Happy 2006

Another lovely weekend celebrating with friends. I had to work on Friday and it seemed as if I'd be on the go all weekend. After work, I had to rush home to change and then go out to pick up some pork skewers for Saturday's party. We headed to Austin & Linda's New Year's Eve Eve (and housewarming) party where William, Mike, John and I actually branched out of our normal little group to mingle with some new people. Weird, huh? Austin & LL's house is out there in lovely Potomac and we're so happy they've found one another and their little haven.

Saturday was very busy from the moment we got up. We headed out to get some last minute party items, had lunch at John's favorite chicken sandwich place (Chick-Fil-A) and then off to Leonardtown. Once there, we unloaded the car, turned on the heat and hot water, dropped a load of sheets in the washer for our guests and headed out to my favorite southern MD yarn store, Crazy for Ewe.

In early November, I bought some lovely Peruvian Alpaca yarn, but didn't buy the correct colorway. I tried to exchange it Thanksgiving weekend, but I didn't know they were closed on Sundays. Luckily, we were down there this weekend, as I only had a few more days left before the 60 day exchange policy expired. I also ended up buying some really pretty green mohair yarn. John picked the color. I was eyeballing the red-orange blend, but he picked one that matches our couch. LOL.

I quickly left the store before doing any more damage. Kara N's X-mas gift certificate helped with the purchase ( Thanks Kara!) but I certainly could have spent a lot more $$$ in the shop. It was off to the grocery store for me and to the hardware store for John to fill the propane tank for the grill.

We had a very low key New Year's Eve party that included Mike, Sean & Val, Joe B, Joey L & Michelle, William and Freddy. Nate and Linda had other plans for the weekend and we're sad they couldn't make it. Joe B brought his dog, Sam, Freddy brought Molly and and Joey L brought Mac down. Unfortunately, Molly didn't take to young cutie, Mackie, and tried to bite his face off. We're trying to figure out why she couldn't bring herself to love a sweet dog like Mac, but she did get on with long-time pal, Sammy.

We learned that Joey and Michelle finally made it official and got engaged. William had been circulating this rumor for months, but it finally happened. Congrats, Joe and Michelle! They're planning a September 2006 wedding.


Newly engaged Joey and Michelle

So, the festivities at the beach cottage included lots of football watching and charades. Oh... and Freddy, Val and William played "Hide and Seek". We must have eaten a lot throughout the day, as the couch collapsed and Johnny had to fix it. My husband is a genius when it comes to power tools!


Johnny fixes the couch

New Year's came pretty quickly... and I was ready. It was a very long day of party prep and fun.


Best buds Freddy and Mike sing "Auld Lang Syne"


Val and Sean congratulate Mike on the NY Giants' win...

It was a really wonderful New Year's celebration... my first New Year's as a married chick. Who'd a thunk it? So much happened in 2005... here are some of the major events:

1. I saw the safe return of my family (first my bro and his family, then my parents, then my aunts) from Thailand
2. We had the tragic losses of John's dad and Diane's mom in the spring
3. I lost my job at ATS in May and saw my friends lose their jobs at CTM later in the summer
4. We traveled to Dallas for Heidi's birthday, where I also got to see DE buddy, Chris
5. John and I got engaged Memorial Day weekend and were married a month later
6. I found a new job at DCVS working with Kara, Denis, Christine and Khayyam (former ATS colleagues)
7. A big party/picnic thrown by the GO7 to celebrate our marriage
8. We had a Thai Wedding (blessing) ceremony (our 4th celebration?)
9. We traveled to Las Vegas and enjoyed a short but fun vacation with friends
10. We celebrated Thanksgiving three times (with Jim's family, with the B clan and with friends at the beach cottage)
11. John and I hosted Christmas Day with our families and friends

When John and I returned from Leonardtown yesterday evening, we went to see "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". It was packed full of action! I hadn't re-read the book before seeing the movie and didn't remember the storyline (except for the Wizarding Tournament). I may have to read the book again to see how the movie differs, as John didn't remember being introduced to Cedric Diggory so early in the movie

Today, was a laundry and lazing around the house day. I finally completed Diane's Christmas gift (a blue scarf) and it's ready for blocking. I'm working on Jim's other sock, which was his birthday gift. I promised John I wouldn't start a new project (with the yarn he picked out) until the scarf and sock were completed. And then there's the three other scarves on needles and a "sock" for my iPod. No rush on those, as I don't have any intended recipients for the scarves.

Hope everyone had a wonderful (and safe!!!) New Year's and I leave you with this photo of Sean pulling an infamous Freddy move (get the kids out of the room first!). Poor Val didn't know what happened until after this was snapped...

... and so ends 2005!!!