Well, I didn’t get this updated when I had hoped. I was fighting a headache.

New Year’s Eve we generally go to my parents’ to ring in the new year together. Most of the time we play games most of the evening. So I go prepared with several games. This year I went with Tenzi, Win Lose or Draw with junior pictionary cards for the youngest ones, Phase 10, and a couple decks of cards.

We have a dinner of finger foods. I make Wonton Taco Bites, which I will share on Tuesday, since I managed to get some pictures, thanks to the reminder of Tracie, my baby sister. She brought crockpots with little smokies and meatballs. Yum yum! Mom made cream cheese tortilla rolls and pigs and cheese in a blanket. I also brought veggie platter and Ranch party dip, as well as chips and Dean’s French Onion dip. We also had peanut butter balls, keiffle, and butter braids. We always have too much food but that’s way better than not enough.

This year we played Win, Lose, or Draw and a DVD Family Feud game. I think I must’ve been slightly off kilter without really knowing it, fighting whatever Tiffany had last week. I had taken a nap earlier in the day, so the time went by quickly for me. Others felt the complete opposite.

Thanks to my daughter-in-love Lauren, here are just a few pictures:

It is always quite humorous come midnight. The tiaras, top hats, and horns are passed out to one and all. We all have sparkling grape juice in nice glasses, count down with the Times Square re-showing of the ball dropping in New York, clink glasses, wish one another a happy new year, hug, and proceed to put shoes on, pack up and head home. We are all out the door by about 12:15am.

The second set of pictures above are thanks to my mom, some of which it appears, had to be lightened to see decently.

It’s a nice tradition that started because we girls did not want to ring in the new year by being asleep. In the beginning we lived just five minutes from my parents, so I convinced Mike to go over because he’d still be in bed by 12:15 but after a few years we moved and now have a 25 minute drive to get home.

Well, I hope you enjoyed how you brought in the new year, be it out with friends celebrating or getting some well-needed rest or doing something else you enjoy. I wish you all a wonderful year full of positive changes in your life.

Until next time, God bless,
Michele ºÜº