Another Year Has Ended, A New One Has Begun

This was the first year we allowed the kids to stay up to ring in the New Year.  In years' past, we have celebrated with another couple or with other family members, but since we recently returned from a traveling Christmas vacation, we laid low and stayed home.

Kyle grilled steak and we paired it with green beans and fresh, warm bread.  Since it was a special evening, the kids helped me dress the table with a tablecloth, complete with cloth napkins and our finest dishes and glassware.  We even brought out small cordials so the kids might enjoy some sparkling white grape juice, which was received with, "Ooh! it tastes spicy!" and "I don't like the bubbles, Mom!"

After dinner, we busted out Max's new set of dominoes and played Mexican Train.  It was Max's first time and he picked up the gist of the game pretty quickly.  He preferred to help others out forsaking his own line when he had a chance to play something better. There's no competitive spirit built up within him yet. In due time, I'm sure.

We enjoyed dessert of chocolate cake and cheesecake, then proceeded to watch Cate and Kyle shake an arm or something slightly recognizable as dance to Wii's Just Dance 3.  And sure enough, we couldn't have the countdown without turning to Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve Countdown.  Once it hit midnight, the glasses clinked, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber were sighted and the kids were then promptly sent to bed without complaint. For the next day, we were opening our home to guests.

Every January 1, for what I believe has been six years now, we have invited a small group of family and friends to enjoy an Ebelskiver Breakfast and Aquavit to toast in the New Year.  Unlike last year, when we ran out of key ingredients before the kitchen officially closed, we made sure we had enough to feed those who stepped in the door.  This year, we made brunch for twenty-four, including ourselves.  The newest attendees were Kyle's friends Shawn and Kristen with their daughter Ivy, who is a sweet little girl.

The first arrivals were quickly put to work.  Jen and Tim helped lay everything out and Tim was supreme bacon fryer until the first batch of Ebilskiver was ready.  Then everyone else slowly made their way over and over the course of four hours there were three Aquavit toasts to the new year.  We closed the kitchen at two.

The Coleman family stayed the afternoon and we all played the day away.  The grown-ups played Mexican Train, which became increasingly more strategic as the rounds went on.  Max & Colleen put together an impressive pet store in Max's room and the three older kids scored high on Just Dance 3 and dug into the Legos, breaking only for lunch.

Friends, family, food, drink, games, laughter, and taking it easy.  All in all, it was a great close to one year and beginning to another.