new years eve 2011

we headed to richmond with rebekah, joshua and bailey to ring in the new year with 3 other families!

we took them out to lunch at famous dave's. yum!

arrived at the fogarty's and none of us wasted any time picking up where we left off :-)

and i didn't get a picture of ali and i. but the hours we've spent at each other's kitchen islands or sitting on couches talking are some of the dearest memories for me. when i'm going to visit her, or she's coming to visit me, i look forward to that comfortable place with someone that knows me so well to just BE in. such a gift - her friendship!

the young's arrived (with NO kids- we were all a bit jealous!) and we went the girls went to the ayer's to help leah get things set up for dinner. leah kindly opened her home to us for dinner!

we headed back to the fogarty's to change and let the kids ring in the new year (we did it much earlier than midnight! :-))

ali and ej had filled balloons with smarties and proverbs. they popped them after we counted down!

and, of course, toasted each other!

we left a babysitter in charge and headed back to the ayer's house. cary and leah had transformed their living room into a gorgeous dining room!

they went all out with the meal! and we supplemented with some additions.

for the record, i drank the FIRST wine i actually liked! thanks for introducing me, ali! i feel like a grown up now :-)

YUM!!!

the photographers

it was a wonderful evening. a nice, slow dinner. we laughed. told funny stories. were serious. shared our hearts. we feel so blessed by these friendships.

peyton, ali, me and leah

happy new year!!!

it was a great little trip away.
so thankful to pat's parents for allowing us to get away with just half our kids!

had a bit of a cranky, messy evening upon arriving home - on everyone's parts - but we made it through with a nice, long lecture on the older kids disappointing behavior while we were away and an early bedtime :-) not a fun way to end a fun weekend, but real life!