New Year

I'm making just one New Year's Resolution - to spend more time with family and friends.

We had family and friends over for New Year's Eve and had a great time. Nothing spectacular or huge, but lots of great conversation and a crowded card table all night. I was actually still awake at 2:30 a.m. I think the last time that happened was 12 years ago when I was in labor with Caleb.

My BFF Pam came over with her family - including husband, children, and parents. My other BFF (and neighbor) came over with her husband and kids. Jim's mom and step-dad came over. And another of Jim's friends came over with his wife and two of their kids. We had a ton of food and snacks, plenty of alcohol and kid-friendly drinks - and lots of fun.

Maybe I can use my birthday as an excuse to have another party later this month. I think Jim will be all for it because he has already been talking about getting everyone together again. Time to go hunt down his work schedule so I can start making plans now! (and if I tell everyone it's for my birthday - I KNOW they will show up!) I already know what the kids will say - WOOHOO - mom wants to have another party! It's their opportunity to run around and be crazy too. Plus they get to laugh with me (at me?) when we start swapping stories about all the crazy things we did when we were younger. Like the time when I was learning how to drive a motorcycle and accidentally ran into (and up) the slide on the swingset.

Yeah - I have lots of hidden talents like that. I also ran into a few trees and a fence or two. And there was the time when Pam and I almost set the house on fire because we wanted pancakes. She told me she knew what she was doing - and I actually believed her! Hope my kids will have good stories to tell when they are older. I can't wait to hear them!