Christmas time

The holiday season and summer go by so quickly -- both are packed with fun activities and gatherings to keep us busy and entertained.  We were in Vermont for Thanksgiving where we saw most of my dad's side of the family at my mom's house (even though they're divorced) and attended my 15-year high school reunion.  The car ride was long, but Doodle watched videos most of the way and my dad was in the back seat with them so Pancake was able to get her needs met without having to wait for Mr. D or I to turn around.  My reunion was strange, fun, surreal.  A lot of the men are heavier and balder than they were in high school.  Most of the women looked about the same or better than in 1995.  We ate mediocre food, participated in (and won) a trivia game about our class, drank a lot of vodka tonics, danced and caught up with a bunch of people, some of whom I wasn't close with in high school, but we got along well as adults.

The weekend after Thanksgiving we spent in Atlantic City with another family with whom we're close.  They have two girls the exact ages of our kids.  We each had suites so there was plenty of room for playing and drinking alike.  The kids swam in the pool, played air hockey and basketball in the game room, watched movies, ate pizza and ran around.  We also went to an underwhelming light show at the Tropicana and shopped at some of the outlets that were not there the last time I was (1996).

This weekend we got and decorated our tree, had good friends over for dinner and visited Mr. D's parents in New Jersey.  In the midst of all this we've been Christmas shopping, which I actually enjoy.  I've been busy, but we've been having a good time and spirits are high, even mine, which has been rare lately.