Happy New Years Eve!

It's interesting to think back over New Years past and see how we've evolved...

The New Years after we got married, we made plans with some friends to celebrate at at hotel, so we could stay there and not have to worry about driving or those who shouldn't be driving. My girlfriend and I went shopping and found sparkling silver tops to go with silky black pants and jackets. We looked GREAT! We all went out to eat at the hotel restaurant first and had a wonderful dinner, complete with champagne. I'm not a big drinker, so one glass of champagne and I started to get the giggles. We went to the hotel bar/lounge and nibbled on the munchies they had and had a couple of more drinks. By late that night, my girlfriend and I and many other people were dancing on the chairs and tables. Quite a sight I'm sure. LOL

The year I was pregnant with the girls, I was on bedrest, so we had a mattress on the floor in the living room (since our bedroom was upstairs). Jay was sweet and slept on the couch beside me. We watched Dick Clarks new years show on tv and watched the ball drop in Times Square and were asleep 15 min later...since NY is an hour ahead of us, that meant we were asleep by 11:15 our time. We were quite the wild pair celebrating in our jammies! LOL

As the children grew, we made fun plans with them. We had virgin strawberry margaritas & dacquiris when I was pg with Austin. I remember Ashley telling someone on the phone that she was having a mahgawita & Chelsea was having a duckawee. LOL

As the girls got into school they began having friends over for New Years Eve. We have had lots of screaming giggling girls come through our house ringing in the New Year with us and while it's been loud and chaotic, I wouldn't change a thing...including the not-so-smart idea of allowing them to have an indoor silly string war.

Last year, Ashley was in Florida dancing at the Capitol One Bowl on New Years, so she wasn't here with us. Chelsea had friends over (both guys and girls) and they had a lot of fun playing Fear Factor with our chocolate fountain (seeing what everyone was brave enough to eat with chocolate on it...pizza and sausages were the highlights LOL) and they all went in the hot tub.

This year is kind of a sad one. It's our last New Years with the girls living at home, but neither one is here. They are both dancing at the Capitol One Bowl this year, and while we are soooooo proud of them and thrilled they have the chance to experience this, we are also sad that we won't celebrate New Years with them as we have for the past 18 New Years (including the year I was pg). Austin's not big on parties at all. As a matter of fact, he didn't even want a party for his birthday last year. Took one friend to the movies and had pizza and that was it. He's just not into parties and big celebrations....which is JUST like his Grandpa Johnnie! So, we asked Austin what he'd like to do this New Years and we got the ever delightful "I dunno". We threw out a few options and I think our tentative plan is to eat an early supper (4pm or so) at Applebees before the crowds get bad. Then we'll rent a couple of movies and spend a quiet night at home.

Quiet is nice, being at home is nice, but geez, at the rate Jay and I are going, in a few years we'll be spending our New Years taking our teeth out at 8:00 and in bed by 8:15. Oh how times have changed! LOL

By the way...again, I want to say congratulations to my sweet baby girls for being selected to dance in Florida over New Years. I know it's a New Years celebration they'll never forget!