Sunday, January 1, 2012

Out With The Old...In With The New

Happy New Year's Everyone!

I hope that January 1, 2012 finds you all well, happy and healthy - or at least on your way to becoming that way.

We didn't sit around last night and discuss new years goals, resolutions and hopes as we've done in past years, instead we had a lovely time partying with family and friends in our home. 

But first, I want to tell you about one of the traditions we had at New Years Eve and New Years Day when the kids were young and all at home.

We would sit around on New Year's Eve and make lists - with me as scribe.  Each of us would tell what our favorite happening of the old year was, and what we wanted to have happen in the new year.  It was always fun to see what the kids would come up with.  On New Year's Day in 1979 we had five children ranging in age from 9 months old to almost seven years old.  When it came time for our oldest child, Rob, to tell what his favorite event of 1978 was, he said it was the birth of his first brother in March.  When asked what he wanted to happen in 1979, he said he would like us to have another baby!  Being the dutiful parents, always trying to please the kids, we promptly got busy and on December 4, 1979, Mary Ellen was born.  That was the last time any of the kids expressed the wish for a new baby as a New Year's goal.  But we did go ahead and have our 7th baby six years later.

I found the notebook with the lists for several years in it a few years ago.  What fun it was to go through it and review what was important in our lives at that time and to see how the children's opinions and wishes changed as they grew older. 

------------------

Last night Lloyd and I hosted a party in our home.  His sisters both live in this area, as do their adult children, so they attended.  An old high school buddy of Lloyd's and his wife attended, as did a couple of our nieces and nephews, our son Mike and his wife Avril, and of course Amy, Curtis and their four kids and Mary and Greg and their two kids, all of who have been spending the holiday with us.  It was a great time.  Everyone had fun and tons of food got devoured.  We set the six kids up downstairs with a table of snacks, games and activities, under the control of the oldest, 9-year old Kenzie.  They were all determined to stay up till midnight to do the toast and countdown.  Meantime, the adults spread out and played games, visited, talked and laughed, and ate.  Lloyd made his famous diabetic sugar-free non-alcoholic punch which everyone loves, his sister brought a big pot of chile, others brought salad and sweets, and we provided hors d'hourves enough to sink a ship.  The 'piece de resistance' however, was the cake our niece, Gail, brought.  She has an in-home cake baking and decorating business and created a special one for last night.

Gail and her cake

The special New Year's Eve cake

The kids were remarkably well behaved.  The mothers went downstairs regularly to check on them and refill their snacks.  We really didn't think they could stay up till midnight though so at a few minutes to 10 we brought them all upstairs and we all congregated in one room for the toast and countdown.  They thought it was midnight so they were happy.  Everyone was served a small glass of sparkling fruit juice, the kids clinked glasses with the adults, we sang Auld Lang Syne, Jim toasted the year, and the kids were happily in bed by 10:45, and the adults partied on till midnight.

The kid's party - vegetable smiles
Clinking Glasses
Jim's philosophy - sounds good

What a great way to start a new year. 

211 comments:

1 – 200 of 211   Newer›   Newest»
Laeli said...

WHat a lovely fun-filled celebration! That cake is gorgeous,yum.
Happy New Year!

TARYTERRE said...

WOW that LOOKS like a FUN night with family and friends. Tis the season to celebrate. The cake looked yummy. Liked the pillow that says, "Start off slow, then taper off." Your tradition of making lists of your favorite happening throughout year was a nice idea. We spent New years eve seeing a Las Vegas crooner belt out old Frank Sinatra songs. Tickets were bought before hubby lost his job and I tore my meniscus in both knees. So I hobbled along. But it was fun. May you and your family be blessed in the New Year. Take care.

Ellie said...

Sounds like a great way to finish an old year and start a brand new one. :)

just call me jo said...

Glad you had a fun,family party. Go into 2012 guns ablazin'.

Granny Annie said...

I doubt you are going to be able to put that over on the kids much longer. They look like a sharp bunch. Love the cake. Happy New Year to you and yours!

Chatty Crone said...

Whoo hoo that cake looks good. Happy New Year to you. sandie

BB said...

Great post and pics. That cake is amazing. Good idea with the kids too! Sounds like it was a lot of fun. Happy New Year!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Glad you had such a great New Years Eve! You really did have a house full. I love the idea of how you all would write about your year. It's a great idea for families to do. Have a very Happy New Year!

Delena said...

Sounds like a wonderful celebration with your family. You are creating memories for those children!

Sara said...

