Sometimes happiness doesn’t come from money or fame or power. Sometimes happiness comes from good friends and family and the quiet nobility of leading a good life. -Peyton, One Tree Hill

Friday night Match and I made the trip to the North Bay for Monica’s Welcome Home Party. She’s home from Scotland on winter break and I couldn’t wait to see her. Of course Chandler being a die hard Giants fan told everyone it was half Monica’s party and half the World Series celebration. He made everyone dress in Giants gear and we played Giants themed drinking games.

While we were getting ready Match got all worried that his kershaw scallion knife he keeps in his pocket would be considered a concealed weapon, yet he insisted on carrying it for protection. I rolled my eyes and laughed at him. He’s gotten so paranoid since starting academy. Not that I blame him because he hears all kinds of bad stuff, but still. I just bit my tongue because I know I have to get used to him carrying weapons. As he put it, “if someone ever tries to attack us you’ll thank me for carrying my knife.” which is true, and let’s just hope he never has to prove it.

Anyways, back to the fun stuff. We got to the party and I was immediately assaulted by the girls. I hadn’t seen Tahoe Girl or Monica since my wedding and it was so nice to see them again.
We played some King’s Cup and had a few laughs. I’d made a video slideshow for our group’s Christmas present and after the first round of games we all watched it. It was full of funny video clips from past parties and equally funny pictures. Chandler’s mom was there and she came up to me after the viewing and said, “I just loved this video. You can really see how you guys are all such a family.” I love that! It’s true, we really do feel like family. No matter how much time passes since we last hung out, we are all so comfortable together and it feels like coming home to family. Token Gay Guys said I should make a new video every year for the group and I happily agreed. I’m so glad it was a hit!

After the video the girls took pictures because that’s what we do best.

Tomboy, Monica, Lil Sis, Me and Tahoe Girl

I have no idea what we’re doing. I think we’re supposed to be reindeer?

Charlie’s Angels-because we’re dorks.

It was a great night and I can’t wait for next week and Tahoe Girl’s birthday in the city!

Victoria: I will tell you my most humiliating story.
Marshall: Yeah, Victoria! Way to step up.
Victoria: OK, it involves a game of Truth or Dare, a squeeze bottle of marshmallow ice cream topping, and the hot tub at my grandparent’s retirement community.
Future Ted: Kids, I tell you a lot of inappropriate stories, but there’s no way in hell I’m telling you this one. Don’t worry, it wasn’t that great.
Marshall: [staring goggle-eyed at Victoria] That is the greatest story ever! -How I Met Your Mother

Hello my lovely readers! I’m sorry it’s been awhile since my last post. I have been incredibly busy packing up our house and getting ready for our move to the East Bay. I’ve also switched over my hosting to a new, much better hosting site and I was afraid to post until everything transferred over. Let me know if the site is buggy for you when posting comments.

We move this Saturday and I’m so excited. We’re moving to an actual house. Not just a duplex, but a single family detached home! This is the first house I’ve lived in with Match and I feel like it is so symbolic as our first new place as a married couple. Of course I wish it was a house we were buying, but we still need to save for that and figure out if we like this new town enough to buy here. I have a feeling we will though.

Besides all of the moving preparations, we’ve been busy visiting with friends. We hosted our last party at the duplex, a surprise birthday party for Monica/co-birthday party for me on the 11th. It was also a PJ party and all of us girls got into the spirit by wearing pigtails and acting like little kids. It was such a fun night!

I’m terrible at secrets but I managed to pull off the surprise for Monica. I picked her up and distracted her the whole drive to my house with talk of her upcoming wedding next summer. When she walked in, Tahoe Couple were there, along with Monica’s Lil Sis and Match, all head to toe Pajamaed. She was shocked! We all donned party hats, and we had PJs ready for Monica and I to change into.

Here are just a few pictures from the night.

Me, Lil Sis, Monica, and Tahoe Girl

Me and Token Gay Couple. They’re getting married next!

Me and Geeky

Chandler brought me and Monica flowers. What a sweetie!

Monica and I also got cupcakes smashed in our faces by our men soon after this picture. I got frosting all over my face which will probably give me adult-acne but it was so funny. It was payback for Match and Chandler’s birthday!

We played I Never the board game. Yes there is a board game version, and it’s hilarious. Every time everyone had done the I Never, Token would say, “Suck it bitch!” before we drank. There were Truth or Dare questions mixed in with the game which really added to the retro feel of the party. At one point Chandler had to switch clothes with Monica which made for some great and embarrassing moments for Chan.
It was an amazing night and a great send off for Monica. I’m really going to miss that girl! Only 3 months til she’s back again. It was also a great last party at the duplex. We’ve had some great memories there.

When’s the last time you had a PJ party?

Hey, Ross, quick question for ya. Are you ready to party?                                                                                                                                                  Ross: I don’t know, I could maybe go out for a couple of beers, but there’s this thing about bumblebees on The Discovery Channel that I was planning to watch.                                                                                                                                                                                                   Chandler: No-no, I don’t think you heard me. Are you ready to party?! -Friends

Passing out drunk is better than taking the best sleeping pill. That sound sleep you get where you literally don’t move all night is awesome. That is of course until you wake up with a splitting headache and you’re so dizzy you almost can’t find your way to the bathroom across the hall. Ouch. Match and I were suffering from both symptoms on Sunday morning. It was painful, but a small price to pay for the fun we had celebrating with Chandler and our friends at his college graduation party. (more…)