Dinner at Las Tablas with Limey and Danielle

Liam, Quinn, Makai, Dallas, Biran, Trent, Fitz, Conor, Todd, Jill, Danielle, Limey, Me, Jen, Jamie

Dallas, Biran, Trent, Fitz, Conor, Danielle, Limey

Liam, Quinn, Makai

Liam, Quinn, Makai, Dallas

Limey was still in town from Singapore and Danielle in from Korea, so we met up with a bunch of the kids for dinner at Las Tablas. Fun to see everyone. Trent also came in from Kentucky! The food at Las Tablas was decent but the service was not good. Maybe because we were such a large group!

New Years Eve 2017

 In the past 12 years there is only one year that we didn’t spend at least part of New Years Eve at Jen and Chad’s house. This year, like last year, Makai stayed awake until midnight and even later. He had so much fun running around with all the kids and eating snacks and “partying.” I barely even saw Makai the whole night. This year was special because Herm and Tebbe were in town to celebrate with us! I miss them a lot, but am glad that they get to visit on a pretty regular basis!

Jen and Chad hired babysitters, like other years, and this year they also had two bartenders. It seemed unnecessary at first, but by the end of the night I was ready to kick in for babysitters and bartenders every year!

Halle helped her dad put his protective gear on so he could go in the backyard and act foolish while he popped the corks on the champagne.

At midnight Makai got ready with his sparkling apple juice. He took an early sip, though, and did not like it at all!

Midnight kisses.

And hugs!

Somewhere nearing 1 a.m. we had to drag this bleary-eyed, video-game-playing kid out of the house and home.

How fun to spend the new year with many old friends.

PS. If you were wondering, Dallas did wear The New Years Eve sweater!

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::


2017
nye2016
2016
nye2015
2015
nye2014
2014
nye2013
2013
nye2011
2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

New Years Eve 2016

fullsizerender-31
This is the 11th year that we’ve gone to Jen and Chad’s house for New Years Eve. This year we celebrated in Jen and Chad’s new home, still in Roscoe Village. Makai made it all the way through midnight before he totally started crashing! Jen and Chad hired two babysitters who wrangled all the kids in the lower level and in Quinn’s room, much to Quinn’s dismay. All of the adults enjoyed cocktails and an enormous spread of food. I barely even saw Makai the whole night because he was having so much fun playing with the other kids. Jill brought some coquito that her coworker made, making this the second time this season that I’ve had this delicious Puerto Rican coconut eggnog. The first time I ever had it was at our office secret santa. So delicious! I really did not drink too much, though. I think two drinks all night. The effects of Wednesday were still too fresh in my mind. How fun to spend the new year with many old friends and several new ones.

fullsizerender-30fullsizerender-29Speaking of Wednesday, this was the last time we’ll see Trent, Loden, Ellyza and Sydney for a while. They are moving to Louisville in a few days. Trent and Loden brought over any booze they hand hanging around and didn’t want to move, including this giant bottle of champagne, which was almost as big as Sydney! I thought they’d never get to the end of it, but it was before 10 p.m.

fullsizerender-28fullsizerender-32Just before midnight Brian and Chad headed outside. Brian stood in the yard, wearing safety glasses, in front of the garage and Chad stood on the deck, shook up the champagne we’d be drinking at our midnight toast, and shot the corks at Brian. Kids, don’t try this at home.

Just before midnight we also enjoyed watching the Mariah Carey screw up performance three times in a row!

img_1416-1At midnight we had a family kiss to ring in the new year. As always, Dallas wore his same NYE sweater that he always wears.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

nye2016
2016
nye2015
2015
nye2014
2014
nye2013
2013
nye2011
2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

New Years Eve 2014

countdowntonoon

This year’s New Years Eve looked very different than previous years, as you can see. Makai’s daycare had the popular children’s performer, Mary Macaroni, in to perform and do a countdown to the new year at noon. Then the kids were all released early.

nye2014

Later on we went to Jen and Chad’s house and stuck it out as long as Makai could make it (until about 9:30 p.m.). Maybe next year he’ll make it longer (or we’ll get a babysitter). This was the 9th year we’ve spent New Years Eve at Jen and Chad’s house!

nye2013
2013
nye2011
2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Retro on Roscoe


Cousins! Halle & Quinn


Halle, Brian, and Jill


Ed giving Quinn a drink (that he doesn’t want)!


