New Year

I spent New Year's Eve/weekend with the Burbas. It was great to spend time with friends...it was like a deep breath before plunging into the stress of the last week before leaving (although, clearly i'm doing quite well, since i leave tomorrow morning, and have decided to write this blog now!)

My friend's Katie and Ollie introduced me to the tradition of "New Year's Eve Hats" it was a tradition that i just have to keep alive....although i passed on the sparklers and fireworks from last year. The weekend was really relaxed...lots of meals, time with kids, swimming at the Y, a movie, homemade chocolate chip cookies...


A red-velvet cake...somehow i got the idea that i wanted to make a red velvet cake this year...and figured time was running out, and new year's was as good of an excuse as any. i really feel like my friend raleigh by taking a pic of the cake...she was the voice in my head (that i ignored) saying, "you should take pictures of the whole process"