Ringing in the New Year

We were back from our Christmas traveling one day (the 29th) when we hit the road again (the 30th). It was Suzanna's birthday, but we were making her share some of the focus with our friends! Susan's high school friend Audrey, her husband Chad, and their son Ethan were in Fargo, ND from Texas, visiting friends. So we took Suzanna to Olive Garden for a birthday lunch (joined by Susan's sister Cassie), then met Audrey and company at the mall so the kids could play in the dinosaur-themed playland while the adults visited.

Then we went to Media Play to buy some CDs for Suzanna, who received a CD player (from my sister Sandy) as one of her birthday presents. Then we drove to Harwood, ND (just north of Fargo) to have supper with our friends the Zanders. We usually stop there and spend the night each December on our way to Mandan and Dickinson for Christmas celebrations on Susan's side of the family. This past year, not having traveled that direction, we missed our annual Zander Christmas stay-over. This time we ate supper and opened gifts without spending the night. Now we MUST start an annual tradition of having the Zanders come to our house every summer--so that we'll see them more often, and so that Janelle isn't the only one doing all the cooking and cleaning for one of our get-togethers.

We were back in EGF for New Years Eve. That night we attended a party at our friends the Olsons' home. They had many couples with young children there, so it was . . . loud! The food (baked potato bar) was delicious, the kids had a blast playing, and I enjoyed participating in a darts tournament in Doug's office/bar downstairs! We got home in time for the girls to do the countdown to the new year at 10:00 P.M. ("It's the new year in Newfoundland and Labrador"), then sent them to bed. I then put in an appearance at another party (of adults, this one) in order to see my friend who recently moved to Chicago and was back for the weekend.

I was back before midnight so that Susan and I could crack open the champagne, enjoy some snacks, and welcome the new year. Here's hoping for great things in 2006!