The Finale of 2006

Every year, I look forward to coming home for Christmas with great anticipation. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed, waking up to the sounds of your mom puttering around the kitchen (she loves to bang pots and pans loudly!), homeade cookies, and the lights of well decorated christmas tree. This year was no exception.

The first 15 days of December where a whirlwind of Christmas parties, dinners, and celebrations with friends. I went to four different balls, ice skated at the Tower of London, had a champagne lunch at Nobu, and generally finished the last of my days in London with a constant glass of wine in my hand. By the time my flight came to go home, I was very ready.

There, I spent my days in a lazy way, sleeping more at least 10 hours a night. Enjoying being in bed before 9pm, and being up with mom before she went to work everyday. It was a much needed rest. During my awake hours, I managed to eat more food in the few days at home than I had the entire rest of December. It was glutonous to the point where my stomach hurt every day - I had to keep reminding myself that just because there was blackberry pie, it did not mean that I needed to eat it for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner! The good news is that I also started running again after my break from the marathon. The runs I did with Paul and Jenn were just enough to keep from gaining too many rolls from eating too many rolls!

During my time at home, I also had two fantastic parties; a re-union of my Seattle friends over Mexican and martinis, and a night out at the Bigfoot, one of my hometown bars. At the Bigfoot, I celebrated with several dozen other Washougal alumni whom I have not seen in 10 or more years.

All, in all, very fun to see everyone from home, but as usual, there was not enough time. Already, I miss my brother. Mom. Jamie. Jenn. Renee. Mettie. The list continues. If only I could make London somehow closer.

Attached are a round of photos from the last month!

Enjoy.

Suzy