since before Steven and I were married. But this year, Cadence and I both caught some sort of yuckiness shortly after we returned from Arizona in late September and I’ve been sick ever since. Two doctors visits, four different types of medications, and one chest X-ray later, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again.

Next time my body gives me the warning flag to slow down, I think I better listen.

So, this is where Cosette found us when she returned to the Romano house this morning. We’re healthy, happy, and headed straight into the 2013 holiday season wondering where the last year has gone. Welcome back, Cosette! We’ve missed you!

Looks like Cosette noticed that Cadence’s Jessie doll was missing a hat. How nice of her to bring one all the way from the North Pole!

And just for the record, Cadence had no idea that Cosette had returned while she slept. This is her everyday exuberance. Let me tell you how fun it is to be jarred out of sleep as soon as the sun comes up when this ball of energy comes bouncing into your bedroom.