New Year's Eve

Since John and I had no one to party with this year, our kids got to stay up for their first New Year's Eve celebration. Previously, we would get together with our good friends and have a potluck dinner and let the kids play. At bedtime, we would put all the kids down at whichever house we were at and then the adults would play games and talk and eat dessert. We'd all ring in the New Year together and then people would pack up their kids and go home. My heart was longing for my friends all day. We had so much fun together and I always looked forward to our NYE get togethers. I miss them terribly. But this has been a year of change and it ended with learning to make a new tradition, which was fitting I guess. I must have a party on NYE, and so we decided to have a family one! We started out by having a nap in the afternoon so that we wouldn't have grumpy party goers. :) Then we had a special dinner followed by Yonana Sundaes.

Mama even let us have chocolate sauce and dye free sprinkles this time!

We played some Wii together and then the older four of us decided to play Monopoly. The big boys are always wanting to play, but it takes so long to play that it doesn't happen often. But this was a perfect night for a long game.

Monopoly Jr.

Daddy preparing to kick our booties

The little ones are not so captured by this game so they set up next to us and played Monopoly Jr. and Memory and bug the big people and dress up in costumes and bug the big people and run around like crazy and finally a little more bug the big people. :) 

When midnight came we almost missed the countdown! I was trying to keep the TV off for as long as possible as we are not too keen on our kids seeing the bands and hearing some of the dialogue of the hosts of the NYE show. When we turned it on there were just 8 seconds left and Micah missed it because he was downstairs putting a costume away. Those of us who were upstairs blew our noise makers, threw our confetti, and yelled "Happy New Year!" Then the kids got to have their first taste of sparkling apple cider. (Which they said was spicy, but they loved it.) We followed that with a little time of prayer for 2015 and then headed off to bed with dreams of a New Year's Day pancake brunch. It wasn't the same as the gatherings I was longing for, but it was a nice time as a family. I think we will have to play a little Minute to Win It next year.  ;)

Happy New Year!!!
(Don't worry, it's the non-alcoholic stuff)

Also, Happy Birthday to my Mom! She always told us that when she was born, the whole world threw a party. :)


May all you who read this have a blessed New Year! May you grow in your knowledge of God and in your faith! May the desires of your hearts be granted according to God's plans and purposes. I look forward to seeing what this year holds for us all!