Our Five Ring Circus: Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015!

2014 was a wonderful year!  Probably my favorite year so far.  2015 has really big shoes to fill!

Years ago, we used to ring in the new year with my family.  My sister lived out of state, so we waited to celebrate Christmas with our family until she came home for New Year's Eve.  It was such a fun tradition, but once she moved back home, our parties stopped. Although I miss it, I understand that things change.

Over the past few years, we grew closer to a group of friends.  They are like family to us, and we started to celebrate New Year's Eve together.  Last year, we partied with them as usual, and everyone ended up spending the night.  We had so much fun that we decided to do it again this year! 

Last night, everyone gathered at Steph's house for the party.  8 adults and 13 kids create a lot of noise and chaos! We chatted, ate, and played until it was nearly midnight. 

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Surprisingly, all the kids, including the two babies, made it to midnight!  The kids batted balloons around while we passed out glasses, hats, and noise makers.  Steph and I are both members of the Netflix Stream Team, so we celebrated with the All Hail King Julien party supplies that Netflix sent us!

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It was so much fun counting down to the new year with some of our closest friends!   The night flew by, and 2015 arrived so quickly!  I am so thankful I got to spend it with the 5 people I love most.  I'm so blessed!

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The babies and little kids were very tired, so we attempted a group picture before they fell asleep. It was quite an ordeal to get everyone in one place, and just as I was setting up the shot, my camera battery started to die.  Oh well!  Perfect is overrated!

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Shortly after midnight, the kids changed into pajamas, and most headed to bed.

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The adults stayed awake, and Steph, Tracy, and I actually outlasted the men!  They went to bed just before 4 AM, but we talked until 5 AM.  It was SO late, but so worth it. We rarely have the chance to stay up so late talking, without kids interrupting, so those memories we made in the wee hours of the morning were priceless!

Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep!  By 10 AM, Steph's house was bustling!

The kids played, the adults cleaned up, and we all ate a big breakfast together before heading home.

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{Just for the record, true friends cover their pajama-clad friend while taking a picture, to spare her the embarrassment of being the only one not dressed.  ;) }

If last night was a sign of all the fun to come over the next year with our friends, I have a feeling it will be a great year! 

The rest of our day passed by quickly!

All but one of us took a nap when we got home.

I got a big hug from a dear friend who I didn't get to ring in the new year with.

Instead of the traditional pork and sauerkraut New Year's Day dinner, we opted for Chinese takeout. A friend joined us for dinner. It was so delicious!!!

We stopped by my sister's house so Dylan and Lily could see their cousin, Kelvin, before he returns to Florida. (Lexie and Liam saw him at his soon to be wife's bridal shower on Tuesday.) It has been over a year and a half since we last saw him, and we miss him so much!  I wish all our family and friends could pack up and move to Florida with them!

We visited for about an hour, and my brother-in-law, Kevin, gave the kids sharpie tattoos.  They thought it was the coolest thing ever! Lexie ended up staying to spend the night with my niece, Aubrey, while the rest of us headed home.

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Once home, I tried to snap a few pictures of Liam wearing his (3-6 month..ha!) New Year's Day shirt, but he decided clapping and trying to climb down was more fun!

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By that point, it was getting late. Liam went to bed, Lily and Dylan watched a movie, and Grant and I watched a few episodes of The Office on Netflix.  It was nice to finally relax!

Our New Year's Eve party/sleepover with our friends was so much fun, and the first day of 2015 was a great one!  Life isn't picture perfect at all times, but I wouldn't change anything!

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Here's to a happy, healthy, prosperous new year! Happy 2015!!!

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