I can’t believe it’s 2014! Shouldn’t we be on a space odyssey or something? We rang in the new year at my friend Tara’s house. Well, more specifically, the eastern time zone new year. Since Los Angeles is three hours behind New York, we can watch the ball drop live and it isn’t completely wrecking our kids to let them stay up.
As usual, the kids had no problem entertaining themselves.
James was taking a cat nap…not to be confused with Reilly the Cat.
When James woke up, he was ready to party.
I made poppers for the kids, and there were a lot of options to make as much noise as possible.
The kids counted down to midnight (9pm) while holding cups of sparkling cider. Annie declared the cider, “Good, but spicy.” She’s not into carbonation.
Then we all ran outside to throw pop-its and pull champagne poppers and yell, “Happy New Year!” and again, make as much noise as possible.
There were other ways to have fun, too.
Mike kept his arm fully extended but I kept yelling, “Too close, too close!” until he handed the sparkler off to someone else. I’m fun at parties!
Baby Cait showed James her new trick (kissing), and then it was time to go home.
Back at our house, Annie balked at going to bed. “Mommy, I really, really want to stay up until Real New Year with you! Please Mommy? We can cuddle on the couch and talk about resolutions and maybe sing songs.”
I mean…I’m not made of stone!
But five minutes later….
“Mommy, I’m just going to rest my eyes for a minute here next to Jamesie.”
Mike was also asleep at “Real New Year,” so I kissed Rigby at midnight. That girl can always hang.
Next week, it’s back to regular life: preschool and gymnastics start again, and we can resume our regular schedule. As nice as it’s been to not have to be anywhere, I am really looking forward to things being back to normal. Three weeks of fun have made a three-year-old who is very ready for routine again!
Happy New Year, everyone!
DefendUSA says:
The minute I saw this photo, I knew I had to say that you MUST print this photo, twice. Then cut out Annie/James silouhettes and trace onto black paper, and frame!! YOU. MUST.
Amanda says:
the “spicy” sparkling cider is the exact description my almost-four-year-old used to describe it. Made me laugh! she, too, isn’t into carbonation.
Meredith Elyse says:
I never thought about having to deal with explaining time zones to children regarding New Year’s Eve. How does one do that?
shannon says:
Adorable picture…all of them really. But the last one..priceless. Watching your babies grow makes me nostalgic for mine…they are gnarly teens/preteens…and a 7 year old that thinks he’s 17 now. Happy New Year to the Spohr Family!
Johanna says:
Happy New Year! I love that James is closing his eyes while getting kissed by baby Cait.
Bianca says:
Happy new year! Although just in case you ever visit the UK…’poppers’ are a recreational drug, lol. What you made are called crackers :p
Jenny says:
My daughter thinks carbonated drinks are too “spicy” too! How funny. Happy New Year to you all!
Kitty @ LambAround: Life with my Sexy Nerd says:
Happy New Year, Heather! That photo of Baby Cait kissing James is too cute. Like, so cute that now I want them to grow up and get married to each other, just so you can show that photo at the wedding
Lanie says:
Sounds like a great way to spend New Years! Love James’ bow tie onesie. Happy 2014 to you all too!
Anna says:
Annie’s idea to “talk about resolutions” made me laugh!
wendy says:
i’ve also got one of those littles who calls carbonation “spicy” along with lots of not-spicy foods. pretty much anything with a strong flavor, she’ll declare to be spicy.
Glenda says:
Happy New Year Spohr Family!
Hubby and I always ring in the New Year East coast time (being born and raised there and living on the West coast for 16 yrs)
nona says:
Okay, so, you’ve got time to convince your kids to become bloggers, right? Because, if Annie and James ever have kids, I’m going to need to keep track of that generation of cuteness, as well.
I’m getting ahead of myself, but Annie has already found a husband, girls are kissing James, and, the older *I* get, the faster time travels, so, I thought I’d put my idea out there, now.
Jeanie says:
Happy New Year to all of you!
Kendra says:
That picture of the kids on the sofa is priceless. When all the kids are adults, they should reenact this photo. It would be hilarious.
Kendra
Annalisa says:
A friend of mine did something similar this past Christmas with a childhood photo featuring her siblings and cousins posing together. Then she posted the original and the updated pic on Facebook with a caption that read “the mystery of the shrinking couch”. I laughed out loud.
Annalisa says:
Ha. My daughter also isn’t as fond of fuzzy anything, but she surprised us on NYE after we gave her sparkling cider by asking “more green lemonade?” after she drank her half full child sized glass of it. I think it was being ‘included’ in our ‘grown up’ 7 PM dinner that did it. (her bedtime is 8 PM, and boy is she feisty for the rest of the evening if she misses it).
Mama_k says:
Can I just say that James’ sweet sleepy profile looks exactly like maddie’s? Curl of eyelashes, curve of cheek, little pursed lips…gorgeous.