New Year's Eve Day/Night in Darien

Just got back from a walk with Cody and Beth has the croissants out and ready to eat and all are up except for Jill and Hayden.  I was the first up at 6:30, followed by Mitch, Drew, and Rami.  Then, Beth and Evie and Marisa and Halle, then Beth, the usual line up I think.  It's going to be a busy day, full of lots of preparation for tonight, playing with the grandkids, football, basketball, most likely a movie, lots of food, like a sushi lunch, a tenderloin dinner, so it looks like a good day ahead of us.  Also, it's pretty out, clear skies, a bit warmer, perhaps high in the 40's, so hopefully we can get everyone outside for a bit.  I am now surrounded by the girls, intent on devouring their croissants, so all is good.

Tyler and I had left over noodles and eggs for breakfast, my favorite, and the rest had croissants from William and Sonoma.  We are all alternating taking showers and Evie and Beth are working on dinner.  The girls are upstairs playing in Marisa's bedroom, something they seem to be able to do for hours without interruption.  They really get along well, which is fun to see and after their initial shyness, they are now good buddies.  It's amazing how kids can play for hours in their imagination, happy to be in the world of their minds, with a little help from the toys/animals/little creatures.

It's almost 4:00 and it feels like we just had dinner, as we sit around in Beth's sun room, after sushi, cheese and crackers, and dumplings steamed in collard greens.  After eating and we exchanged gifts with the Albarrans and Hayden and Jill.  Lots of good things for everyone and the kids all seemed happy with their choices.  Halle got an entire set up reading books from Beth and has been at them every since.  Hayden can't put down her book, either, and Marisa and Evie are working on various projects.  Not any interesting football on, though it seems like it has to be the background for a New Year's Eve day.  We need to get our energy and appetites back for the great dinner we'll  be having later.  Right now, all I want to do is go take another nap.  I think I need to go outside and take a walk to wake up.

The kids did play out in the snow for about an hour earlier in the day, with Drew and Evie, throwing snowballs, building a fort, and sledding.  The snow is pretty good for packing, and it's warm enough to really be out with a light jacket.  We are trying to decide if the kids should stay up till midnight.  I will leave it up to the parents.

Sitting at the kitchen table, watching Beth, Evie, and Jill  get thing ready; the boys are playing Wie, the girls have finished watching the movie Flipped, one we watched with Tommy in KC, and they loved it.  Now they are upstairs playing, waiting for their dinner.  It's been a good day of family together, everyone enjoying each other but also doing their own thing, the guys football, the girls talking and cooking, the little girls playing upstairs, the boys playing games.  The good life.