Long Weekends

Somehow long weekends are all but long enough when it comes down to how well rested you are going into the next week. Typically a long weekend means some sort of plans that happen to be a little more involved, have you a little more active, and leave you needing that extra day just to get back to base line.

Point and case - I woke up at 1 pm today. Sure it was after going to bed after 4 in which case thats only 9 hours, but if this had not been a long weekend, that kind of thing would not have happened.

Ultimately, the lesson I learned this time around was - no parties on your bonus day. What should have been a day of lounging and resting up for the return to work was spend at my Uncle's house for our family 4th of July party. By the time I got home I had about 2 hours until I wanted to be in bed. Note to future self: Take your extra day off and spend it on the couch!

(Here is the pillow case I kept referring to in my GO! blogs. I think it's pretty darn good)

Easter

Easter is great because its another holiday where our whole family can get together.

And, of course, be endlessly entertained by the new additions.

The Rain Won't Stop Us

And it didn't. Today was a great day, after a great weekend. When I woke up today I didn't think I had enough energy in me to get through the day. Last night's party was a lot of work. It is not easy to have a 25 person party in your apartment - the organizing and prep work, cooking ,etc. Luckily everyone was awesome. I had a lot of help from Claire (especially as the party wrapped up.)

When all was said and done things could not have gone better. We had so much extra food and for an apartment that has been ordering/buying every meal out of having no time to go food shopping - that's nice. Having 10 of your best friends dancing around your room with christmas music playing - everyone doing their best charlie brown moves and such is just amazing. Ill have some pictures soon.

Today we had our gift exchange and I was really impressed at how creative, thoughtful, or interesting the gifts were. Headed into the city while some friends and my roommates lunched on some of the left overs. Met up with my sisters and grabbed food at Max Brenners. If you have not been there - you should change that. Order everything.

Made it Rockefeller with them and Alex and took some pictures with the tree despite the rain. Also, a brave male proposed on the ice. He must really have had a good feeling about that one to subject his future wife to the cold rain for it. There must have been a good inch or more of water on the ice that he knelt in, too. It was great - everyone watching cheered. What it must feel like to get engaged in that setting or any where you have a slew of people applauding/cheering for you.

We finally headed home on the 7 pm bus following the eagles game via gamecast, car radio, and then tv when I got home.

Tomorrow is my dad's birthday. He turns 51. This is why i am home. It is also why, in a few hours I am waking up to make him pancakes. He doesn't know this. Nor did he know I was coming home tonight. If you know me, you know I like surprises/big gestures. So I sneak home, show up - and make him an actual meal to eat before he heads to work on his birthday before most of the world is even awake.

Night everyone.

don't first-of-all me!

holiday party = awesome.

more tomorrow.

Preparations

Tomorrow is the Holiday Party!
Oh you don't know what I'm talking about? Um...of course you are invited...

Anyway - my contribution to the party (food wise) is two trays of baked ziti. I have never made this before and so I have no idea if my very brief 5 line ingredients/directions from my mom were sufficient. I boiled and prepped everytihng tonight. Tomorrow they go in the oven and bam - verdict. Let's hope no one gets sick or anything from them - that'll be my gauge for whether or not it went well. (yikes!)

Day-care was alright today. Had a few kids I was watching in the blocks-center get upset with eachother and start crying (one literally laid down and started banging and kicking) But the day ended with another kid, one of my favorites (yeah i have favorites, so what), not laying down to take his name until I gave him a hug before I left for the day. Was truly awesome. Hope I can work out my schedule to get a lot of time there next semester.