Good Morning, 2015!

Beth At Repose

The Grands

Le Abode

I am greeting the New Year's morning alone once again as all are still in bed though only the boys stayed up past midnight, the rest of us a bunch of sissies.  It looks like a day of football games I could care less about, so we are definitely going to have to get out of the house, perhaps walk the beach, something fun rather than sitting around watching TV.  Beth is volunteering at the hospital this morning, thinking few others would be around to offer reiki, a form of massage.  She's been volunteering for a couple of months now and enjoys helping.

Mitch

Yesterday was spent getting ready for our New Year's Eve dinner, with a couple of more trips to the store for forgotten items, then lots of prepping going on and off during the day.  We got up in phases, the adults around 9:00, Marisa at 9:30, the boys around 11:00.  How nice it would be to sleep in that late.  Evie was still not feeling well so she slept in as well.  We lounged around in the morning, sipping coffee, each one of us making whatever we wanted for breakfast.  When you get up this late, you are on your own.  I took Cody for a walk, and he loved it as did I, the air crisp and fresh, the day sunny, sky blue.  When I returned, Marisa was up and already making Rolo pretzels topped with an M&M, her favorite snack,

Marisa With Rolo Pretzels

Mid afternoon, Ramiro got out the prime rib, and we started prepping it for the grill, pressing an herb mixture on the surface.  We figured a twelve pounder would take two to three hours, so we browned it first on the grill, then cooked indirectly until about 5:45.  While it roasted, we sat around sipping wine, enjoying one of our favorite cheeses, a type of brie called Affinois.  And I took Cody for another walk, just to get some fresh air, and convince myself I had some energy.  Marisa usually goes with me but she had a lazy day, never getting out of her PJ's, the sweet life of a tween. Mid afternoon, Evie was starting to feel much better, played games with Marisa, so she was able to help out in the kitchen and enjoy the afternoon and evening,

Playing Cards With Her Granny

Once the roast was nearly done, Beth started getting the popovers ready to 'pop' in the oven, Evie and Mitch peeled, cut and mashed the potatoes, and roasted the asparagus.  To complicate matters, however, Tyler had the bright idea around 4:30 to make a crepe cake from a recipe he had found on line.  He spent a good hour and a half making the crepe batter, then individual crepes, and the cream filling for between each layer of the cake.  So not only were Evie and Beth working in the kitchen, but so was Tyler and his friend Brian, who were putting the cake together.  Add the dog Cody, and Rami and me walking in and out, and we were pretty near chaos in the kitchen.

A Resting Prime Rib

Tyler's Crepe Cake With Salted Carmel Sauce

But all's well that ends well as dinner was amazing, the prime rib done to perfection, the popovers 'popped,' the sides delicious.  Add a great red wine, the grandchildren, and we had a 'tres bon repast.' We quickly got the dishes done so we could play another card game, Telefunky, which lasted until about 11:00, with Mitch and me winning.

Family and Friends

After the game, Marisa , Beth, and Evie went up to bed, and the guys watched a movie, Now You See Me till after midnight, then Rami and I went to bed, and Tyler and his friend Brian stayed up playing video games.  A quiet New Year's Eve, the kind we like and have come to expect, no wild partying us.

Baba Enjoying Family

Marisa just got up, said she was not feeling well, so we took her temperature, 101.5   So, as Evie feels better, Marisa feels worst though she remains spunky as ever.