As 2011 slowly but inevitably came to an end... all of the liquor in the house crawled out of the woodwork to make a rare appearance! As you can see, it was time to celebrate the beginning of a New Year... but that of course meant we had to close out the old year, which for Jei & I.... just might have been the greatest year of our lives!
We started the year one week pregnant and in Roswell, New Mexico... and ended it in a new house in Murrieta, California with this little guy!!!
We kicked off the year completely alone with just each other and the cats while the nearest family member was over a thousand miles away... but ended it with a house full of love, happiness, and lots of wonderful family!
No loud music, fireworks, or fun drinking games with friends... instead, we settled for a nice mellow and quiet evening hanging out with some really silly characters we like to call family!
Looking back on it... I think we both have a hard time realizing just how different our lives were a year ago and probably couldn't even imagine back then having our own little 3-month-old baby boy while about to ring in 2012!
I don't think there was anywhere 'Buela'-Soch would have rather celebrated the New Year than at her home away from home with her grandchildren!
With such a wide variety to choose from and a complete lack of knowledge... Jeilene was forced to experiment with the drinks, and unfortunately, Sochi was forced to be the taste tester!
Anabella was a little trooper and made it all the way to midnight... and once the countdown had ended, I got a big kiss on the cheek and a very loud, "Happy New Year!"
We said goodbye to 2011 as the ball dropped and welcomed in 2012 exactly the way we wanted to... with lots of hugs, kisses, family and tasty adult beverages! I can't imagine 2012 being as special and eventful as 2011 was... with getting to see and spend time with 90% of our families, buying & moving into a beautiful new home, and becoming parents for the first time to a an amazing baby boy... but I guess if Obama loses the election and the world ends in December this year, than obviously that would totally outdo last year! :-)
2012 got off to one heck of a start when J.R. & Idely decided to cook dinner for us that evening on New Year's Day! The menu? ...An unbelievably amazing tortilla soup!!! Absolutely delicious!
New Year's Day was filled with lots of football, delicious food, laziness, and more family photos!
Wait a sec, let me check... Yeah, nope... it doesn't get any cuter than that! Okay, so maybe if Allen Jess would have been looking at the camera and smiling... but three out of four ain't bad! Those sure are some good looking cousins!
Well, if the first day of the New Year is any indication of how the rest of the year will be... then I'm definitely a happy man! Happy to have spent the New Year with family... happy to be blessed with such wonderful caring people in our lives... and happy to spend 2012 watching our beautiful son grow up faster than he ever will in one year's time. It should be a fun one!
Sochi, the next time those rude Californians force you to taste test those drinks, you let me know and I'll come back you up!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys had a blast over the past several weeks. I, for one, am hugely jealous!!!!
Can't wait till next time!! BTW, whatcha doin' for Spring Break?