ringing in the new year

 (and the blog is now making its way into 2012...please pardon our delay...)
 
our Christmas celebrations rolled right into our new year's festivities...literally.  there was only about an 8 hour break in between :)

a welcomed addition to the new year's weekend was a visit from my sweet college friend, caitlin.  we missed her hubby, rob, but enjoyed a couple of days with a first-time visitor.  we realized during her visit that she is actually the first of my college friends to visit us in texas, at least for an overnight stay.  since most of lee's friends still live within a short driving distance, we see them often, but my friends have been kept away due to time and distance (caitlin and rob now live in fort worth).  we hit the most important stops in houston during our one full day with her:  le peep for breakfast, rice village, the japanese garden, crave cupcakes, the galleria, the waterwall, and pappa's burgers.  thanks again for a fun visit, caitlin!

 during catilin's visit, katy and emily garrett stopped in for a place to stay before going on to the a&m bowl game with the rest of the garrett family.  emily was so great with brendan that she even chose to sleep in the twin bed in his room and never even heard him wake up during the night!

oh, i can't forget that as caitlin was leaving for fort worth, and we were leaving for the ottinger house, caitlin's car would not start so she had to buy a new one.  thankfully, lee got it installed and we were all on our merry way after an unfortunate delay.

at the ottinger house, we watched the kids play together, ate yummy food, and watched football until it was time to welcome in the new year.  sadly, we had to put away the Christmas decorations when we got home and get ready for work to start back after a long, lovely break.

we did not really set resolutions but do hope this year can be a year that we be more proactive in seeking God's will and digging into His word regularly and better well-managed in our time at home in the evenings.  plus, we love being brendan's parents and cannot wait to see how he grows and learns in 2012.