Happy New Year

Hey, Barb.

Not sure if you're coming home today or tomorrow, but I know it will be hard to bring your vacation to a close. Hopefully you'll have some quality re-entry time before heading back to school. How was your trip to Boston?  I'm sort of jealous that you spent New Year's Eve there.  That takes me back a few years :)

We had a very fun night at our standard neighborhood party.  This year, our friends B&P hosted and it was very low key.  Gone are the days of rented costumes for elaborately themed galas...we're all so proud of ourselves just to stay awake until midnight anymore.  CK and I made a plan the day before that we weren't going to get trashed - for once - and we put together a huge potluck dinner to have beforehand. In the end, our dinner party kind of fizzled out and it was just the five of us - she and JK, JJ, J and me.  Everyone else bailed on us, but it was nice anyway.  We stuffed ourselves with spaghetti and salad in an effort to soak up the alcohol, which worked.  We also did the one drink - one water thing.  Other than peeing every half hour or so, that was a great idea too.  By two in the morning, for the first time in as long as I can remember, I walked home, instead of stumbled.  I texted my kids and didn't send jumbled up messages that made no sense.  I cleaned up my kitchen when I got home, and best of all, I woke up this morning feeling awesome.  Yay for me! That was a huge coup.

The kids came down before midnight, like they always do, but this year it was just JJ, JK and S&T's kids.  (M is in Idaho on a road trip with a friend).  All the other kids are old enough now to actually party with us.  I was watching all these young adults partying it up with their parents and thinking how awesome it is that we are so close; we are fun enough that our kids want to hang out with us on New Year's Eve, and I feel like we've all done something right in raising them.  When JJ showed up, I had this wistful moment, thinking that before I know it, he'll be there too, partying with us.  And then I look over at him, and he's dancing and singing at the top of his lungs....with his dad.  I almost cried.  He's almost there...in a heartbeat, he'll be allowed to stay all night. So I jumped in and danced up a storm with him to Katy Perry's California Gurlz, then kissed him goodnight before he and the others headed back to the kid zone (my house).  I wish I could freeze that moment in time.

Today, I think, I should put away the Christmas decor.  Although, as energetic and not hungover as I am, I'm still not too motivated to take on that task.  There is tomorrow, after all.  This three day weekend rocks.

I hope you had a wonderful New Year's celebration too, and that you enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Love you,
A