Happy New Year!
We have had the "list" tradition for the past 20 years. We don't make resolutions for the New Year...we list our favourite memories from the year past. Then the file goes away until the next New Year's Eve...when we bring it back out and review some of the years gone past before we record our newest memories. I think a lot of our family's history would be forgotten if it wasn't for that file!

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol hcl tramadol hcl 50 mg efectos secundarios - buy tramadol american express

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with cod buy tramadol online from usa - tramadol 50mg used dogs

Anonymous said...

buy ativan ativan overdose death - lorazepam online kaufen

Anonymous said...

discount ativan .5 ativan vs .5 xanax - ativan drug

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online reviews buy tramadol cod free - tramadol dosage maximum dose

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap online buy tramadol online from usa - tramadol high side effects

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping what is tramadol 50mg tablets for - tramadol 50mg street

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online withdrawal xanax using klonopin - street price for 2mg klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without rx tramadol 627 - order tramadol online without prescription

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online with cod - methocarbamol and tramadol for dogs

Anonymous said...

cheap lorazepam long does ativan high last - ativan withdrawal side effects

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online no prescription can take 2mg klonopin - klonopin side effects heart

Anonymous said...

tramadol tramadol hcl 50 mg vs hydrocodone - tramadol 50mg vs vicodin

Anonymous said...

ambien online ambien side effects depressed mood - ambien cr europe

Anonymous said...

generic ambien side effects from ambien cr - ambien for insomnia reviews

Anonymous said...

buy clonazepam online klonopin dosage to get high - negative side effects klonopin

Anonymous said...

order lorazepam ativan vs xanax fear flying - ativan side effects women

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 200 er - tramadol 200 mg get high

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription tramadol for dogs with kidney disease - buy tramadol from thailand

Anonymous said...

generic ativan buy ativan online canada - ativan 3mg

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol online online apotheke holland tramadol - tramadol online safe

Anonymous said...

klonopin buy get best high klonopin - klonopin classification

Anonymous said...

ambien no prescription ambien side effects wikipedia - ambien cr 12.5 mg half life

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mexico tramadol online coupons - order tramadol europe

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol itching - buy tramadol hcl online

Anonymous said...

generic ambien can ambien overdose kill - generic medication ambien cr

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 mg tramadol for dogs addiction - where to buy tramadol in usa

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin 1mg klonopin high dose - klonopin dosage seizures

Anonymous said...

tramadol cheap tramadol dosage pain - order tramadol next day delivery

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no rx tramadol hcl er 150 - buy tramadol online no prescription mastercard

Anonymous said...

ambien generic ambience mall gurgaon corporate office - ambien generic walmart

Anonymous said...

soma online soma muscle cramps - discount code for soma intimates

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin weed high - klonopin xanax or ativan

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap online buy tramadol pet - tramadol hydrochloride 50mg used

Anonymous said...

generic ambien purchase ambien online no prescription - buy ambien online overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

purchase tramadol tramadol hcl tab 50mg side effects - tramadol withdrawal can't sleep

Anonymous said...

klonopin buy dangers of klonopin and alcohol - klonopin many get high

Anonymous said...

ativan online ativan dosage range - ativan sublingual 1mg lorazepam 1mg

Anonymous said...

cheap ativan lorazepam 1mg anwendung - ativan good alcohol withdrawal

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol order tramadol with no prescription - tramadol 50mg pain

Anonymous said...

ambien pills ambien 93 74 - ambien 10 panel drug test

Anonymous said...

ambien without prescriptions bad ambien stories - best price ambien online

Anonymous said...

soma buy soma wellbutrin drug interactions - buy soma online ship to florida

Anonymous said...

clonazepam online klonopin dosage .25 - klonopin good high

Anonymous said...

order tramadol tramadol dosage recreational - buy tramadol store

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online side effects of zolpidem ambien - ambien sleepwalking 2011

Anonymous said...

online soma discount fabrics soma - soma quill stem adapter

Anonymous said...

klonopin sale does generic klonopin work - klonopin buy online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 180 high from tramadol - tramadol equivalent

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online cheap viagra australia - buy cheap viagra online canada

Anonymous said...

buy somas generic for soma 250 - buy qualitest soma online

Anonymous said...

buy viagra 100mg cheap viagra new zealand - viagra dosage and frequency

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin bluelight - klonopin withdrawal flu like symptoms

Anonymous said...

purchase ambien ambien 5mg dosage - generic ambien and depression

Anonymous said...

ambien pharmacy cost of generic ambien - ambien withdrawal gabapentin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol dosage horses - buy tramadol at walmart

Anonymous said...

ambien for sale online ambien 10 mg recreational - dosage range of ambien

Anonymous said...

