New Years

Miranda and Ellie at the CU game

At Old Mattress Factory

Miranda and Ellie at dinner

Miranda, Ellie and Jack at dinner

Watching NYE fireworks

Fireworks

Standing in Joe's truck watching the fireworks

New Years toast--Jack refused to participate in wearing a hat or toasting with sparkling grape juice--he wanted nothing to do with it!

Stomping on bubble wrap--although it didn't work very well because when I went to buy bubble wrap they only had the little bubble wrap and we needed the big bubble wrap--oh well!

Fun with bubble wrap

More fun with bubble wrap!

Where oh where has the time gone these past few weeks. I know it goes fast but for some reason this year it just flew by in a flash. I sent the kids off to school today and I am feeling so sad. Usually I am ready to get them back to school and back to a routine. And while I am happy to have our routine back I am really missing having them home all the time. I might have to start a countdown to summer! We had a fun New Years weekend! We have never had a set tradition for New Years Eve so this year we decided to ask our friends (Dawn and Joe and their 2 kids) to spend New Years Eve together. We went to the Creighton women's basketball game that afternoon then went to eat at Old Mattress Factory and then stayed downtown to watch the fireworks display. It was such a gorgeous day that we thought that seemed like a great plan. The weather changed dramatically between the time we went into the restaurant around 5pm and left around 6:30---it got cold, rainy and windy---gotta love Nebraska!!! So we ended up parking at the top of a parking garage downtown and watching the fireworks from there. It turned out great and we were blessed to spend New Years Eve with great friends! When we got home Dave and I and the kids did our own little "celebration" complete with sparkling grape juice, bubble wrap and horns!  Jack went to bed and Ellie and I watched Rockin' New Years for a bit and then were asleep by about 10:30ish! It was a fun, low-key night---my favorite kind of night! On New Years Day we had the neighbors over for soup/chili night. Everyone brought a soup/chili and the adults talked and the kids played (until really, really late!!) We are lucky to have a great group of people who live in our circle that we get to call our friends! The Huskers played in the Capitol One bowl game on Monday the 2nd and although we lost and it was a terrible game we had fun watching it with the same friends that we spend NYE with. We were exhausted by Mon night and got the kids to bed super early so they would be ready to head back to school today :( As I reflect on 2011 and think about whats ahead for 2012 I remember how truly blessed I am and how excited I am to see what God has in store for me in 2012......He never ceases to amaze me!