We wake up on Dec. 31, 2017 to another day of no snow after a forecast of a blizzard. This blizzard has dodged us for three days now. Oh well, I am ok with that. We skied yesterday and it was lovely but crowded due to the holidays. I quit early to meet with a friend and her two boys, both under 4 and loaded with energy! We had lunch and then walked to the snow playground in the village, which was fun to watch! Then Bob and I found a spot to see the University of Washington Huskies lose a bowl game. Bob is not a happy guy. He gets over it! We have another lovely dinner at the hotel, as reservations are hard to get around here! Time for bed, as tomorrow is New Year's Eve.

We wake up to sunshine. The sky could not be more blue. This storm is just not coming. That's ok. The dog needs a walk and I decide to skip skiing today and do an "Ann" day. A lovely breakfast somewhere, some shopping for the kids and Bob, a 12:30pm massage and then more football and a New Year's celebration. Let the festivities begin!

The dog sitter comes at 9am, I hand Jack off to his new buddy and I am off! I start the day with a leisurely breakfast and then begin perusing the village, doing my least favorite thing, shopping. Yet this is GOOD shopping -- small local shops, all nearby in an idyllic setting. And I have shopping goals in mind. My oldest son Jared needs a birthday gift, others need a (belated) Christmas gift or two, and I need a new ski parka. My current one is 15 years old. Time to retire it.

I browse the shops and find plenty of things for my people, but no coat for me. As I stroll past the Bridger Gondola, I can hear the "Tram Jam" band playing live music for the New Year's Eve skiers. Cool!

Now that I am shopped out, it is time for my massage. It is just what I needed! Once I am done, I meet up with Bob. He is done skiing for the day, as it is Football Sunday. The Patriots are well on their way to victory. Being a Seattle boy, he is anxious for the Seahawks game to start. We watch it. Again, his game ends badly. Time for a walk around the village, and then we get ready for New Year's Eve. We are eating at the hotel -- again!! This reservtion was made in advance. Good thing -- EVERYWHERE is booked!! Luckily for us, the restaurant is great, and we have windowside seats for the Torchlight Parade and fireworks in the village.

Jack's sitter arrives back at the hotel at 5:00pm and she has him until 8:00. Plenty of time for us to eat and enjoy the evening's events. We get to our table at the restaurant and they are finishing up the touches for the night. Champagne? Check. Funny hats and noisemakers? Check. We are good to go.

Tonight they are featuring a 5 course menu with options not usually offered on the regular menu, which is great, as we've eaten here twice already! The first course comes, a little spoonful of king crab, radish, caviar and a mango puree. It pairs well with a glass of bubbly, and goes down in a second, which is good, because the torchlight parade is starting!

Well, that was fun! Time for the second course. I have flash-seared waygu beef with brussels sprouts, wasabi, pickled mushrooms and a tempura green pepper. Bob has the salmon gravalax with beet, rye crumble and a meyer lemon chive vinaigrette. Both are awesome, but now it is time for fireworks! We leave the table and head outside again!

The fireworks were great fun! Now, more food! Course number three for me is an ahi tuna tartare with avocado, cucumber, cilantro, ginger, jicama, macadamia nuts and a black yuzu aioli. Now, I don't know what some of this is, but at some point, one needs to take a leap of faith and trust that it will be delicious. It is. Bob has a red salad with red lettuces, beet, pickled red onion, poached pear, pecans, goat cheese and blood orange dressing. Fantastic!

Now for the main course: I chose the herb crusted Chilean sea bass and Bob went for the duck. Both were killer. And for dessert, we both went molten chocolate cake. Soooo goood. What a great meal! Photos below.

After dinner we had plans for walking around the village with the dog, etc. but all three of us were too tired for that! By 8:30 we were watching the throngs in Times Square, I typed a blog past, Bob napped but woke up to give me a New Year's kiss. Great night. Let 2018 begin!