Starting Off the New Year Right

This new year already seems to be flying by. We had fun celebrating the new year at home with Luca. We continued the family tradition with homemade clam chowder and sandwiches on New Year's Eve. Of course we separated the chowder and made clam chowder for Rich and potato chowder for me. It was the first time we made the soup ourselves and it turned out really good. We added some celery, peas, and extra potatoes to make it chunkier. We decided we like the additions and will probably make the soup again before next New Year's. While eating the soup we watched "Rudolph's Shiny Happy New Year". It is one of those cheesy old holiday puppet/claymation movies. We also watched "Meet the Robinsons" which we both enjoyed.

On New Year's day we relaxed at home all day. Rich played some Wii games and later on we watched some Planet Earth videos. Rich also ate Lentils because in Italy it is good luck to eat lentils on New Year's day. I did not eat any because it looked and smelled gross. It was nice for Rich to have the day off and not have to go anywhere or do anything.

This past Friday we drove down to my parents house and stayed the night. On Saturday we went to Monterey for the day. We went to the aquarium to see the new otter exhibit. It was neat. There were two different kinds of river otters and both were so cute. They were small and very active. We also wanted to see the juvenile White Shark. This is the 3rd White Shark the aquarium has had and we have seen all of them. He was small, but still impressive. Rich's favorites were the white shark and the new river otters. My favorite is always the sea otters, but I also enjoyed the river otters and watching the big sun fish eat. We were sad the kid splash zone was closed for remodeling because there are beautiful reef displays there, but we decided we will go back later this year when it reopens.

After the aquarium we walked up the street to eat at Archie's Diner. This is a tradition we started a few years ago. We like to eat there because they have the best garlic fries. Whenever we talk about going to Monterey we always talk about going to Archie's for garlic fries. The fries are covered (and I mean covered) in fresh garlic, parmesan cheese, and a little parsley...Hmmm.

After a late lunch we headed home, but on the way we of course stopped at Garlic World in Gilroy and the outlets. We almost always stop in Gilroy for garlic and great shopping. This time at Garlic World we only bought blackberry honey and marinated olives (garlic olives). At the outlets we shopped for Rich because he has lost weight and his pants are too big. He kept wearing his pants that are 1-2 sizes too big and I decided to put an end to that. We bought him some jeans that fit and a couple of tops because we actually found large-tall at Eddie Bauer. I've always known I married a handsome man, but he looks even better with clothes that fit properly.

Today was my 13th anniversary of my baptism and confirmation into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has been a great 13 years and I am grateful for the gospel. It has brought peace and joy to my life. This past year was rough on me and filled with ups and downs, but the gospel has given me the faith and strength I have needed. I have relied on prayer and going to the temple to help me through the hardest days and it has never failed. I know I am a blessed person and I am grateful for all that I have. I am truly grateful for Rich and that he honors my baptismal anniversary every year because he knows it is a special day to me. This year he surprised me a couple days early with red roses and candy because he knew we would be gone this weekend. What an awesome husband! I know I am bragging a little bit, but I am a very lucky lady and I want Rich to know how much I appreciate him.