Ahh, the holidays

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
A new year, a new look for the BLOG

Well, the holidays have come and gone again this year. We had a wonderful time over the past few weeks celebrating with friends and family, though I think that the holidays should be extended over a three week period to be able to truly enjoy everything - it goes by way too fast!

We had family from Utica come up to celebrate Christmas this year (a few days before Christmas) for the first time. In years past, we have traveled to Utica instead, so this was a nice change. Christmas eve was spent with the gracious hosts Gary & Greg, where we were treated to a truly delicious traditional Polish holiday dinner. Ahh - and all meatless too! I can still taste it (my mouth is beginning to water!). Christmas day was very nice. We woke up and found that Santa had brought all kinds of gifts for Lanie (and a few for daddy and me too), and had a great time watching her open them all. Later in the afternoon, we traveled to Buffalo to spend the rest of the day and evening with Dad & Paula, Shawna, Garret and the kids. It gets a little wild and crazy at gift opening time there, but after that calmed down, all was well, and we had a wonderful (meatless!!!) lasagna. I was in meatless heaven this year! A few days after Christmas, we went to Shirley's to celebrate again, and watched Lanie open gifts that Santa had left for her there. Santa also left a mini-keg system for daddy, which made him very happy, and mommy was very happy that he left her a beautiful necklace and a super-fabulous Kate Spade handbag as well ;-)


Aunt Barb & Uncle Chris - if you read this - Lanie would like to thank you for her singing reindeer - I think it will take until next Christmas for me to get that song out of my head ;-) It is pretty cute though!

A few days later, Phil and Linda came for a visit as they have in past years. We really enjoyed having them here as we always do. The only bad part about them coming to visit is that they eventually (usually too soon) have to go home! Lanie is still asking if they are here when she gets up in the morning. She had the time of her life talking their ears off from the moment they arrived until the moment we brought them back to the airport. We were all sad to see them leave, but that just means that we get to start looking forward to seeing them again on our yearly pilgrimage to the Soo.

New Years Eve was a delight. It was so wonderful to have Dad & Paula come to Rochester again to spend much of the evening with us. I hope we can make a tradition out of it! We also had our friends Bill and Sarah come over, as well as our old pal Ricky, who I have not seen in some time since he now lives in Georgia. We all had a few drinks, great conversation, and very tasty crabcakes, eggplant parm, and some not-so-exciting fondue (I was a fondue first-timer, that may be my last time making it as well ;-) ). Lanie had fun convincing Poppa and Phil to get down on the floor and squish ants with her (we seem to have some of those little critters who wanted to come in from the cold...)


Just a New Year's aside - does anyone else out there think that Carson Daly looks just like a young Dick Clark? Hmmmmmmm......


I am certain that I have omitted, skipped, or forgotten many of the details of the whole holiday break, but all in all, it was wonderful to spend time with everyone. As Lanie would say, quoting the Wonder Pets, Christmas "isn't about getting gifts, its about being together and helping others". Well said, Lanie and the Wonder Pets!

Cheers!