So long, Christmas decorations!
It was fun while it lasted, but – don’t worry – we’ll see each other again in 11 months. 
Derek and I spent the second to last day of 2011 putting away Christmas decorations, sorting through Christmas gifts that hadn’t budged since Christmas day, and just overall cleaning. We wanted to start 2012 on a clean foot.
We stopped for lunch and heated up the last of the veggie lasagna and cornbread. We’re also kicking off 2012 with a clean fridge. 
You’ll never guess where we headed once the house was clean.
Anyone?!?
Orlando!!!
For the third weekend in a row we made the trip across the state to see my family. My twin bro took the red-eye to Orlando last night from Los Angeles (where he’s in his first year of residency) to spend the last day of 2011 on the east coast. He hasn’t been in Florida since September, so it’s a big deal to have him home. He couldn’t make it home for Christmas this year, but New Years is just as great in our books.
Of course, that meant he didn’t land until this morning. Instead of heading straight to my parents’ last night, Derek and I made a detour to my sister’s place in Orlando for the night.
We joined her and Anthony on their weekly outing to Mellow Mushroom for dinner.
Gotta love their Friday night beer specials. $2.50 pints of Brooklyn Lager sounds good to me.
We split two pizzas.
A medium Holy Shitake Pie.
And a small Red Potato Skin pie.
I went back for another sliver of the Holy Shitake Pie. Loved all the mushrooms and the ranch-like dressing drizzle.
Kelly took us to Jeremiah’s for dessert.
Really, I think she just wanted to see me use the gift card she gave me for Christmas. My sister knows me well.
I ordered a small pumpkin/ cafe latte ice. I loved the combo, but Derek wasn’t a fan. Good thing he got his own cookies and cream ice.
We were party animals last night. We made it back to Kelly and Anthony’s just after 9:00 and I was asleep on the couch by 9:30. Yep, party animals.
We did watch an episode of Moonshiners, which is a reality tv show of people who illegally make moonshine in the Virginia mountains. I’m not sure why the group of moonshiner makers was letting a tv camera crew follow them around as they shared their secrets of hiding their illegal moonshine distillery from the cops, but it did have me interested. I swear, there’s a reality show about everything!
Kelly and I were up early this morning for a 10 mile run. We each had a piece of toast with peanut butter and mango butter before hitting the road.
I love running with my sister. We did a 10 mile route that I’ve run with her before and spent the whole time chatting up a storm. We kept an easy pace and the 10 miles really flew by. I blame the good company and great running weather. Can it stay this nice year-round please?!?!
Kelly made us all waffle for breakfast.
One yummy waffle with vanilla yogurt, cinnamon apple, and a crumbled christmas cookie.
My brother landed a couple of hours ago!! I know I just saw him in November, but I really can’t wait to see him again. Ringing in 2012 with all of my siblings means this is going to the best New Years ever!
Happy last day of 2011!!! Enjoy every minute of it!
