Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve is probably my favorite night of the Christmas season. It's definitely the most relaxed of our get togethers and we get to hang out with our good buds, the Alligoods. The kids were SO excited about this . . . you'd think that we only see the Alligoods once a year by the way the kids were talking! Jonah said "Mom, since we get to stay up until midnight, we get to be with the Pattons for 8 hours tonight!" Very cute!

Because of our insane schedules at Christmas time, we started combining the Patton-Alligood Christmas and New Year's parties in to one night. I didn't take any pics of the Christmas part, but I did get a few snuggle shots while we were waiting for everyone to join us for presents.

They aren't complete family shots, but they're still cute!

This year I decided to be "cool Mrs. Patton.  I bought a box of New Year's Ever paraphernalia.  It was a hit!  (With the kids, at least.)  That box included blowers.  They were NOT a hit with the adults!  : )  It sounded like we had a gaggle of dying geese in the basement!

Are they a riot, or what?

Ali

Emma

Meg

Julie

This year was the first year that we let Jonah and Ali stay up until midnight.  This was a big deal to them!  Emma and Karis still had to get in bed at normal time, but we let them lie down and watch The Princess Diaries 2.  We had also promised them sparkling grape juice before they went to bed.  Well, we forgot about it until after they were in bed, so they got room service!  : )  They thought it was pretty darn cool!

Once the kiddoes were in bed, we decided on a game of Phase 10 with Ali & Jonah.  Of course, it ended up being the WORLD'S LONGEST GAME, so we decided that 10:30 was the time limit on it.  After that, Ali & Jonah enjoyed some DS time while the grown-ups played Trivial Pursuit.

When it was time, Jason put the clock on his iphone, and we counted down to the New Year, sparkling grape juice in hand.  Ali & Jonah thought that was really great.  Then we had to get all of our "First New Year's Eve" pics.  Poor Ali & Jonah.  They tolerate us so well!

Drinking with arms hooked!  That takes some coordination!
 

Happy New Year with my Honey!
 
Strangely, we were up REALLY late this year.  These past few years we've had to prop our eyes open just to make it to midnight!  Ali & Jonah went to bed after all of our toasts, and the grown ups enjoyed some more play time.  We left the Alligoods' house at about 2:30.  It's been a LONG time since we had such a late night.  It was great fun!  We're so thankful to have such awesome friends!