buy viagra from canada viagra information - can you buy viagra vietnam

Anonymous said...

ambien pills paxil ambien and alcohol - hilarious ambien stories

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma pills cost - buy real soma online

Anonymous said...

klonopin online withdrawal xanax using klonopin - klonopin dosage depression

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online european online pharmacy tramadol - tramadol recreational dose

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol online www.soma bras - soma drug wiki

Anonymous said...

generic ambien ambien pill types - ambien internet pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online with prescription generic cialis at cvs - ordering cialis online legal

Anonymous said...

sildenafil citrate tablets generic viagra online 50mg - viagra canada online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy viagra buy viagra online genuine - buy viagra locally

Anonymous said...

generic cialis tadalafil where to buy cialis in usa - generic cialis in usa

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cialis patent - cialis-72 saat

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription overnight where to buy tramadol online legal - tramadol hcl 25 mg

Anonymous said...

buy soma 350mg buy soma blocks - soma bras and panties

Anonymous said...

how to order viagra purchase viagra prescription - viagra online men

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online quality cheap meds pills viagra - there generic viagra 2010

Anonymous said...

order viagra from canada viagra me buy online - can order viagra online canada

Anonymous said...

order viagra prescription viagra online malaysia - buy viagra online london

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online 100mg tramadol vs percocet - tramadol withdrawal 2 weeks

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy 180 tramadol online - tramadol 50 mg drug facts

Anonymous said...

buying viagra buy viagra online overnight delivery - buy viagra online now

Anonymous said...

viagra online purchase viagra for women where to buy - where can i buy viagra online safely

Anonymous said...

sildenafil citrate viagra online 24 hours - buy viagra uk

Anonymous said...

where to buy viagra online forum buy real viagra online - cheap brand viagra online

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online purchase viagra mexico - cheap viagra online prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with mastercard tramadol 50mg slow release - tramadol withdrawal coping

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online order propecia generic online - propecia x finasterida

Anonymous said...

buy viagra cialis buy viagra online from usa - viagra super active

Anonymous said...

order viagra online without script buy viagra online no rx - buy 1 viagra

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol withdrawal brain zaps - suboxone tramadol high

Anonymous said...

finasteride 5mg best site buy propecia - propecia generic us

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol uk tramadol 100 mg bijsluiter - tramadol 50 mg compared to lortab

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol for dogs after neutering - tramadol hcl er 100mg

Anonymous said...

buy viagra 50mg common viagra dosage - viagra 65 year old

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online good place buy tramadol online - buy tramadol buy cod

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online mastercard overnight tramadol for dogs versus humans - tramadol online overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a online retin a for wrinkles australia - retin-a micro directions

Anonymous said...

viagra for sale how can i buy real viagra with no prescription - buy viagra edmonton

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 mg tramadol 750 mg - buytramadol.ca

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online in uk - tramadol hcl erowid

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with cod tramadol 50mg vs lortab - where to buy tramadol online usa

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online buy propecia new zealand - bad results propecia

Anonymous said...

tramadol no prescription tramadol 627 side effects - tramadol online cod

Anonymous said...

finasteride no prescription generic propecia in the us - buy propecia at walmart

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod overnight tramadol hcl er 100mg - next day tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a retin a micro vs differin - where to buy retin a in usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol cod - tramadol online 99

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol hcl bluelight - tramadol hcl 200mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol dosage mg/kg - what is tramadol high like

Anonymous said...

propecia hair loss buy propecia from canada - propecia yahoo answers

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol opiate - tramadol hcl ultram 50 mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100mg can you order tramadol online legally - buy tramadol online overnight cod

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia webmd - propecia typical results

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol pain killer - buy ultram uk

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl er dosage - legal order ultram online

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol 50mg recreational - tramadol dosage sr

Anonymous said...

finasteride 5mg safe buy propecia online - propecia generic substitute

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol addiction more drug_side_effects - tramadol use for withdrawal symptoms

Anonymous said...

where to buy tramadol online tramadol 50mg hcl - can get high tramadol 50mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping order tramadol cod next day delivery - get tramadol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy propecia propecia side effects to wear off - propecia online review

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online paypal - buy tramadol online legit

Anonymous said...

cheap generic viagra cheap generic viagra online pharmacy - viagra buy in us

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription best place buy viagra online - viagra no prescription overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol online cod - buy tramadol online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg withdrawal symptoms of tramadol - buy tramadol for dogs online

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription buy viagra 100mg us - buy cheap viagra online usa

Anonymous said...

cialis for sale can you buy cialis canada - best place buy cialis online uk

Anonymous said...

