Nine days ago, I was apologizing to my daughter for working on her birthday, then furiously wrapping up emails, cleaning off my desk and preparing to leave the office until after the new year.

Eight days ago, I was in a waterpark, listening to my husband declare, “Oh my god, I’m Ricky Bobby,” enjoying a few cocktails with my sister and watching it snow indoors.

Seven days ago I was eating clam chowder and Chex mix, stuffing stockings and setting up a night vision trail cam to catch Santa.

Six days ago I was watching the kids unwrap presents, making individual apple pies in Mason jars and losing twenty bucks in a smoky casino.

Five days ago I was in a car for a long time.

Four days ago I stayed in my pajamas all day and made lentil soup.

Three days ago I saw the movie Hugo and subsequently become obsessed with Edith Piaf.

Two days ago I went to the mall.

Yesterday I made the kids banana-peanut butter canapes and pomegranate seeds for breakfast, started painting again and watched UFC on PPV.

Today I’m getting my hair cut, watching British comedies on OPB and making hopppin’ john.

Tomorrow I will start dreading the end of my vacation.

In two days  I will make sure all the laundry is done, the kids’ homework is ready to turn in, plan out the week’s meals and find my briefcase in the closet.

In three days my vacation is over.

• Made a calendar. You can still buy one!
• Launched a Dia de Los Muertos portrait project on Kickstarter
• Painted Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman and The Bloggess with skull faces
• Was mentioned on Molly Crabapple’s Tumblr page

• Made Dooce’s Friday Under Fifty list
• Bought a grown-up camera and an iPad
• Shipped my artwork to 5 of 7 continents
• Inspired a font based on my handwriting

• Saw Les Miserables onstage
• Discovered Edith Piaf and Kim Boekbinder
• Introduced my husband to the work of Neil Gaiman
• Watched my kids learn French and pitch a no-hitter

• Showed my work in Portland
• Was written about in Sunday Statesman Journal, Willamette Valley Life, Creative Humans and Watercolor Artists Magazine
• Set up a night vision trail cam to catch Santa Claus

• Entered a poster contest for Washington International Horse Show
• Became obsessed with Frida Kahlo
• Became proficient at Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja
• Learned about “the cloud”

• Started wearing more dresses
• Skipped my 20th high school reunion
• Painted over 150 portraits and have 110 more on the books
• Plotted and planned for 2012

Watch out, New Year!

Santa Suit + Night Vision Trailcam = Two Kids Who Will Believe in Santa A Little While Longer.

I was recently doing some online Christmas shopping for a…um…how shall I put this delicately? A piece of performance gear for cold weather running that is for the exclusive use of gentlemen.

No?

Um, it keeps one’s parts warm while running.

Male parts.

Are we all on the same page here?

The problem was, I couldn’t remember the name of the product, or the company, and I couldn’t come up with concise key words that would result in anything but unseemly suggestions from Google.

No offense to Google. I mean, when you’re searching with keywords like, “men’s cold weather running gear” you get nice safe suggestions like beanie caps and long-sleeved, sweat-wicking shirts. Any more specific – let’s say, references to specific anatomy - and well, you risk seeing things that are a little more unpleasant.

Do NOT do an image search is what I’m saying.

Last week was one of those weeks. Dr. Rossman was off running a marathon (and enjoying lovely Arizona weather, I might add), so the chore of getting the kids to school and to their various activities, fell to me.

I emailed my very understanding co-workers on Sunday night warning them of my probability of tardiness. All week. Each morning was a struggle to 1) get my daughter up, fed and dress in a timely fashion (I use an egg timer. She hates it.)  and 2) make sure my son had lunch money and his cello, then drop them off at school not too early but not late enough that I miss an entire morning of work.

Then,

The evenings were a race home after staying late at the office to make up for lost time; then Holiday Recitals, dinner-making, homework and decorating for Christmas.

Then,

As my daughter was telling me about her class Christmas party, she said they made ornaments and cards and gingerbread houses, and everyone else’s mom was there.