Hello 2017

A lot of cute kids

2016 was good to us. It had its moments - all years do - but it also brought successful surgery outcomes for both Yogs and Fiona, a new job (and then a promotion at that job) for Mike, the transition to two school-agers, and the official end to baby-dom in our house. It felt fitting that we send it out in the right way. So that meant we headed over to B&C's house. They are our New Year's Eve people.

Even though we had absolutely no official plans (other than eating!), we had the best time. There was a rousing game of pie face (that had Fiona and Jack giggling hysterically), serious confetti cannon action, ice cream sundaes with all the toppings, and a lot of wildness in the basement. We stayed until almost 9:00, which is basically midnight for our kids compared to the normal bedtime. The bigs in both families cried when we left. Partly because they were overtired and mostly because they were having the best time together! Lucky for them, their parents used the opportunity to finish a sentence or two and plotted a joint Spring Break trip to the Dells - so they will have plenty of togetherness to look forward to.

In the most entertaining moment of the night, Mike did a throwback to a classic Emily move and, when he got up from the dinner table, tripped over Yogi (who blends into the floor) and suddenly disappeared from view. We could hear him though, as he slid across the floor and smashed into the bookcase. The lamp tottered, but didn't fall. And he never spilled his drink!

And with that drink, now definitely shaken and not stirred, we wished 2016 farewell and, with good friends, hearts full of hope, and a snack bucket full of wayward confetti and streamers, said hello to 2017.

We spent New Year's Day with our college gang.

And our one million children. 

For the record, we were missing eleven kids!