Happy New Year, You Crazy Kids

Scott and I were planning a nice, quiet New Year’s Eve with our little family this year. Pizza, sweatpants, some Dick Clark - or Ryan Seacrest, I guess. And then we offered to take our niece and nephew overnight so Marc and Becky could go celebrate the new year like adults with a bunch of their friends. And then we offered to watch Alice the dog so Tiff and David could celebrate their first New Year together. It was awesome, but it was not quiet.

As far as New Year’s Eves go, this was probably one of my favorites. We had a dance party. We played princess Candyland. The girls dressed up in their princess dresses. I didn't have to put on a lick of makeup and stretchy pants and a sweatshirt replaced sequins and heels. Our neighbors shot off fireworks all night long including one epic hour-long, borderline professional show at midnight. And the kids were an absolute riot.

Princess Candyland? This party is ON!

We faked the kids into thinking that 10pm was the “real” midnight. We erroneously assumed that the local TV station would show the ball dropping in Times Square at midnight Eastern time, so 10pm here. Nope. They just cut off at 10 and saved it for midnight. So we had to scramble a little but I think we pulled it off. Of course, little Carter was long asleep but the other three had a ball. They got sparkling juice, lots of noisemakers and, of course, candy.

Shockingly, after all the excitement the girls were wound up! We tried to put them in the same room but after another hour of them giggling, trying on princess dresses, fighting, and ripping the curtain rod out of the wall while trying to watch fireworks out the front window, we finally had to separate them in the interest of our own sanity. I have a vision of future slumber parties in years to come and it's going to be ridiculous!

Luckily, by midnight, the house had quieted down and Scott and I were able to sit on the front patio, absorb the fireworks extravaganza  (thanks, mystery neighbors! You rule!) and sip on some lovely champagne. My resolutions this year are few – be healthier, enjoy every little moment, live laugh and love. My gratitudes are many – these beautiful, precious children. Love, especially this wonderful man who teaches me about how to be a better person every day. He’s the light of my life, my inspiration and my rock. My amazing family – near and far. My spectacularly gifted and loving friends. My health and the health of those I love. Our jobs which we treasure, sometimes they are challenging but they offer us the opportunity to grow and learn and work with amazing people, and generously fund the blessed life that we have. Our home, which we fall in love with more and more every day. Our sweet dog. We fear she may not be with us much longer but the loyalty, patience and joy she brings to our life and family are without compare. And all the little things. We are so truly blessed and my only New Year’s wish is that we continue to enjoy such bliss in our life.

Happy New Year toast selfie.
This may be the least make-up I have ever had on in a New Year's photo,
hence the black and white! Thanks to Amy for the highly inappropriate
champagne flutes. They crack me up every time we pull them out!