best friends and new years

So I'm going to jump out there and just admit that for the last 5ish years Matt and I have had some pretty lame, er I mean quiet, New Year's eves. Mostly the kind where you do all things parentish like stay home all night, watch movies on the living room floor, and set your alarm for 11:58 just in case you fall asleep before the ball drops.

This year, however, we had lots of fun prospects. We were invited to two, yes I said TWO! different parties. Matt was pretty proud of this, it seeming to up our 'cool parent' status a notch or two. So you know what we did to take advantage of this different year? We.....stayed home again!

What? I know. Even with two pretty great parties with pretty great people who we love a lot, we decided to stay home because we had the opportunity to host one of my very best friends in the whole world, and her sweet little family! Once again the plan was dinner and pj's before 8pm, and it was the best! I made some ridiculous party hats that I insisted we wear. We put the kids to bed and played games until close to midnight.

We even popped open the champagne and almost made it until midnight! Sure there was a baby crying here or there, kids who really didn't want to fall asleep, the fact that half of us didn't make it to see the ball drop, but it was about as close to perfect as New Year's eves get!

Recent sweet things...

Awhile back we traveled to Michigan to meet one of my new favorite people, Emma-Kate, and see two of my other favorite people...

 Cuddling with my own growing-too-fast-not-so-little ones...

Playing school, reading, dancing, and generally just trying to keep up with this tiny fashionista...

Taking pictures for a great friend and stealing kisses from a brand new baby...

 

Saying yes to some exciting news from one of the best people I know...

 

And because life just wasn't crazy enough, meet Harriet Potter...

Life is full, happy Monday!

Weekend Highlights

The best kinds of friends are the kinds you could talk to for hours. My friend Katharine is like that. I am lucky to have her, and the years I spent teaching with her, and our frequent phone dates. And, of course, I'm lucky to have her trips back to Kentucky from the cold land of Michigan too!

She came back this weekend and we had a great time. Her and her husband, Andy, came over for dinner on Friday night. As per usual, we spent most of the time laughing about something or other.

Saturday we planned to go to Keeneland, and were almost deterred by the rain.

Luckily, we stuck it out and ended up having a great time with a little sunshine in the end! It was fun to see a few girls I used to teach with at my first school too. Katharine has kept up with them over the years and it was nice to catch up. Megan, from over at Blissfully Burton, has the sweetest baby girl Harper who is just two weeks younger than Abbott. They loved playing together and generally stealing one another's toys. It was cute to see Abbott interact with someone so close to his age. Though I am sure he does it all the time, I rarely get to see it.

Our sweet friend's visit was the highlight at the end of a long and not so shiny week. Thanks for coming to visit Katharine and Andy, we miss you here in KY!

belly laughs

 

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This week has been a doozy at work. Maybe it's a full moon? No snow days? I don't know. All I can say is thank heaven for wonderful friends and coworkers, because I am pretty sure the only thing that got me through the week was some good hearty belly laughs! A Friday afternoon of laughing, commiserating, and lots of sugar was just what the doctor ordered. It probably wasn't the most productive few hours I've had at work all week, but it certainly was good for the soul. Thanks for that, friends!

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