Through The Years

Jen and Benjie, Karen and Byran and Neil and I have been making New Year's Eve celebrations for about as long as I can remember.   Lucky for us, other good friends often join us.  There's something so special and sacred to me about saying "so long" to the old year and welcoming the new year with my oldest friends.  And now that our kids stay up until midnight and double the party size, it's more fun than ever.

Here's Jen and me on NYE 1995/96.  I was pregnant with Harper.  This was at our second story apartment on Charles Street in Lyndonville.  I loved that apartment.

Here's a group shot from a NYE in Putney.  I'm guessing this is 1998ish.

And around the same time of maybe a year of so later, on New Year's Day, here is little Harper in Putney in Jen and Benjie's hot tub.  Isn't she cute?

 Another NYE celebration. 2004/05

KJ and me ringing it in in Lunenburg that same year.

These guys were being good sports in 2005/06.  Jen bought the shorts at her local thrift store as a surprise and then put them up to making a surprise entrance at the annual NYE dance party.  It was hysterical.  I believe the song was "Body Movin" by the Beastie Boys.

New Year's Eve dinner of Cragin/Favreau/Sanderson kids in 2005/06 in Putney.

Jen grooving the dance party in 2006/07

And another fancy kid dinner, 2007/08

Noelle and me in East Burke ringing in 2009

 Tate dancing in my living room

Harper and Nina.  Seems like yesterday but they're so little!

Last year in Putney (2011/12)

And some of the crew last night in Lunenburg, just before midnight.

It's never quite the same without Michael.  He was serving in Afghanistan for much of this year so we were lucky to have him stateside for last night's party.

I don't have pictures from all the years.  We joke that it doesn't matter because it's always the same; a bunch of us around the fire, being silly, often wearing hats.  But looking back you can really see how we're all growing and changing.

It's a big treat that Maria and Peter usually make the very long trip from Pennsylvania to be with us.  They are so much fun and a critical part of the New Year's Eve Tradition.  Maria is a great cook and always brings amazing treats.  Last night she outdid herself with meatballs and sausage, cookies, homemade raisin bread for the morning and I can't even think of what all else!

This year at Midnight, Patrick made an impromptu but very well-enunciated speech.  It went something like this: "It's been a great year.  We've done some good things... and..we've done some bad things.  If we promise to change than we can change the outcome of our actions.  We can change ourselves and how we act."   There was riveting conclusion none of us can quite remember followed by a huge round of applause.  Just awesome Pat!

Happy New Year!!!