Bridget, Maggie, Conor and Liam trying not to fall off the hammock.


Rory, Jill & Halle


Halle said, “Rory is cute!” She was having a great time playing with him.


Conor didn’t want to smile. He was busy eating his pineapple!


Cousin playing beer pong …..


…. and sinking it in Chad’s cup, to his astonishment!

This is at least the 6th year that I have gone to the Retro on Roscoe street festival. Chad and Jen had their annual party and we came and went from the festival. Dallas and I were more than a little bit tired from the Crosby’s opening the night before, so we were way more chill than previous years. We still had a great time, though. Like other years, there was a lot of beer pong being played in the garage. I played 2 games, but not very well. At the fest, there were a lot of 80s cover bands playing. One crazy thing this year is that Roscoe Village Neighbors association is now asking $10 per person to get in. It all goes to a good cause, the schools and improving the neighborhood, but wow, that’s double what other street fests charge. At about 8:30 I was so done! I went home and couldn’t even watch one TV show without falling asleep. Long day! (And long night the night before!)

Previous visits to Retro on Roscoe:
2011
2010
2008
2007
2004

Jen & Chad’s Annual Retro on Roscoe Party

Every year Jen and Chad have a party the weekend of Retro on Roscoe. Because they live so close to Roscoe Street, people come and go from the party to the fest and back all day long. Here’s what was different about this year’s party compared to parties of years past:

In years past the party has gotten rowdy at night and Jen’s had to kick people out in the early morning hours. This year there was a huge abundance of babies and most people left when 1) their baby had a meltdown or 2) it was their baby’s bed time. I think I counted 10 or 11 strollers in the garage at one point! I guess everyone is getting older!

Quinn got his face painted at Retro on Roscoe.

Somehow the paint stayed on all day even when he was running around like crazy playing with all the kids.

Lila is Quinn’s buddy. They see each other every day and yet, they were still excited to see each other on a Saturday!

Conor and Liam are Jamie and Fitz’s kids.

Ava and Lila are Eric and Caryn’s kids. Eric was our realtor when we bought our condo.

All the kids loved climbing in the climbing tower.

I felt kind of bad for Halle. A lot of the kids at the party were between 2 and 4 years old (I’m guessing) and were running around everywhere and Halle was left on her mom’s lap to just watch. She seemed like she really wanted to get in on the action.

Dallas had Ava and Grace really thinking he was going to drink all of the juice boxes. All 20 of them. They were really upset (not really in a bad way) and were yelling “NOOOOOO, you can’t!” and, of course, that just made Dallas tease them more. Ava warned Dallas that if he drank all the juice boxes he’d get a tumm yache but he said he was still going to. As soon as Dallas walked away all the kids were drinking juice boxes. I guess they thought they better get them while they could, just in case Dallas did drink them all.

As for the adults, our games stayed mostly the same. We drank a ton of beers, and played a lot of beer pong and urban horseshoes, a.k.a. washers.

It wasn’t just kids making special appearances this year. Ed’s dad was visiting from Detroit and Chad’s aunt and cousin were in from Pennsylvania. It was nice to see so much of everyone’s family. We hung out all afternoon and then later on Dallas and I walked through the fest. We went too late. It was so packed. Usually earlier in the day it’s less busy. But Dallas got his annual Polish plate that he loves and I got a chicken pita. Fun day, fun party. I’m sure we’ll do it again next year!