Happy New Year!

We've been vacationing with my parents for a few weeks in Florida (Seth came for Christmas week but returned to continue working). 

We've had fun with cousin Hunter (my sister's son).

We took a family photo for the Christmas card that I may still send out.

We took a trip to Legoland. 

We've been to the beach a few times.

We went to Kennedy Space Center and got to touch a rock from the moon.

Kieran finally warmed up to the pump organ that my parents inherited.

And we even tried the Florida version of "ice" skating -- Cael loved it; Kieran didn't.

We've been busy. And I've been busy the past few months with various things -- which means that blogging falls by the wayside.

I asked my readers (my sister and my mom) if a. they missed the regular blogging and b. they thought I should commit to blog every day for the next year. They said yes to both (I wasn't expecting them to say anything else). (And, actually, my mom said, "Maybe you should just try for once a week.")

So, on their advice, I'll try to blog every day for the next year. Don't, however, consider this a new year's resolution. I've resolved not to resolve anything like that. Instead, consider this a "hey, this happens to be January 1 and I happen to be feeling like getting back into the blogging habit so let's see how this goes" resolution. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

The next time we see the sun . . .



 . . . it will be 2013.

I'd say spending an evening at the beach watching the sun set is a nice way to say bon voyage to 2012 and welcome to 2013.

And the boys thought so, too.

Happy New Year!

Out my kitchen window, day 230

Today is the day we fondly reminisce about the year gone by, make promises for the year to come, and raise a glass of (fill in the blank) in celebration of loving family and friends, while singing Auld Lang Syne and wondering what in the world that really means.

Or, you could celebrate New Year's Eve like we do in the Holler:

1. Warm up the SnuggleSafe and put it in the Eglu to keep the chickens warm and give them a reason to stay put instead of heading to the neighbor's barn for the New Year's Chicken Eve party his menagerie is having. (I saw the rooster passing out invitations to the girls earlier today.)

2. Put a few loads of laundry through the washer and dryer because it's raining, and, well, that's what we do when it rains.

3. Chow down on popcorn doused in melted butter while watching Wild Hogs on TV. Realize at the end of the movie that, although the popcorn was worth it, the movie definitely was not.

4. Decide that staying up until midnight is overrated and head for bed at a reasonable hour.

5. Hop on Ye Auld Blog to raise a note of Holler Cheer to loving family and friends, wherever they may be. Happy  New Year!