New Year's Eve 2017

2017. I'm glad it's over. It will always be the year my mom died. And the year Donald Trump became President. Two seriously awful things in one year. 

Here's hoping 2018 is full of more positive events.

We did manage to celebrate New Year's Eve with fun and friends:

First we met Cheryl and Alice at the movies for Pitch Perfect 3. It was Cheryl's birthday so we had an impromptu mini party with mini cupcakes in the theater cafe and a gift from us. It was lots of fun to surprise Cheryl. 

Some selfies:

I just realized Cheryl was in the bathroom when we took pictures so she isn't in any. Sorry!

After the movie we went home, finished making appetizers to bring to some friends for a dinner party:

Violet, Charlotte, Andy, Ally & Stella.

After dinner we got home around 9pm. Becky and I watched tv in the living room and Ally hung out in her room. She is loving her room, it's cozy with the extra heater on and it's super neat and organized right now. She watched You Tube Videos for a while and drank some amazing hot cocoa Becky made her. Ally was determined to stay awake until midnight and see the ball drop.

I take terrible selfies and I was not thrilled to still be awake.

Ally was so Excited!!!

She was so hyped it was hard for her to get to sleep. It was around 1am by the time she got herself to sleep. This morning I woke her around 10am.

Then she was thrilled to snuggle on the couch with her cat and dog!

Cloey never is calm around Carl so this was a special time or harmony between our pets.

Earlier Becky braved the freezing cold to get us donuts.

We spent the day mainly at home today, relaxing and working on home and beauty. I say beauty because Ally did a face mask, and got an at home manicure and pedicure and we dyed her hair blue again. The dye had faded so much her hair was actually gray. Not a great look. 

Becky and Ally spread out on their respective couches and played Minecraft for a long while. I rested in the bedroom. It was a nice way to spend a few hours of our last day of vacation.

All week we have been searching for Carl's Santa hat. We found it today when we cleaned out our people hat and mitten bins so we are ready for the cold. Even though Christmas has passed Ally put it on Carl. He looks great.

It's been a wonderful 10 days off work and school. Today is our last "free" day until February 4. Everyday between now and then we have something we are committed to, whether it's practice or counseling or a meet or speaking at church or a birthday party or traveling. Every day has something and not just work and school. Something in addition to those. It's going to be a lot. But fun and some really great experiences are waiting for us.