Ringing in the New Year with Friends

When you get married later in life {ICK to that phrase - I'm not old!!!}, you have some unique challenges to face...like divvying up whose friends get which holidays. Last year, on New Year's Eve, we spent the evening with my friends, the Hancocks, who hadn't gotten to really meet Ryan yet. I'd spent many, many NYE's with them, and we had a great time celebrating our very first NYE ever with them.

This year, we went to Ryan's friends' house...the place he spent many, many NYE's before we were married. I knew them...sort of...but not really, so I wanted to try to make a good first{ish} impression on them. I figured I'd start by hauling in my camera bag, which happens to be a Thirty-One bag...and the hostess of the evening happens to be a Thirty-One consultant. If that failed to get me "in," well, I didn't have a plan B. :)

We were assigned to bring a relish tray, and I wasn't sure how to make a New Year's Eve relish tray. Because yes, I have a sickness that demands I theme every food to every party. But in my search for a good New Year's printable for my living room, I stumbled upon one with an accompanying printable for cupcakes. Cupcakes...celery....cucumbers...carrots...they all start with C, so I made it work.

 Yep...little veggie kabobs made with celery, cucumber, carrots, yellow bell pepper and the occasional cheese cube. Countdown kabobs!!

Most of the people at the party had kids, and the house where the party was held has this huge bonus/game room where all the kids stayed - playing all kinds of games and watching TV. The adults may or may not have intruded ever so briefly to sneak in a quick game of pinball.

Yes. Pinball. At their house.

 I have only played pinball once before in my life, so I was beyond rusty. But I jumped in and had some fun anyway.

 Anthony {the guy in the middle} gave us a tutorial guaranteed to get us closer to his record of 200 million points. Um...I didn't get there.

And then we played some other fun games with the adults - board games and drawing games. And there, we learned some of us really cannot draw. LOL!!

Ryan and I were nestled up on the couch, thoroughly enjoying ourselves {and our lack of artistic talent.}

 

Here's the whole crew...some very sweet, welcoming people in this bunch!

When midnight was just a few moments away, we put away the games, got our the sparkling grape juice and rang in the new year together!

 Of course I had to capture the obligatory welcoming screen shot...

 And I captured my new year's kiss!!

We stayed around a bit longer, just enjoying the fellowship, before driving home.

Ryan and Anthony recreated the expression of a guy who stood forever behind Ryan Seacrest in Times Square:

 And our hosts for the evening...Anthony and Nicole. We had a GREAT time. Perfect start to an exciting new year!

 PS - Larry at work said he liked my "sparkly tie." LOL!!! It's really a scarf but it's made mostly out of sequins and therefore doesn't work quite as well as a regular scarf. So enjoy the sparkly tie!