'Tis So Sweet: RINGING in the New Year!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

So "What [were] you doing New Year's...New Year's Eve?" I always start singing that song when New Year's comes around. What were you doing? Me? Oh...I was with my family. In JACKSONVILLE, FL! Yes, we traveled about 10 hours to be at the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day. We left Thursday morning around 6, so we could play and not be so rushed for New Year's. Rhonda, Kristin, and Lee met us at the hotel and we ate a bite....wearing maroon everywhere we went!

Daddy, Mama, and Rhonda

Me, Russ, Lee and Kristin

I loved this trip! Every bit of it. In fact, I could've stayed an extra day or two just to shop. The outdoor mall was HUGE and had amazing stores all in one spot! It also had a heavenly spot right in the center! Cheesecake Factory! We slept in Friday morning and played around in the room. And, don't be deceived....us adults can still play! Ha! We ate a late lunch at Cheesecake Factory and were STUFFED! But, we all saved room for a phenomenal cheesecake!

Go ahead! Click to enlarge and look at all the cheesecake choices! I won't judge.

Lee, Kristin, and Rhonda

Mama, me, Russ, and Daddy

After stopping in a few stores and...yes, purchasing more maroon...we got back to the hotel just in time to get ready for our evening. A night with 4,000 other Bulldogs! With the exception of Dustin and Mary, who went to the Dawg Pound New Year's Eve Party, the family went to the Alumni New Year's Eve Party. We pulled in around 7 or so and saw a huge crowd of people waiting to get in. This was the place to be. Somehow, Daddy formed a completely new line so we ended up being the first people in this particular line. He'll never reveal his secrets of getting to the front of lines or finding good parking spots, I'm sure! Ha! We waited until they opened the gates at 8.

Me and my hubby on New Year's Eve

The guys in their new maroon sportcoats they got from Kristin and Lee for Christmas

Once we got in, Mama did what she does best...found a spot to save for the rest of us! Ha! There was music, dancing, a great view of the river perfect for fireworks later on, and lots of State fans fired up about a big game!

Kristin, me, Rhonda, and Mama

Happy New Year from Mama and Daddy!

The crowd downstairs by the dance floor. Mama's spot was on the balcony overseeing it all!

I was very excited for a couple of reasons. #1 - I got to spend the first moments of the new year watching fireworks on the river with my hubby in Jacksonville, FL with people all in love with MSU football! #2 - We got to spend the new year with some of my college friends. I was super excited about seeing my college roomie, Kelly and her her husband, Aaron! We go back a long way, and we can always pick right back up where we left off. I love this girl! In fact, I bawled my eyes out the night she got married and held a grudge against Aaron for taking her away...until his little incident in Iraq. Then, I forgave him. You're lucky you only have one leg, Aaron, or I might still be mad! Love you too!

Kelly and me

And her husband is not too bad either! But, if you've never hopped over to their blog...YOU MUST DO THAT! It is worth your time to read her hilarious posts. And that is just the way she is all the time! I miss her. Maybe, we should have a second apartment just for us to room together once in a while, Kelly!

Russ, me, Kelly, and Aaron

And, to my surprise, we ran into more college friends on the dance floor during the "Cha Cha Slide!" Thanks, Van Winkle, for teaching me that. I was cool for just a few minutes! Ha!

Kelly, me, Kristin, Marcee, and Catherine

Russ and I found food at some point, and we were SO happy! I talked Kelly into eating her first hot dog in 20+ years despite the nickname Aaron came up with for it. Hot dogs are yummy, aren't they Kelly? Ha! They were out of hamburgers, so she really didn't have a choice anyway.