New Year Celebrations

We had a great time bringing in 2009 with our college buddies. Thanks so much Justin and Melissa for offering your home! And the refreshments! Ha! I couldn't find a picture to share that at least one person wouldn't kill me for posting.

After breakfast with this crew, Joel and I headed North to meet up with our kids. Joel's parents kept them for the New Year festivities this year. (Madeline and Carter made it to midnight . . . Garrett, once again, did not! Maybe next year . . . ) We celebrated Christmas a little late with a bunch of the family- quite a fun crowd.

Garrett was quite thrilled to get this Lego Batman video game. A few weeks before the holidays Nana Pam said to him, "What should I get your Dad for Christmas?" Garrett quickly replied, "Legos, and the Batman Video Game!" I'm surprised he didn't add, "And a Spiderman trash can!" to complete his list.

A highlight was the 'present game.' Have you played this? Troy brought it and it was SO fun. I would explain the rules, but I'm sure you can figure it out . . . and if not, we'll play it sometime. Okay?

The kids are wild about Troy. Garrett would have gone home with him in a second!

Yes, that's me.

My crew took the whole thing quite seriously. (Except Carter, who can be seen in some photos perched on the back of the couch, just watching the mayhem.)

Grandma probably had the most doubles (this is a dice game also) out of all of us. She was on fire!

Maddy won the end prize- $5, and was quite happy. We were so proud of Garrett because he didn't flip out even once about the game (fast paced and his turns were very short), and he was happy for Sissy for winning. And then? Madeline gave Garrett her prize money. It was pretty much the sweetest thing ever.


We spent a few nights at Joel's parents, and woke up Friday morning with 6 inches of new snow. (They'd had two and a half feet when we were whining about 18 inches. And had to actually function in it.) We spent an hour or two shoveling the steep, long driveway so we could get our van out. We were quite a sight- Bill had a snow shovel, Joel was making good use of a garden shovel, Vanita had a garden hoe and I was using a clamming shovel! I wish I would have taken a picture but at the time we were all irritated at the snow! Our reward for our hard work was Bill driving us into town for Starbucks and Cap'n Yoby's (the best fish and chips ANYWHERE). We had a great visit with them. What a great way to start 2009!