Happy Thoughts

Christmas rocks. I spent last week in PA with Brynna bear (and eventually Matt, who took the train down Christmas Eve) and the fam. After a day or 2 of adjusting to each other (lots of independent women, you KNOW there were a few *ahem* kinks.) we had a blast.

First we went to my Aunt Barb's 70th in MD, which was a fantastic reunion of all the Fowlers. Her kids (my cousins) put together a book reminiscing about childhood stories. It was great, except that it made me cry within the first 2 pages. I wish Uncle Rich could have been there... I guess everyone wished that... but I like to think that he and Grandmom were there in spirit.

I then spent the next few days at home chilling with the parents, their seminarians (they adopt 2 for Christmas every year while the Seminary closes for the holiday), and visiting Amy and Lisa and Julie. I also made lots of tasty rumballs to give away as gifts, but (silly me) didn't put them away soon enough and they all got eaten. Note about rumballs - they are POTENT the first day, but fabulous after they sit out for a day and some of the rum evaporates...

Christmas eve followed the usual pattern - big seafood dinner, read the Christmas story (Mom and Dad totally monopolized it!), read "Twas the Night Before Christmas", parade around with candles, go to Church, put kids to bed, get drunk in the hot tub... Christmas day involved lots of loud noises and too many presents. :) Just the way I like it. Then Friday we took the train from Philly to Hartford and spent the weekend with Matt's family. Where it was refreshingly not full of loud noises. :) And now we're home, getting ready for the mother of all NYE parties at our place. Details about that are a blog all of their own...

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