Holiday Fun!

23rd: Isabeau is the next Motzart!

 I got a wonderful phone call on Tuesday to let me know that the infamous, the darling, the lovely Isabeau would be ALL OURS for a few days. Surprise half day at work and a scramble to Roxborough later, I was hanging out with the coolest 1.75 year old I know. She's talking a ton now, and I couldn't be happier, because she has some pretty great things to say. She's into mimicking a ton, which is wonderful in a lot of ways. I taught her how to play the piano, how to be "gentle" with the dogs, how to wash her hands, but I'm also thinking she may have picked up some vocab during her trip that my mom wasn't too happy about. I forget that you can't say fuck, shit, damn, and bitch around kids that act like a sponge. 

24th: Christmas Eve at the Smith house

Jakey made an AWESOME Christmas eve seven fish dinner for all ten of us. Fish is really hard to keep warm, so prepping and cooking 7 fish courses is always tricky, and he pulled it off beautifully. Then we had a fabulous time watching Isabeau rip everyone's presents open. Nice work babe! Thanks for dinner Jake! 

 

25th: Merry Christmas!

Sweet lord I hate airplanes, and I really hate cabs that smell of stale cigarettes and vanilla popourie, and the site of airports at 5 in the morning, but it was ALL worth it to fly into Salt Lake for a white Christmas. We were welcomed with stockings that I could rent out in rittenhouse, chock full of socks, candy, tea, and self help books. Not to mention fresh eggs benny and cut fruit. Delish!  

26th: Exercise is Bad

I gotta say, my first snowshoeing experience was alot of fun. For everyone that doesn't know what a snowshoe IS: it's those tennis racket looking things that you strap to your feet to walk over deep snow. During my ride up the canyon I was told that "Yes Emily, it's kinda like Jesus on water but on snow", but that was a HUGE LIE. Snowshoeing, while not as extreme as skiing, is not for the light hearted. It takes some serious stamina. Stamina that the sweetie and I have lost in the past few months...months largely consumed by wine and food consumption. We blamed the altitude for our "slow"shoeing, but I think we both knew that we needed to get back in shape! Pics to come! 

We also got the chance to go on a double date at Colton's restaurant where I fell in love with a beet salad. Oh. So. Good. Thanks!

27th: Ski lodge adventure 

The sweetie was hell bent on meeting up with his best friend in Salt Lake (ALTA and all things mountain), to strap on the fiberboard and throw himself off a cliff. While I was hell bent on sitting in the ski lodge, consuming mass amounts of alcohol, and reading the trashiest magazines that Salt Lake city had to offer (ironically the trashiest I found was O magazine: The color edition). He had a great time, but managed to pick up a flu like virus while in the mountains: further proof that skiing is BAD FOR YOU. Later that night we met up with some of his old friends for dinner. Wonderful day! 

 

28th: Delicious!!

We were lucky enough to have people cook for us all week, this night was no exception! My requests were met with delicious lasagna and garlic bread, followed by this amazing peppermint ice cream pie. Then I managed to convince my other half to go see The amazing adventures of Benjamin Button (something or another) and it was a good time. Brad Pitt is still hot. Even better on the big screen. And the movie was surprisingly funny. Not to mention it was the first time in years that the sweetie didn't fall asleep during a movie. Niiiice.

  

29th: Red Iguana & dinner with the old crew

One of THE best restaurants in Salt Lake is this little shack of a Mexican Joint called the Red Iguana, if you ever make it out west, make a stop, it'll be worth your time. However there is concern that they changed their chips. Could be a tragedy, however, in R.I. defense, the day that we stopped in a car barreled through the side wall of the restaurant, taking out a quarter of their dining room. Chips may have been at the end of their list.

Later that night we got to catch up with Cate and Kris, along with other old friends from Salt Lake. We had a great time drinking too much wine, eating too much mac and cheese, and telling stories that we should have taken to the grave. Cate I love you.  

30th: Brunch and pedicures with the girls

Continue amazing girl time with Cate. Add Kelly, add pedicures, equals fabulous morning with the girls. We grabbed buttery pastries, people magazine, an unnatural shade of pink, and went at it. Woooonderful time unwinding and shit talking.  

31st: movies with the Soelbergs, fly back to Philly!

Spent the greater part of the day saying goodbye to Shelby, Jon and baby Owen. Thanks for letting us stay, and putting up with us! After a few flicks on the couch, headed to the airport and back to Philly.

We were in an exit row on our way back, and we got an all too serious speech from our flight attendant about the responsibility we had in an exit row. I still don't think he was confident in my ability to pull the lever up, but I did my best not to yell back at him that if we did in fact crash we were ALL FUCKED. When he made his way back with the drink cart we ordered a Bacardi and coke and a double whiskey. That'll show him we're responsible!! 

 

1st: Happy 2009!

We barely made it in town to watch the ball drop, and I only wore my party dress for a hot second, and yes we ran in the new year while watching some ESPN special in Las Vegas, but we still shared fabulous champagne, and I still got a kiss, so I say it's a success! Happy new year darlings! 

2nd: Philly Fun

Fabulous surprise of the week? I drove past Nicki Tonor running in PHILA! Seriously? She lives in Boston. Very random, very wonderful. Headed to North Bowl to celebrate Regina's birthday (and Nicki being in town) only to find out that no,not only is Regina turning 25, but she's ENGAGED! Congrats!  

Phew! What a week, and updated so late!

And so long, oh so many details, I'm sorry, really..

Won't happen....ever....again...