Happy New Year

Well, no football games for us to watch today... that's reserved for tomorrow when the Utes take on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl... Go Utes! We had a fun, but mellow night last night. Dan worked until mid-afternoon. We had dinner with Parley and Bona. It's a Belnap tradition that goes way back that they get bread from the "German store" and have deli meat sandwiches for New Years Eve dinner. After spending some time with them, we attended the "Battle Creek Neighborhood Party" at the church. They had activities that rotated every half hour. There was volleyball, indoor soccer, the "wink" game, square dancing, ballroom dancing, dancing-dancing, board games, a service activity, and of course, food. Miles lasted until around 9 p.m. when he fell asleep in my arms. I stayed at the party until 10:45 p.m. when I got tired of holding Miles so Dan took us home and went back to the party with the boys. They stayed until the end and brought in the New Years with balloons, horns, and general noise. Miles and I were at home peacefully sleeping!

Baby New Year made her annual visit. He brought Nolan the DVD Journey to the Center of the Earth. Jonathan got the last Calvin and Hobbes book he needed to have the complete set. Dan got pistachios (for the first time in many years they were less that $5 a pound). Miles got lucky... when Baby New Years stopped by at 6:30 this morning, she couldn't find Miles' planned gift... she improvised and grabbed a new rattle and declared it "good enough". A few hours ago, she found the intended gift- a play mat, so Miles got 2 things. Jonathan and Nolan also got a gift certificate for Fox Hollow golf course... 18-hole round of golf, cart rental, and a bucket of range balls. Baby New Year is a Madsen tradition that goes back to when my dad was a little boy. Baby New Year is analogous to Santa, but for our family is scaled way back. It's fun having our own family day of gift giving.

The rest of today's plans are to take it slow. Miles is taking nap #2. Nolan is playing with a friend. Jonathan is working on some "over winter break" homework. In theory we will head up to Sandy and go to Sweet Tomatoes and check out the RC Willey Clearance Center up there... hopefully they will have a couch that meets both mine and Dan's expectations... my expectation of looks and function, and Dan's expectation of price!