2011

Woah, really?  Yes, it really is.  It's 2011.  We've come a long way since we partied like it was 1999.  We had a really fun New Year's Eve, a big progressive party throughout the chateau and grounds.  We were stop two after a lovely champagne reception downstairs with the landlords, who have I mentioned are just wonderful people?  I  know I have but it's worth mentioning again.  Hard working, fun loving and very gracious hosts.  We had lots of French delicacies as appetizers (fois gras?  Pate?  A giant pig leg???) and of course, Champagne, from his friend's Champagnerie.  Have I mentioned the wine cellar below us here?  It's the real deal, built especially for wine way back in 1782.  For lots and lots of wine.  It's just beautiful.  Back to the party though, we were stop two, which was stop one for the kids.  Kids ages 5-17 so imagine the crowd we had to entertain!  The appetizers simply couldn't compete here (Tostitos dip chips anyone?) but a teenage boy did give my bacon figs a 9.5.  A true compliment but then again anything wrapped in bacon deserves nothing short of a 9.  The evening carried on to the grounds, where we had chocolate fondue, more champagne and a really nice little fireworks show.  It was a perfect ending to what was a really fun night, and in Matthew's own words, "...the best night of my life!"  It couldn't have been the chocolate fondue, chips and bottomless Fanta could it?

As fabulous as New Year's Eve was, I must say I loved New Year's Day even more.  Brian and I promised each other it would be a day of doing absolutely nothing with absolutely no guilt attached.  It was glorious.  I am fairly good at doing nothing but there is always guilt involved.  So, the first day of 2011 was spent watching four Christmas movies off and on, reading two issues of the fine literary publication, or what my friend Amanda refers to as "Mommy news"; People.  Cover to cover my friends!  I do realize now though that I am officially old or really removed from civilization as I once knew it because I didn't know the majority of people in People.  I think there was a mention of Matt Damon and of course the mandatory spread of Brangelina and their brood (I now know why Shiloh is always dressed like a boy.  According to Mama Angie, Shiloh loves everything boy.  Good to know.  Who cares, but actually I kind of did.)  What else...I read some of my book, put a few dishes in the dishwasher and pulled out leftover appetizers to feed the family.  No guilt whatsoever and it was the best day I'd had all year, ha.  It was the perfect way to set the reset button after what has been an absolutely crazy five months.  Five months of "really?  You want us in Europe ASAP?"  Scrambling to get all the stuff done that is required to go overseas (including renting out your home, selling a car, kids and dog up to speed on health records, saying goodbye to your wonderful friends and the place you love and so on).  To getting to Belgium completely jet-lagged and sleep deprived and discombobulated (which is one of my all time favorite words to say and very descriptive of how I feel from time to time) and wondering where the $#*% am I?  I am how many time zones away from friends and family?  I am living in a hotel for how long?  What did you say?  I haven't spoke French since the late '80s...and so on and so on.  What a crazy trip that first month or two were!  But...to settle into this gorgeous home (which I recently learned had a role in the French revolution, I'll dig up more on that later) with a wonderful landlord (horror stories abound of bad Belgian landlords), fun and friendly American neighbors (people stationed here are scattered in all directions) and a tiny, authentic Belgian village right outside the gates.  Built in babysitters, less than a mile from France, running partners, friends for the kids...all the stress and hassle was worth it to get us to this point. 

Here's to a Happy New Year for all and wishes for the best year yet!