New Year's Eve

We spent the week after Christmas cleaning up, packing away Christmas decorations and trying to get life back to normal. Then we couldn't wait to celebrate the New Year with some of our dearest friends. 

Brooke and I each made some appetizers for dinner, and the kids played, the adults visited, and we all ate dinner.

We've noticed lately that these two kids have started to play together more. It's adorable and a friend/play relationship I never thought about. Keaton is such a sweet, laid back kid and will happily put up with all of Katherine's play demands, ha!

All week, my kids were asking when it would be New Year's Eve and what time their friends would be over. It's a rare treasure to have so many strong friendships among our kids and among us parents too.

The kids had a Lego Master's competition. They each had to make a Christmas scene with Legos, and we threw in a twist in the middle of the competition that they also had to include a present. 

I thought they all did a great job. 

Nathan and Wyatt built some of the things they got for Christmas.

Keaton and Katherine made blue Christmas Trees

And Samuel, Elisabeth and Kaydence built a snowy Christmas Tree forest. 

We awarded prizes for most detailed, most unique and most festive. Everyone was excited to win an award, ha!

Then the kids continued playing while the adults played board games. 

These girls are always drawing and crafting when they get together. 

We took a break for hot chocolate. 

We had planned to stay up until Midnight, but as the night wore on and the adults grew more tired, we decided to celebrate with the East Coast at 11:00. We poured sparkling grape juice and toasted to the new year.

 

I can't think of a better way or better people to celebrate the New Year with. It was a great night. We all crashed hard after our friends left. Here's to 2021!