January is looking a lot like September, the treadmill after the lounge chair.  Two-and-a-half weeks of holiday free-play and then, bam, we hit the ground sprinting with homework and meal planning and appointments.  I'm convinced that life consists mostly of interruptions punctuated by surprise chunks of available time that last just long enough for me to freeze with indecision about how I'll spend them, and then -- interruption.

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I suppose it can't help but look like a list at this point:

We've had more school meetings - moderately satisfying.

Amy had an EEG.

Rain has interrupted my outdoor running schedule (my dirt trails are mud and my knees just don't do pavement).

Amy grew older and bigger and more herself during the holiday break, proving that unstructured time allows one's nature to unfurl into the shape it was meant to be.  She lived at her own pace, created worlds that lasted a day and then moved on.  

The Beard is progressing as expected, coming in at about 38% gray.  No big whoop.

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Here are some photographs from New Year's Eve.

Out by the fire, Lizzie points to where the coyotes prowl.  Oooooh. ____________________

Baby Bean snoozes in the firelight. ____________________

Right neighborly kitchen gab. ____________________

PlayStation girls. ____________________

Caffeine! ____________________