Welcome 2014!

Alternate title:  The night when we fill the house with people & food, play games, make a lot of noise, then trash the house with confetti!

New Year's Eve....it's one of my favorite days of the year.  It's also our anniversary which adds to why it's my favorite.  Christmas for me is about tradition, nostalgia, and family.  It's candlelight services, hot chocolate and lights, and wrapping up in a blanket and watching movies that I can almost quote in their entirety.  New Year's eve on the other hand is all about a loud raucous party.  This year we filled the house with 23 people. Ryan emerged victorious in our "Minute to Win It" tournament.  There was bingo, a wild dance party, magical entertainment, and a very dramatic Euchre loss by a very competitive guest who shall remain nameless.  At midnight we fired up the horns, the confetti went flying, and balloons fell from the skylights.

Last sunset of 2013

Plenty of food and Chick-fil-a nuggets for this wild crew

Dusty trying to master a Minute to Win it game

Yes, I will make my guests dip their noses in Vaseline and use it to move cotton balls around.

Our very own mini-bingo hall

Dance party!

Thanks to FaceTime we were able to celebrate with friends and family in Colorado & California

Our favorite magician in action!

This is what our midnight looks like

For the 2nd year in a row we were treated to Ryan's dance moves!

Shelby gets into his New Year's celebration

We hope you have a great 2014!

Our Christmas in Photos

Our fun Christmas adventures got cut short by a couple of days.  The stomach bug decided to make an appearance.  We packed it in and headed back to Indiana a few days early.  The bug took out 3 of the Hackney 4.  Luckily I was spared and was able to drive everyone home.  We're on the mend and spent today doing a whole lot of nothing.  So here's a photographic Christmas recap of the happier moments!

Dusty & his co-workers get one more year of daily Chuck-isms

And just for fun I would like to leave you with "Random Phrases heard at my Family's house with no context".  In fact I think this should become a regular occurrence on this blog.  I have plenty of source material

• If that watch face was any bigger it would be around Flava Flav's neck!
• Well I haven't smelled the napkins yet.
• Is it time for the feats of strength?

(Snowy) City Sidewalks

Headed down to Georgia Street this evening for City Sidewalks, which was billed as a holiday festival in downtown Indy.  I think the impending snow storm may have kept some vendors away, but we still had a lot of fun wandering around downtown tonight.  Besides, anytime you get to meet a camel named Moses it's got to be a good evening!

Then there were the other animals from the live nativity

And Herbie the Reindeer

We hung out with some animals of the costumed variety

Had a photo op with Santa

Popped into St. John Catholic Church.  Aaron's response, "Whoa!"

I think they may have been getting ready for Mass because a priest was moving some candles to the alter.  Part of me would have really liked to stay.  The building was beautiful and peaceful, but this Baptist may have been in over her head! :)

So we moved on to a yearly tradition....hot chocolate on the circle

Photobomb courtesy of a root-beer swilling Aaron!

And another tradition - the photo of the monument all lit up

I love my city!

Holiday Happenings

Perhaps I'll make a New Year's resolution to blog with more frequency and quality....until then, some photos.

Children's Choir Christmas Performance

Happy Birthday Jesus party

Riding in the chilly Christmas Parade

Thanksgiving in photos

Back from our annual Thanksgiving trip to Illinois.  The trip in a few photos

So not technically during Thanksgiving, but thankful to be able to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child again this year

Baking started the night before

Our family's pie requirements:  pumpkin pie, sugar-free pumpkin pie, and gluten-free pumpkin pie

Have to watch the parade

Noodlin'

Let's eat

They're obviously starting an Axl Rose inspired rock band

Uncle Joel took Aaron out for a little driving instruction.  He said he was up for the challenge and had lived a good life

These two weirdos decided to do push ups during the commercial of their Hallmark Christmas movie

Sadly this was the scene from our back deck when we got home.  I heard that the family all made it out safely, but as you can see the house did not fare well.  Prayers for them.