New Year's Eve

I seriously can't believe that it is the last day of 2013. The year flew by!

One thing that has been very apparent, in my face if you will is that I do not have a lot of time left where I will have all of my children under my roof, all of the time. Tonight was just one more reminder. It is New Year's Eve and Tanner headed out with friends to have dinner and then went to a church dance. Carter went to a party with friends. That left John and I and the littles. While we had a great time, I missed Tanner and Carter and did not like not having them there! A little glimpse of the future and I am not ready for it!

 

I love to make a big deal out of the holidays. I like to make it fun and memorable for our children. I want our home to be a place that they want to be! In keeping up with traditions, I went to the party store and purchased helium balloons. As each balloon was filled, I tucked a piece of paper in each one. Each slip of paper had an activity to do each hour, on the hour, right up until midnight. We had our friends the Jones over. They have 4 boys too! They were also missing their older two!

 Helium balloons, ready and waiting to be popped!

 A token photo of all of our boys before they went in different directions.

 Carter stayed longed enough to pop the first balloon!

 The 6 p.m. activity was to bake cookies! Gotta have lots of treats.

Ready to pop another balloon.

 

 We played games.

 

We had a dance party with a little "running man."

 

The snake. I seriously think my kids could have been born in the 80's.

 My friend, Stephanie.

 Silly picture time. Another fun tradition..."2014 glasses."

 

 Banging pots and pans, blowing noise makers and popping poppers at midnight to ring in the new year! Don't worry, we aren't the hated neighbors. Most of our neighbors are out doing the same things. Traditions that I hope will live on forever! We had a great time and loved having the Jones family over to help us ring in the new year!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

We are ready for the New Year. We all say "Bring it on!"