Farewell, 2009.

Last night we went to a party at my sister's house with lots of my family.  Kids ran around and played, the new Christmas ping-pong table was a hit, and we put together the traditional New Year's puzzle.

Kids assembling party hats with Suzette and Grandma.






Grandma with my littlest niece.  She got SO tired they finally left early so she could go to bed.

The traditional burning of the scape goat.  Long story short, each person writes something they want to leave behind as they enter the next year and the papers are stuffed into the "goat" frame.  All is then burned.  It's a great pyrotechnic display of resolutions.

I just really love this picture of my niece.  She usually gets really grumpy in front of the camera.

I guess I should always try to photograph these girls super late at night when they're a little punchy :P  I told them to pretend they're sisters and that they like eachother.  (Yes, they actually are, but it turned into a cute picture).





Lizzie working the kinks out of Daddy's back.


By 11:30 Sabrina started begging to go home so she could go to bed.  I had her snuggle up on my lap with  my sweater around her for a while until she was ready to go play a little more.


 
Happy New year!

More Merry Christmas Pictures

...and to All a Good Night!

 It's a little late, and I'm supposed to be in bed, but I'm going to at least leave a little note :)
Christmas was wonderful.  Here are a few pictures.  I promise, there will be more to come :)

A little snow and a lot of friends :)

I followed the girls outside today when they went to play in our dusting of snow with their friends next door.  They had so much fun!  (Then a big cup of hot chocolate.)

 










 

And to think I was cringing!

My girls had school until yesterday.  I admit I was cringing while thinking of these last couple of days before Christmas.  They're SOOOOO excited -- and they don't typically specialize in patience, LOL.  I figured they'd be climbing the walls and at eachother's throats by this time.
Instead, we've had a perfectly glorious morning!  Laundry is running, dishes are loaded, they're even making their beds and tidying their bedroom right now!  Sabrina helped me fold and put away the clothes in the dryer while Kate and Lizzie did dishes, then Liz and Nina swapped so Lizzie could help me load the washing machine. 
Yes, I'll reload the dish washer before running it, but I'm going to make sure they girls are very busy first.  I don't want them to feel bad about what they've done.  I'm thrilled! 
We have just a light dusting of snow outside right now and occasional flakes coming down.  I'm glad I don't have to go out today!  (I wanted to run one errand, but it can wait).  It's just beautiful, though.  Now I'm going to make a yummy lunch with hot chocolate and we can enjoy the afternoon :)