January 2016-Broncos and Bulls | The Harris Family Blog

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

2015 for me personally was full of ups and downs. I don’t want to say it was necessarily bad, because there were many great moments. But, there were a few challenges too, which I guess if you really think about it is the same with any year. But, here’s to at least finishing the year with my favorite people happy and healthy…..

….And what better way to start the New Year than with mimosas!!! Now, I know what you’re thinking….hair of the dog from last night’s crazy NYE celebrations, right?

Wrong. We don’t really “do” New Year’s Eve, possibly because we find PLENTY of reasons to celebrate other days of the year. In fact, John and I were dozing on the couch while the big kids watched the ball drop and I think we were all in our respective beds by 12:05. Pure bliss.

But, New Year’s Day? That’s another story, and like I said, another reason to celebrate. So, I did….and I had help.

John and I, with much help from Grandpa Larry, introduced Jackson to the delicacy that is Bagna Cauda. For those of you who didn’t grow up in the Weldon Valley or who aren’t Italian, it’s a dish that has 5 heads of garlic, 2 sticks of butter, olive oil (for your heart), and 2 quarts of heavy whipping cream. Yes, that’s HEADS of garlic, not cloves. We serve it with vegetables….totally healthy.

Seriously, it’s delicious. But, not so much for those people who are within a 2 foot radius of you for about 3 days afterward. I did not acquire a taste for it until much later in life, especially because in high school I was too worried about how it made me smell to admit how much I loved it. But, I’m happy to report that Jackson didn’t give a s&%t about the garlic and dug right in.

The remainder of my holiday break was spent in this room. This is a picture of the 3 minutes when all of the laundry was done and put away. It was a BIG chore. In fact, I think I counted 19 loads the week we returned from vacation. All summer clothes had to be washed and put away, in addition to the normal winter clothes we wear, and all sheets and towels. Whew!!!

The other post-holiday, post-vacation(s) item on the To-Do list is to “pay the piper.” Yes, I realize that I am watching a food show while exercising. Baby steps, people!!!

There are 2 other things that happen in January that are worth talking about. First, it’s the NFL playoffs, and if the Broncos have been worth a damn this season, that means that we are in store for a home championship game. Well, the old man quarterback we have pulled it together, and I had a date for the game…..

Oh wait, I meant this guy….

We had a REALLY good time, as you can tell by this sequence of pictures.

Come Monday, one hundred of these grande Americanos could not cure my hangover.

The other thing that happens in January is a trip to the National Western Stock Show. Usually, John and I pawn the kids off on the grandparents so that we can wander around drinking beers and buying useless home gadgets (see January 2014). This year was a full family affair instead. Malory is obsessed with two things, horses and carousels. So, when she saw this particular exhibit, her eyes lit up and there was not a chance in hell that we weren’t riding it. And, for further proof that she has her daddy tightly wrapped around her finger, John waited in a L-O-N-G line just to make this happen for her. Seriously…John waited in line.

(He says this picture made it all worth it…..awwww!!)

After that, we hit the rodeo. And, maybe it was just because I was sober this time, but it was way less entertaining than in year’s past. The country girl in me likes to watch the bull riding, team roping and other horse-related activities, but it seems like the whole thing has become one big advertisement. It’s just not that fun to watch them drive a Ford pickup around the arena….

But, there’s always Dippin’ Dots…(and photo bombers:-)