5...4...3...2...1... HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

New Year's Eve was memorable this year...I think...at least what I can remember. Ba dum dum ching. Well at least I wasn't as bad off as this guy.


Every year we have a neighborhood party. Seeing how this was the first time since we moved in (5 years ago) that I wasn't pregnant or nursing, I figured it was our turn to host.

Joining us this year was a new friend...Mr. Jello Shot...he was kind to all.


At 10:00 pm we celebrated St. John's New Years for those kiddos that needed to crash. Between the sparklers, the snaps, the horns, and the screaming...we were just as bad as our college student neighbors.


Again...the details are fuzzy...but at some point we started an Irish sing along in the kitchen thanks to our guests from across the pond.

Phil gave everyone a piece of paper and had them write down a word that will be meaningful for them in 2012. This turned out to be quite the hit and we got some very interesting responses.


























By the end of the night my boys were completely kicked. They threw everyone out of their room and posted this sign out the door. Ba humbug.


They say that your year is determined by what you're doing at midnight on New Year's - here's hoping that 2012 turns out to be as much fun as that night (minus the dizziness).

Boo To The Flu

At the beginning of the summer we started going to a new church. It's been a great experience for the family and we really like the modern twists of the congregation (i.e. the sermons are all available on podcast and the minister likes to use 80's movie references in his sermons.)

This weekend we volunteered with a few other families at The Clinic in Phoenixville to disinfect from top to bottom as they prepare for flu season.

I brought Ryan and Cole, and was so proud of them for rolling up their sleeves and helping. I think they may have just been excited for the opportunity to wear rubber gloves, but they also asked a lot of smart questions like, "Why do people have to come here instead of a regular doctor's office?"

When we left Cole gave a hug to the Director of the Clinic and said, "I hope everyone feels better soon!" My little charmer strikes again.

Thankful

We had Thanksgiving at my sister's house and it included lots of food and plenty of wine. 8 adults, 7 kids. Wine, lots of wine.

We usually have Thanksgiving with Phil's parents and we always decorate a gingerbread house before dinner. Since we missed it this year, my sister-in-law sent home all the fixins and we fired it up at home.

Ry said, "Daddy told me that my side is organized and Cole's side is creative." Can you guess whose side is whose?

I'm thankful for a lot of things. For my awesome hubs, for my 4 crazy boys, and for all of my buds who leave us dinners on the back porch or whisk a kid or two away when we need a breather. For you and you and you - I am thankful!

Heroes

Today was the Veteran's Day parade in town. Ryan is way into learning about wars right now and [for the time being] wants to be a soldier when he grows up, so this was right up his alley. When the vets were marching by he kept shouting, "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!"


Cole dug up this flag and waved it while he sang, "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm freeeeeee..." We told him that he couldn't let it touch the ground and he said, "That's right, because we have to show our flag and our country respect." OMG he's actually been listening to us.

A special shout out to our cousin John who served in Iraq. Thank you to John and all of the soldiers who have fought or are currently fighting for our freedoms - you are our heroes!