2012 Week One

We had a New Year's Eve party with a few friends and their children.  We had a ton of food AND fun.  There were fireworks, talent shows, and a rubik's cube completion. I believe there was an estimated 18 bottles of Martinelli's at our house. It was a good time.

I was so exhausted after Christmas that I stayed in my pajamas for many days. I got dressed on New Year's Eve and day, then back into pajamas for the start of the year.  I really enjoyed the time off from work, school, schedules, and alarm clocks.

Monday, my friend and neighbor, Christie gathered some friends to go roller skating for her 40th birthday.  I assumed this would be a gathering of women who lacked skills or had not skated in 20 years.  Oh no - she invited roller bladers and people with serious skating skill.  Then there was me.  The owner followed me around the rink yelling at me not to look down, that I was only looking at fear when I looked down.  It  was a sad display of roller skating. I have memories of being a pretty good skater back in the late 80's.

Wednesday we took the tree down.  I wanted to put the tree on the curb for the town to remove and Jim wanted to compost the tree and use parts for his garden (this is a regular disagreement).  Jim took the tree outside, and I assumed he was putting it on the curb for pick up... until I looked out my back window and saw this:

Jim cut off all the branches of the tree and started burning them before I even noticed he was gone.  He did this so he could use the trunk of the tree in his garden for a trellis.  He rendered the tree incapable of Christmas tree pick-up by removing all the branches.  Our town doesn't have a log pick up.  Jim won this year's Christmas removal battle.

This week we had bitter cold 10 degree weather a few days, then upper 40's weather the next few days. The temperature difference made it feel like spring!  Lilly used the warm weather to her advantage and went to some neighbors to sell girl scout cookies.

Tonight we attended a surprise party for Christie's 40th birthday.  We had the party at our church in the gym.  Once she arrived we sent all the kids to another room with a movie and some babysitters and the grown ups were able to enjoy the party. Genius setup.  We sat in the gym with all the lights turned off waiting for her to walk in.

My friends, Julie and Tina, planned and orchestrated the whole party.  It was an 80's themed party.  People came dressed up, we played 80's music, played some 80's Wii dance and sing along games, and ate good food.  The greatest part was Christie was really surprised!

AND it's my brother's birthday today! Happy Birthday Oliver, you're the best!

What a week! I am ready for a vacation.....