generic viagra off label viagra for women - generic viagra online forum

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol cheap no prescription - buy tramadol echeck

Anonymous said...

buy viagra viagra online usn pharmacy - buy cheap viagra mastercard

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra dosage maximum - cheap viagra online 100mg

Anonymous said...

buy cheap viagra cheap viagra germany - buy viagra online in australia

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 50mg with alcohol - inurl forum buy cheap tramadol

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription can you buy viagra walgreens - buy viagra online from canadian pharmacy

Anonymous said...

cialis sale can you buy cialis over the counter in usa - lowest price cialis online

Anonymous said...

order tramadol tramadol y paracetamol - tramadol online overnight no prescription

Anonymous said...

cheap generic viagra female herbal viagra for women - can you purchase viagra us

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol repeat order - buy tramadol online cod no prescription

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra for women hypertension - buy viagra cheap online no prescription

Anonymous said...

generic viagra buy viagra online pfizer - off label viagra for women

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription does viagra work right away - viagra cialis online us

Anonymous said...

generic cialis cialis price egypt - price viagra versus cialis

Anonymous said...

purchase viagra buy generic viagra with paypal - buy viagra online rx

Anonymous said...

generic cialis buy cialis online south africa - cialis online no prescription overnight

Anonymous said...

viagra no prescription viagra for women in us price - viagra soft tabs

Anonymous said...

generic cialis purchase cialis online canada - where to buy cialis online yahoo answers

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis soft tabs online - cialis price in south africa

Anonymous said...

cialis for sale buy cialis montreal - cheap cialis generic india

Anonymous said...

buy cialis order cialis paypal - generic cialis daily

Anonymous said...

cialis online canada buy cialis daily use - buy generic cialis online review

Anonymous said...

order cialis no prescription generic cialis vs real cialis - buy cialis walmart

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cheap cialis canadian - cialis 5mg online usa

Anonymous said...

cialis no prescription ok buy cialis online - cialis online 5mg

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cialis pharmacy coupon - buy cialis without doctor prescription

Anonymous said...

generic cialis superdrug cialis price - cialis online-versand

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma san diego parking - soma grand cost

Anonymous said...

soma without prescription soma overdose - buy soma fedex

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma generic equivalent - soma juice

Anonymous said...

buy viagra information on viagra dosage - viagra online doctor

Anonymous said...

buy soma 5 soma pills - soma mixte buy

Anonymous said...

buy soma 350mg buy soma online no rx - soma muscle relaxant wiki

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma with codeine - soma muscle relaxer and alcohol

Anonymous said...

soma online soma intimates models - buy soma no script

Anonymous said...

soma without prescription do drug test test soma - buy soma frame

Anonymous said...

retin a order online retin-a gel directions - can i buy retin a cream over the counter

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma 250 pill - soma muscle relaxant wikipedia

Anonymous said...

retin a cream retin a micro scars - buy retin a tretinoin gel

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription tramadol effects - tramadol 50 mg efectos secundarios

Anonymous said...

cheap retin-a where can you buy retin a tretinoin cream - retin a micro coupon 2012

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol buy tramadol from canada - tramadol 50 mg dose

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 7171 - tramadol qt interval

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol no prescription cheap - tramadol vs codeine high

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol dosage horses - buy tramadol usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online cod overnight - tramadol hcl time release

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping tramadol online in canada - tramadol legal status

Anonymous said...

buy discount tramadol buy tramadol online prescription - order tramadol for dogs

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without a script tramadol dosage canine weight - generic brand tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy retin a what does retin-a micro gel do - retin-a results

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol liver damage - buy tramadol online reviews

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol in florida tramadol 50mg better than vicodin - buy tramadol online saturday delivery

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol in florida buy tramadol online overnight uk - tramadol and ibuprofen

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod next day delivery tramadol retard medartuum 100mg - buy tramadol online in florida

Anonymous said...

tramadol no prescription order tramadol overnight delivery - buy tramadol forum

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online without prescription usual dosage tramadol dogs - tramadol veterinary use dosage

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod overnight tramadol dosage ocd - kind medicine tramadol hcl

Anonymous said...

xanax online order real xanax - xanax mg sizes

Anonymous said...

xanax anxiety alprazolam 2mg yellow bar - xanax dosage compared klonopin

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online by cod - side effects of ultram tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol hcl tramadol hcl and alcohol - tramadol dosage mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol cream - tramadol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy carisoprodol online carisoprodol pain killer - carisoprodol 350 mg forum

Anonymous said...

cialis professional cialis under tongue - cialis 40 mg online

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 211   Newer› Newest»