Away...

M's office Christmas party is something we look forward to each year. M and I really make the most of this...and enjoy the weekend away from the kids. Our mom's split the shift with the 3 wild ones...and we enjoyed the peace. This year, our dinner was at this restaurant. Dinner was great... Then the office generously pays for each couple to stay the night at the hotel afterward. It is such a treat to have a bath...our tub at home is small and filled with kid bath toys. This was just for me!!!

Here's the view from our room. It's still a little cloudy as the rain had just let up. If I looked really hard to the left, I could see a bit of the water. But, I can't even complain that we didn't have a beach view...this was so lush and green. At night, we could see all the neighbor's Christmas lights.

Here's the sandcastle that's just inside the entry of the hotel. And there were real live Carolers singing too.

We ordered room service for breakfast, and were thrilled to discover that it was covered as well. M had French Toast and I had the Belgian Waffle. We strolled the grounds after we checked out. The view of Catalina Island was so clear, the rain clouds had lifted leaving gorgeous clean air.

We drove around Dana Point, and I had to find the LYS. We visited Strands. It was a lovely shoppe, and the yarns were beautifully organized by color in cute cubbies, but I didn't really need any yarn. And I couldn't justify a purchase of yarn I didn't know what to do with. I looked through the Elle Rae book, but M said I might be getting that for Christmas so I should wait. And I wanted to pick up US #2 DPN's, but he said to wait on those too. He did fall in love with the Lizard Ridge squares that the shop owner was working on. It will be a good thing to have a yarn enabler in the house. I'm just wondering if I could knit that out of something other than Noro? I've never knit with Noro, so I'm not sure if I'm a Noro hater like some. But, it's not like we really need the warmth of a wool blanket. And wool and small children don't seem to mix well. I would jump at the chance to knit this...if it could be washable.

Then we had lunch at this cute bistro. The owner and his wife seemed French. Always a plus...M & I both took French in High School. The food was so yummy. M and I decided that it may have been better than the expensive dinner. Well, maybe just different. But this kind of quiet afternoon is more my taste than big fancy dinners. M ordered the Croque Monsieur and I had a whole grain baguette with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted eggplant, avocado and brie.

A lazy drive up PCH to Newport Beach before we hit the freeway to go home. We stopped and shopped a bit. M bought new sunglasses. I got new shoes. (Nancy, I've been meaning to email you...I get that catalogue. And I love the Soft Spots I've ordered from there. -they're on sale now- It's hard to find shoes with no heal though...not sure if what I bought would be supportive enough for you...but they're so comfy.) That will be our presents to each other, but we both had to try things on to find a good fit.