So many people know that I am a sandal guy. I even wore sandals to two weddings this past summer. This winter Bridgit and I surveyed the pile of Chacos that we had and decided which ones needed some love. We decided to send in 3 of the 5 pairs we had for repair and to return a pair to REI because I hated the toe loop on the Z/2 style.

The cool thing is that chaco can repair and refurbish sandals and make them like new for less price and waste then pitching them and getting a new pair. To get three pairs back into new condition it was only slightly more then buying a pair new. Though a complete repair is about what you can get them for on end of season sales, which is how we got a few of ours.

We each had a pair that was the brink of falling apart. My black pair had webbing that was almost completely worn through (I must have rough toes) and a grove worn under the balls of my feet It got new straps and sole. Bridgit had a pair where the soles had almost worn through and had some worn webbing they got new straps and soles too. Then I had a newer pair that only got the main strap replaced.

Well, we all had to go back to work today. Not that work is bad, it's just not as good as not working.

That said we had a great break. I like it when Christmas is placed early in a break because gets it out of the way. Bridgit and I did the music for the Christmas Eve afternoon mass at HTSP. We don't get to sing together much anymore, especially since being parents, but Bridgit's folks watched him during mass for us. We had the immediate family over Christmas Eve for dinner and that was fun. Christmas involved driving around a lot. Then there was Christmas 5 days later with Bridgit's family.

On the 29th we had a big party with all the old friends, most of whom live out of town now. We did the same thing last year and it worked great, so I think we might have a tradition now.

We had a great new years eve, we shot a TON of trap in the afternoon. Bridgit's folks were kind enough to allow a party to be held at their house and they also took Eli to my parent's party. We did a tapas/small plates pot-luck that turned out wonderfully. We feasted on crabcakes, bacon-wrapped dates, crostini, sausage, filet on caramelized onions, roasted vegetables on barley, and many other delicious items. We then headed over to another party around 11pm and toasted in the new year.

As darkness fell so did the snow and by the time we headed back to Bridgit's parents to spend the night there was about 6 inches so when we got to our destination we made a snow man at 3am. The next morning we had breakfast and went skiing. We then bid farewell to family and friends who had to trek home to Grand Rapids, Portland, and Savannah and headed to my folks for the afternoon.

We spent the first part of the year having tons of fun. With daycare for Eli paid for we took advantage of it and went skiing, out to lunch and a movie, and got some cleaning done. On Saturday we went to the “New” DIA with Bob and Brie and on Sunday prepped for going back to school/work/daycare.