the best, hands down...

well first...

let's start with saying this...

yay.

welcome 2014.

normally for new years eve,

we get all dolled up

and go out to our local

civic center

for a live band and some dancing.

however,

this year i kinda wanted a low-key

kind of new years eve.

when my family all agreed,

we decided to hang out and cook

at our house.

let's just say that it turned

out to be my absolute favorite

new years eve,

hands down.

i did a quick table decor

and threw up a new years banner

because i had to get the house

a bit festive.

the table was so cheez and nothing dramatic

but, hey, i improvised.

(both clocks were supposed to be set

to 12:00 but one didn't work.)

:) 

i also picked up some pipe cleaners

and pom poms and us ladies made crowns.

my brothers' girlfriend and fiancé

made a crown for button and she even

looked quite festive for the occasion.

as you can tell,

she was very amused.

i love this picture though.

i'm so glad we got it.

we had the music blaring

and the stove going the whole night.

my lovely boo cooked most of the food

and it was all delicious.

my baby bro and i danced like it was our job

while the others chatted.

i love this sight in my home.

we danced, played cranium, and did some sparklers.

the cranium game was quite interesting to say the least.

it got extremely heated and we all laughed

till we fell out of our chairs, literally...um mom :)

our cranium clay was dried out

so we ended up using biscuit dough

and someone may have used their

new years hat as a cone bra to imitate

madonna.

oh, and just for the record,

shane and i won.

i couldn't have spent the night

any other way.

i thank god for these people.

they are the ones that hold me together.

i pray abundant blessings in our life for 2014.

i pray the hand of god in our family.

i pray for us to thrive, restore, love, laugh, and dream

more than ever.

i will treasure these memories.

here's to this new year.

i'm hoping it includes many more nights like this one.

ash...