Happy New Year's 2013

Unfortunately, my entire family caught a nasty cold the day after Christmas, so I didn't get to spend as much time with Heather and her family as I would have liked before they headed back to Kansas.  But the time we did spend together was sweet. 

Lyla enjoyed her first trip to Fargo's at Christmas.  She was happily overwhelmed by all the decorations and couldn't take her eyes off the giant tree.  The lights on the tree flickered to the beat of the Christmas music coming from the self-playing piano in the main dining room.

I became really sad when it came time for Heather to go home.  Her leaving was just another step towards the holidays being over.  The Post-Christmas blues hit me hard this year.  It's just so depressing when it's time to take the decorations down, and toss all the leftover cookies and treats, and go back to school and work.  Reality bites. 
 

*Sniff *Sniff.

Thankfully, the blues usually exit just as quickly as they arrive.  By New Year's Eve I'm more than happy to pack away all the tinsel and glitter of the holidays and give my house a good scrub down.

This New Year's Eve was perfection.  I spent the majority of the day relaxing with my family.

And spent the evening playing games and eating all sorts of yummy things that nobody should ever be eating at Doug and Christy's.

Benny lasted until exactly 11:55 pm before drifting off.  We rang in the new year together with lots of hugs and kisses.

Onwards and upwards!