Toast and Sardines

We're sick.
No, really. We've been sick since before we left for PA- took the bug right along with us, thought it best to share, then drug it on home again. So basically we have not gone anywhere or done much else than stay inside for almost 2 weeks.

Our original New Years eve plans were to spend some quality time with some friends. However, we (wisely) decided that we've shared quite enough of our germies so we (once again) found ourselves within our own four walls.

We had a blast.

We started off the evening with a candlelight, ceramic plate, glass goblet meal of the ever popular spaghetti. No IKEA plasticwear for this meal!(okay except for Seth's salad bowl) We introduced the boys to the concept of giving "a toast" as we each said one thing we were thankful for in 2008 and one thing we wanted to do in 2009. Seth was thankful for God (his standard ;) and Jaedon wants to learn to tie his shoes. They had fun clinking the glasses while the white grape juice sloshed around ;)

Earlier in the day Jaedon came up with the idea of having a New Years Eve parade. Not sure where that came from but he made everyone their music sheets, put our names on it and planned out our marching route. So after the candles were blown out (which was the topic of much dinner time discussion), we took 10 minutes to bundle everyone up, and walked around our house one time (in -40 degrees) singing Away in a Manger and Joy to the World. We were a sight with our flashlights blinking and a bike horn honking.

We then spent the next 2 hours playing games. Jenga was a hit- literally- for about 7 minutes ;) After "regular" hide and seek, we showed the boys the opposite version that (I call) "squished as Sardines". (one person hides and when you find them you join them in their hiding spot until the last person finds you.)

We spent New Year day with the Howells' gang and had SO much fun relaxing, playing LOTS of games and being together.

What a perfect way to bring in a new year!