Thursday, January 01, 2009

New Year's Eve

My last day of 2008 was very enjoyable.

I took some photos, worked on my recipe blog, and made my new blog banner.

I got a gift for Lucas to take to a birthday party and dropped him off.

I returned something that I bought for a gift and ended up not needing.

I met Jill for a movie! You should know that I never go to matinées. Jill and I usually go to the movies together on her birthday and on my birthday, so this felt like a very special occasion. We saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and ate a lot of popcorn and peanut m&ms. (Neither of us had had breakfast or lunch, so Jill said it was a good thing she had brought along the meal-replacement candy!) The movie was very enjoyable, and just fascinating, but ended up being more sad than either one of us had bargained for.

It was a good thing that some employees came in to clean the theater, effectively kicking us out, or sobbing may have ensued. (teary-eyed self-portrait)

While I was gone, Marc put away almost all of the Christmas decorations! Double bonus!!


I made fondue, because it just seemed celebratory (we missed you, Timm & Jess). Cheese with parboiled potatoes, lightly steamed cauliflower, baby carrots, apple slices, and hunks of hearty bread.

Also chocolate, with bananas, apples, clementines, marshmallows, pretzels, and cubes of pound cake. It felt like a feast indeed.

Eva cracked us up by trying to remember what fondue was called, notably calling it "pond stew" on several occasions. She didn't actually eat any of the fondue, but she did enjoy stabbing the other things with her fondue fork and eating them that way. She also tried Meier's Cold Duck (I have decided once and for all that I cannot drink Martinelli's--I just do NOT like it, but Lucas was happy to consume what we received as gifts).

After Eva went to bed, Marc, Max, Lucas and I opened our new Ticket to Ride Europe and played an inaugural game (thumbs up). It's fun now that the boys are old enough to play games that we can enjoy as well. They went to bed after we rang in the new year and Lucas didn't get up this morning until almost 11:00!

In all, a thoroughly enjoyable New Year's Eve.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

We made chocolate fondue, too. Our favorite ended up being Amy's homemade peppermint marshmallows dipped in it -- to die for!

Eva's "Pond Stew" had me chuckling out loud. She is too funny.

I've wanted to see Benjamin Button -- I'm glad you included the sad warning so that I can be prepared with tissues. I'm glad you had such a good New Year's Eve. I hope the new year follows suit!

Denise said...

That fondue just looks too good--celebratory, indeed! The best thing to celebrate, however, is Marc putting the decos away. I still have that looming over my head.

How fun to go to a matinee with Jill. I especially like matinees because it seems like it should be nighttime when you're finished, but it's not, and you still have the entire evening to enjoy. We watched Ghost Town on DVD tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jill said...

Your pond stew looks so good! We really should do that for book club soon because that is a very rare treat in my world.

The movie was so good, and I'm so glad I saw it with you.

melanie said...

Oh the pond stew looks so good! I need a reason to fondue.

I would cheer out loud if I came home to Christmas being cleaned up. It's such a dreaded job.

I can't wait until our kids can play games like that. It wont be soon enough to be done with Guess Who and Candyland!

Amy said...

We played Settlers of Catan for the first time on New Year's Eve. What a fun way to spend an evening! I can't wait until my kids are old enough for fun games!

patsy said...

Pond stew-- so funny!

very festive night!!
I can't believe you don't like martinelli's? I love it & summer on my way to cheer practice I would stop & get a small bottle. months later the other girls asked me why, if I was a mormon did I drink a beer every morning...? Haa I thought that was so crazy funny. I obviously didn't grow up in ut

patsy said...

I meant to say "one summer a long when I was a teen" -
i'm still getting used to this keyboard on my laptop-

Barb said...

Happy New Year! Fondue is very festive - perfect for the occasion.

Amanda :-) said...

*helloooo!*
I've just read through loads of your entries and your Christmas sounds heavenly. I can't get over your cutlery gift - how gorgeous is that??! 'Flatware' - we don't say that in the UK :-)

I'm also really glad you're doing a recipe blog (although I wonder how on earth you find the time to do all you do so far!). That spinach, raspberry and macadamia salad looks and sounds fabulous. Never, in all my days, would I have had the imagination or the bravery to put those 3 things together - and yet, because you have, I feel it's entirely genius! Happy New Year, Michelle! xx

Anonymous said...

Wow, I wanna come to your house to eat! :-)

Anonymous said...

I can't stand Martinelli's! I thought I was the only one.

Such a delightful day Michelle. I love going to Matinee's and it is a rare treat. Your fondue looks wonderful, both courses. We usually only do chocolate, I really need to do a cheese one again. It is sooo good.

We play Ticket to Ride here as well, it is a fun fast game.

Robyn said...

The fondue looks fantastic. Do your kids know how lucky they are to have a Mom (and Grandma) who is such a great cook?! Seriously. Is that the Cuisinart fondue set? I've been trying to decide which one to get.

I really want to see Benjamin Button. Looks so good. Popcorn and M&Ms don't hurt either.

Susan said...

Wow! What a day (and night).

And Marc putting away the Christmas decos is the sweetest of all!!

The pond stew looks like I should give it a try.

Happy New Year to all!

carlo said...

yum on many levels-- pond stew and cheese, too!

marc put away decorations? awesome.

board games? fun!

a movie with jill? and an sp with tears to boot? wow

and the lovely miss eva pic. too cute

amy gretchen said...

I really want to see that movie as well, but I'm afraid of being a blubbering mess. Of course I'm willing to risk it for Brad Pitt.

I love fondue. You must share your recipes on your blog.

Amanda said...

We had fondue for Christmas Eve and loved it. Well, most of us anyway.

That new game sounds interesting...maybe I'll look it up.

Love your teary SP...I'm in need of a good cry, and Terry and I are in need of a date so I'll make that movie my suggestion.

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