Ringing in the New Year at Walmart

New Year's Eve I just had to get my house back in order and that meant taking out the Christmas tree and the couch we no longer needed.  This is the second used couch we have had out in this front yard and I have no doubt our neighbors are not fans.  But, the kids are!  Oh and that tree, yeah the couch is gone but the tree is still there - apparently Andrew's saving it for Cory so he can go burn it in the desert?  I don't know - boys will be boys, I suppose... even in their 30's.

Anyway.... a couple years ago a client of Andrew's gave him a one night hotel voucher out at the Embassy Suites in Valencia.  Yep, it took us two years to finally use it, on the night it expired.  My poor mom wanted a New Year's Eve party and instead, she got a grandma grandpa sleepover.  Yeah, I think she got a pretty awesome party :)

I dropped the kids off at their place about 4:30 and headed back home to finish cleaning up and to get myself ready.  Andrew got home from work shortly after and so off we went to dinner at Claim Jumper thanks to a Christmas gift card gift.  The wait was crazy so we took the two of us over to the bar and found a cozy seat by the fire right away.  Honestly, can you imagine what that would have been like with four kids in tow?  From there we had the option of catching a movie that started in about 5 minutes and I opted to go back to the hotel and hit up the jacuzzi.  It was so cold out that night and yet the jacuzzi was packed so we made our way to Walmart for snacks and games.  Again, here we are, 8pm or so and we're off to Walmart where we simply leapt out of the car and bolted into the warmth of Walmart.  We didn't want to leave; it was so easy and so relaxing to just wander.  I mean seriously, who knew what we were missing - there's actually quite a bit to look at there :)

Once we pried ourselves out of the store, simply because by now it was our bed time and I was seriously hitting a wall, the jacuzzi cleared out just enough for us to squeeze our way in there.  They closed at 10pm so we weren't out long but it was just enough to feel relaxed and to have some interesting conversation with the people in there.  But uh, by the way, they totally didn't bat an eye when it was discussed we have four kids - apparently we aren't aging too well :(

The evening ended with us pigging out in bed while watching What to Expect When Expecting.  For me, I think it was even more hilarious my second time watching it, or maybe it was just entertaining watching Andrew get a kick out of it, or maybe it was all the sugar from the crap we ate, or maybe it was the delirium from staying up to late, or maybe it was the freedom, or maybe it was just an overall good night.  And best part, it ended five minutes before the midnight ball drop because ladies and gentlemen I stayed up until midnight for the first time since I don't know when. 

 I am grateful for my husband and the fun we can have doing whatever - psh, even Walmart.  It's hard sometimes to remember that we can have fun together when you get so caught up in the day to day grind and you don't make the time to get away.  I know we need to for us and for our kids because I have no doubt they benefit from our relationship being stronger.  I'm grateful to my parents for always wanting to spend this time with the kids and for making it so easy to get away when we do.  I'm grateful for adorable and thoughtful friends that tried to get chocolate covered strawberries delivered to our room which, by the way, I was craving at Walmart but was too lazy to make it happen.  I'm grateful that despite the fact our car was acting up that night and the next morning, we were able to get back home and back to our kids because being reunited always feels good.  And I'm grateful for the yummy treats friends have introduced me to over the years because they made my New Year's Eve rather delicious.  Happy New Year all - here's the happiness... and world peace, of course :)