Happy New Year!

I decided to show a little restraint and not post a bajillion photos so if you want to see anymore you can go here:


http://theprozacfamilyrobinson.blogspot.com/


We all had A LOT of fun and it was good to see everyone again. Daniel is still highly amused with the pooping polar bear. He won't share any of the brown jelly bellys!

2007: This is How We Do!

Wowee - I still haven't recovered from our New Year's festivities, which included a New Year's Eve party and the New Year's Day "Fiestamas." No, this is not because I drank too much (although there were a few people who can't say the same - you know who you are!). It helped that on Christmas I had the day after off. No such luck with New Year's Day - straight back to work! The hutch in the kitchen is still loaded with gear from the parties. I should put it away...or maybe since it's so convenient I should just have another party ; )

Charles, Suzanne and Caitlin came down from TN. I really enjoyed their visit, and it was nice to have Charles around for a change. He and Brian's dad hit it off and sat on the couch talking about motorcycles and drinking Bud for most of New Year's Eve. Oh, well - except for when Brian's dad (who is also Brian, but not Brian Sr.!) found out I had three-week-old margaritas in the fridge and was glad to help use them up!

Suzanne brought some good fireworks from TN - the kind we can't get here in GA. There were a couple of cool ones, like a huge $15 thing that sent arcs of exploding color into the air...once we finally got it lit (it got damp, so that was quite a challenge). Unfortunately, the neighbors once again showed us up with their display. They probably went to Alabama to buy it and spent $250. Grrrr...wait 'til next time! Charles says he knows how to pick out the good ones. We're just gonna have to pool our money so we can get the big guns.

I made Cosmopolitans on New Year's Eve, which went over well with everyone except those who had more than they should have. Or used them to wash down dark chocolate brownies. Or both. Ah, well, I guess that was almost everyone. Oops. I also made a couple of different kinds of fondue, including the traditional Swiss fondue. Mostly I made it because I had never made the thing that started the whole fondue craze. Once was enough - it was kinda stinky. The Mexican bean-chile fondue recipe is yummy, but next time I decide to serve more than one kind of fondue I'll go for the popular Not-Yo-Cheeze and make the additional one with Velveeta and salsa!

New Year's Day grub was muy delicioso, thanks to Brian's fantastic fajitas. When I found out Lisa & the gang couldn't come, and that Suzanne & Co. were pulling out in the morning, I scaled back, cutting out the Chicken Tortilla Soup. As it turns out that was not a good thing. There were still something like 10 people and we plowed through those fajitas like Sherman through Atlanta. I made a pitcher of margaritas and we drained that, too. I made Sopapillas for the first time, and they were easy and delicious. Everyone loved them except for the fact that I hovered in the kitchen while I was supposed to be helping my Cranium team. There were complaints about that but I didn't notice anyone protesting by not eating them.

Thanks to everyone that came (Brian, Amanda, Steve, Janet, Brian's dad Brian - ha - Christina, Michelle, Brandon, Caitlin, Suzanne, Charles, Angela, Chris, Ashley, Greg - am I forgetting anyone?) and hung out over the holidays. Y'all made it really fun and many of you helped with the load as well (Manda - food/drink, Janet, Angela, Christina - dishes, Brandon - sopapillas, Brandon & Michelle - bottle rocket cleanup, Chris & Ashley - game masters, Greg - last-minute chips, Steve, Charles, Brandon, Chris, Ashley - pyrotechnics, Brian - pretty much everything from home repair to dishes to cooking and serving). Sara and Grayson miss your company and the constant attention, and are looking forward to the next shindig. That will most likely be a Kenmore party. The date? As soon as I can replace my broken dishwasher!

Happy Halloween and Happy New Year

It is uncharacteristically quiet here this evening after a mercilessly eventful New Years eve so I am in a strange mood. My nephew’s family was the victim of a home invasion yesterday evening and to top that off he had to sit there quietly through it all while these scum (I have much better words for them but it’s not fit for polite society) held a gun to his 6 year old's head. I can not even begin to describe the outrage I have for putting them through this - especially a little kid. The little guy was scared to stay home last night, not that I blame him, so he stayed at our house for the night. It was utter chaos as all three little stinkers were running around like little wild animals half the night, but they helped us ring in the new year and shoot off our pitiful display of bottle rockets. Hey, if it helped short man forget the terror he went though for a few hours, I can deal with the extra noise.
Okay, I ran out of hot air to blow so instead of a resolution for me to break January 2nd, here’s some pictures (maybe I'll have my Christmas ones developed in time for the 4th of July) and my wish list for the new year:


Things That Should be Banned in '07
1. The word “crisis” should be banned from the lips of the entire media. Everything is a “crisis”. Can’t they come up with a new buzz word once in a while?
2. Those idiotic Bart Durham ads. I guess you have to live in Middle TN to “enjoy” these, but they are worse than the Maxi Price “Do the Maxi swing” commercials.
3. Rosie O’Donnell.
4. Paris Hilton
5. The ACLU
6. Talking on the phone in public restrooms. Believe me, their conversation is just not that important that I need to hear it while I wee. Neither does the person on the other end of the line.
7. Constant “storm watch” interruptions during CSI at the slightest drop of rain. Unless there is a blizzard, tornado or other similarly dangerous conditions I really don’t care.
8. Spinners and other any similarly tacky rims that cost more than the value of the vehicle.
9. Low rider jeans on anyone who has belly overhang. The same goes for baby doll Tees.
G-r-o-s-s!

Daniel's first Jack-O-Lantern - I think I have a Michelangelo in the making :)


Bedtime Care Bear and the Grim Reaper


Daniel and his Cousin Zack (yes those are underwear on their heads but at least they are clean!)