~New Years Eve 2010!~

 We were leaving the next day for a 10 day haitus to the sun, so I knew there was no pulling off a last minute New Years Eve party like last year.   I still wanted to celebrate the New Year in style with my little ones and make it a different evening from all the rest.  So I spent the morning New Years Eve running errands one on one with Elyssa, and then we all headed out to see a matinee of Mega Mind.  Afterwards we came home and started our annual...

It was so fun to see how much more involved the kids are in the process now versus two years ago when we started.  While they were all hard at work I went and picked up chinese take-out for our feast.  Maybe not the amazing stuffed mushrooms/appetizers/gourmet meal of years past, but still yummy to me!

 After our celebratory feast we all went in the living room and made amazing Marble rollercoasters for almost two hours!  It was so much fun for everyone.  In all honesty Nick and I monopolized most of the building pieces, though we all had a blast shooting marbles down the runs.  

 Then it was time for pajamas and dessert!  New Years Eve always involved some sort of yummy chocolate for us, so chocolate fondue was perfect.

 After we filled our bellies with marshmellows, strawberries, and warm chocolate, I pulled out the bells for a family performance of Auld Lang Syne.  We even called up grandparents and played for them, wishing everyone a happy new year.  

 Since we played all afternoon and evening with the kids, Nick and I were up super late packing for our trip.  As we watched the ball drop in Times Square at midnight, we gave each other a quick kiss and kept on rolling clothes, counting diapers, and stuffing things into bags.  I'm pretty sure we were up until 3 or 4 in the morning packing, but spending a fun day with the kids making memories was worth the late night.  Besides, it was all in the name of Costa Rica!   

Our long awaited trip with family was finally here!  

If you ask me, not a bad way to kick off the New Year. :-)