1.1.11: Out With the Old and In With the New

Yesterday was quite the New Year's Eve. My youngest brother Timothy celebrated his fifteenth birthday.  I cant believe that he is fifteen already.  But more crazy than that is the fact that we also had several tornadoes the St Louis area, particularly in my neighborhood. I live about one mile away from an area that was heavily hit and seriously damaged. Roofs were torn off of houses, cars were turned over in parking lots, my in laws were without power. It was a mess.  I mean you always hear about things things happening but you never think that it will happen to you.  And to top it all off I cant believe that I actually was out driving in the storm while the tornado happened. I can say that I learned a valuable lesson. For years, I kinda looked at the meteorologists like they don't have a clue.  But I can tell you this, I will no longer ignore the news and if they say there is a tornado watch, I will keep my rear end in the basement and listen.  I could have very well been hurt.  Trust me, lesson learned!
　
　
After we all got done being shook up by the natural disaster, we spent evening at home. Since my husband and I don't have as active of a social life since we had our children, we knew before New Years Eve that Jasmine was going to have a sleepover.  Ken and I allowed Jasmine to have a sleepover with her cousin. We decided that the kids were old enough to celebrate and could stay awake to bring in the new year. We watched movies and had champagne (kiddy cocktail for the kids) and feasted on crab legs. Of course I couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a couple of photos of the girls either.
　

I can honestly say that the best part of the New Years Eve celebration was allowing the girls to let loose and have fun.  The girls were pretty excited all night about it being New Years Eve.  We did not want to disappoint them.  They were excited about having a party.  It didn't matter that there were only five of us.  We let kids enjoy some kiddy cocktails (sprite and fruit punch).  They felt fancy because they got to drink from the crystal flutes "like the grown ups."

　

Jon wasn't one for the photos or the kiddie cocktail, he stayed firm in front of the TV.

Crab legs!!!

In between drinking punch, eating crabs and other finger foods, the girls decided to give a performance and played piano for us.  It was sweet.

　

At midnight, Ken, the kids and I went outdoors to celebrate. Well all of us except for Jon.  He didn't make it.   Ken was too funny.  He blew a horn of all things while the girls popped simple fireworks.

When it was all said and done the girls made it to midnight.  There were very excited about it all and then they went to bed. This is a far cry from the nights that I celebrated with friends but nonetheless a nice way to bring in the New Year.  There were a lot of ups and downs in 2010 and I am excited about what the new year will bring.