Happy New Year!

I love New Year's.  It's a new beginning.  It's a time to start those things which I've put off for other reasons.  New opportunities and new chances abound. This is the year that will make all the difference--at least for a while. 

This New Year's didn't feel like New Year's.  We spent a few days at my mom's with both of my brothers and their families.  There was good food and fun times, but there was also sickness.  New Year's Eve was the worst for some of us.  So instead of missing that tremendous new start, we are just putting it off a little until we all feel better.  We'll celebrate again in a couple of weeks.

 Lily and Abbey rekindling a friendship.  Since Lily, Tommy and Rose live in Ohio, we don't get to see them often.  When we do, we are always so thankful for that time.

 We see Nichole and Abbey pretty frequently and always love spending time with them.  Note Nichole's new specs!  Aren't they great?

                                                     This scene never gets old for me. 

                        Gram loves having her grand kids around--especially the ones that are so far away.

 We went to one of my dad's favorite places--the hardware store in Blackstone.  Every Christmas they set up a HUGE display of model trains.  It's really amazing.  He loved to take us there and talk with the guy behind the controls.  We missed having him with us this year.

 The New Year's Eve party was at Kim and Todd's.  The kids enjoyed playing Wii.  Tommy couldn't wait to go to Aunt Kim's and Uncle Todd's to play Wii. 

                                                          He was totally into the game.

                 The adults and some kiddos stayed downstairs and played Scene It, among other things.

                                                                         Sweet Rosie! 

 The bigger boys spent some time in the back house watching T.V.  Can you see the sick eyes on Fred?  This was probably 30 minutes before Sam came in with a fever of 102.

                                                  MIDNIGHT!  Happy New Year! 

                       Aunt Kim's neighbors were serenaded by small people with pots and pans! 

So although we had fun ringing in the New Year, it didn't quite feel like a holiday, which is o.k.  By the nextmorning the stomach bug had taken hold, so we missed the pork and sauerkraut.  We and the Ohio Henry's headed home as quick as we could that morning.  Todd and Kim and Mom enjoyed it this week, but we couldn't make the trip.  No one in my house can take sauerkraut, so I REALLY missed it.  I bought a tiny can that I might try to sneak in the next time we have pork.  Does it count if it isn't January 1st?