Vacation!
Happy New Year to all! I hope you enjoyed ushering out 2008 and welcoming 2009. We have had such a great holiday season. It started in Ohio as we spent the Thanksgiving holiday with my dad, step-mom and the rest of the family. The boys met their cousin, Eloise, for the second time. She is now toddling and they were enthralled with her. My dad and Susan had a house full on Thanksgiving day as we feasted on "roasted beast". I believe there was approximatley 30 people. The day after Thanksgiving the "girls" went to Worthington (as tradition would have it) to eat a nice lunch at La Chatalaine and browse the local shops. It was nice to have Eloise with us (as well as in spirit)! On Friday we drove to Michigan to see the other side of my family. My mom, Gerry, Ryan and Lauren came up too. Lauren had never seen snow fall so it was fun to watch her get excited about that. The boys also had a blast with their boys cousins (much more rambunctious than Eloise). On Saturday night we drove to Detroit to see Tammy and Dan's beautiful new house (new to us anyway) and were beat at poker, yet again! We came home on Monday, December 1st - our 7 year wedding anniversary!
Being at work between Thanksgiving and Christmas was hard, but we endured...looking forward to our week in Florida. The day after Christmas we packed up the car again and headed to sunny Florida. It was absolutely beautiful all week! Not a rain cloud in sight. Great Grandpa Brown is currently visiting mom and Gerry due to Aunt Lynda and Uncle Tim's trip around the world. It was so great to spend time with him, although I know he was so relieved to see us go! It is like a three ring circus when we come to town! Richard and I went out to dinner one night at Salt Rock Grill on Indian Rocks beach, which was so decadent. I had the best creme brulee!
Saturday, I went with my mom, Jill (one of her quilting buddies) and my sister-in-law, Lauren to Dade City. The quilt shop in town was having a huge sale so Lauren and I tagged along for a "girls only" lunch and we hit the antique stores.
We went to the beach two days - a blast! I didn't think to bring bathing suits for the boys but that didn't stop them from stripping down to their underwear. The last time we took Micah to the beach his ezcema was really bad and as soon as he got in the water he screamed in pain as the salt water seeped into his open wounds. What were we thinking? I ran him to the parking lot and hosed him down in the public showers. This time, however, his skin was completely clear and it was such a joy to watch him play in the surf. They even built a couple of sand castles and collected sea shells. We also saw two dolphins playing - how neat!
The second day at the beach Noah picked up the pail of sea shells I so carefully picked up from the shoreline and started to walk away with it. I asked him where he was taking them and told him I wanted to take the shells home with us. He scowled at me, stuck his finger out and said, "The sea shells stay on the beach!" The people next to us laughed and said, "Well, I guess he told you!"
Noah is finally potty trained. He had a few accidents while we were on vacation and he needs to work on his aim (sorry mom) but he hasn't worn a pull up in about a month. He did almost get us arrested on the beach (not really) when he pulled his underwear down and commenced to peeing on the sand. If Grandpa hadn't picked him up and carried him to the water we would have had one angry, bikini-clad co-ed on our hands! :) Whew!
Sunday, Grandpa Goodrich and Aline came to visit. They brought with them a Hess Gasoline truck and tractor for each of the boys. That was a HUGE hit! The boys have played and played with those trucks. I am surprised the batteries have not worn out yet. Aline brought her delicious cookies and a few pies, which we feasted on all week. (Good thing I start Weight Watchers next week!)
I was able to go to lunch with one of my best friends from high school on Tuesday. She and I drifted apart when I went to college and we haven't seen each other in 14 years. It was such a healing experience to reconnect and realize that real friendships are preserved within the span of a lifetime. You are always able to pick up right where you left off.
New Years Eve, Ryan and Lauren hosted an 80s themed party at their house and Grandma and Grandpa babysat for us. I haven't been so excited to go to a party in a really long time. I also haven't used that much hair spray in a really long time. We dressed up in 80s attire, danced, sang, played 80s trivia. It was so much fun! Keri and Doug came down from Michigan that afternoon so they were able to come to the party too.
We played lots of cards all week -Euchre, poker...I am getting better and one of these days I am going to win a big pot.
We came home today and plan to head back to work tomorrow. Our vacation this holiday season has been so relaxing and enjoyable. We are blessed with such great family and friends. I have put some pictures from our trips on facebook and will get all of them on snapfish in the coming days and send them out to everyone.
I have lofty goals for 2009. I plan to fight and beat this addiction that has been slowly killing me the last several years - as I said, headed to Weight Watchers on Saturday. I also plan to start running again - I have made a promise to Elena to run the Peachtree 10K with her in July. I also hope to regain some of my lost confidence during the coming year. Whatever your goals, hopes and dream for 2009, I pray that God will meet you where you are and bless you immensely.
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