Happy New Year!

We set out a spread of fruits, meats, cheeses, veggies, chips, dips, mini quiches, cookies and drinks to get up through the New Years waiting stretch. The kids were in heaven with the idea of an all-you-can-eat, self-serve buffet!

We made hats earlier in the afternoon, and when we got closer to the actual ball drop we all got our bling on!...and for Levi that meant taking his clothes off... but whatever!

This new year's princess found this fuzzy crown at the party store when we were getting our party poppers and just HAD to have it... such a girl, and a daddy's girl at that!

We let loose with the poppers and the noise makers at midnight... and that gave grandpa an idea for his own hat (since they weren't with u when we made ours)... Nathan was a good sport and joined the fun :)

Levi, however, deemed the paper filling "fuzz", which is one of his prevalent and oddly irrational fears these days... it got stuck to his jammies and he thought it was attacking him!

Mom made some hair with it too, and it went with my hat and noise makers :)

This is why mommy has a bedtime too!

Here's our clan with our traditional pinata.... Poor Olaf is about to get impaled!

Our kids LOVE pinatas, and look forward to this every year. First up is our littlest man, but big hitter, Levi!

He really enjoyed all the festivities this year... but you can see those eyes getting sleepier and sleepier!

Hannah, on the other hand, had been waiting since we bought the pinata (and more importantly the fillings) to bust that thing open and get the treats and prizes out. Her momentum kept all the kids going and got our floor cleaned up in a matter of mere minutes!

Once again, this tired and pregnant mama did not make a huge effort of taking pictures or video, but at least I got to enjoy the time and capture a few memories. 

Here is the short video compilation of the fun :) Enjoy! 

Starting 2016 gave me the opportunity to not only set new goals, as usual, but to reflect on where we are and where we have come from. I feel so grateful for the rich life I have, the beautiful family I spend every day with, and the knowledge of a Savior who made the changes and progress I make possible. This is gonna be a good year, so full of blessings like so many before it!