The Kassel Family Project Life 365

We rang in the new year as we have done for the last few years – with great friends, drinks, and laughs.  It was a fun way to say goodbye to 2013 and hello to 2014.  As I have done every year since 2006, I got out the New Year’s centerpiece.  It just wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve at the Kassel Household without this fantastic, $1 centerpiece on our dining room table…

Rachel and I spent the evening “martini-ing” it up.  We began with Candy Cane Martinis and then changed to Elf Cocktails.  The Elf Cocktail wasn’t the best and, after attempting to fix it, we finally gave up and finished the evening with Candy Cane Martinis.

Everyone made it until midnight, including these three cuties.  They enjoyed toasting to the New Year with sparkling white grape juice!

After toasting to the New Year with champagne, we all headed outside to watch the fireworks display.  It was a great end to a great night with great friends!

It was *the* night for the kids to spend their Toys R Us Christmas gift cards from Grandpa Ken and Grandma Marilyn.  I would say that it was a success as the kids had a great time wandering through the store picking out their new toys.

Laura chose a stuffed Minion from Despicable Me 2 and the Barbie Sea World set.  John picked out a talking Dusty from Cars 2 and more Hot Wheels cars.  Time to play!

We organized all of Laura’s Rainbow Loom rubber bands today.  She was excited because as she said, “Next time I make a bracelet, I can easily find every color, Mom!  Thanks!”  Ah…  Organization…  It just makes me smile!

On my monthly trip to Sam’s Club, I came across this today…  A specialty pack of Samuel Adams beer.  It was a bit pricey (roughly the same cost as a case), but it is good to splurge now and then!

What is one of the benefits to Winter break?  A sleepover with a school friend!  Laura’s best friend, Annabelle, is here for the night.  Fun times!

This was the perfect after-Christmas day.  A bit of grocery shopping (Aldi was EMPTY!), setting up my new Kindle Fire HDX, listening to happy sounds from the kids as they play all the new Wii games, a nap, a Candy Cane Martini, and Bacon Beer Cheese Soup.  Great day!

Merry Christmas!  Just like last year, Christmas Day started rather late for us.  Laura and John slept until about 7 am.  That was fine by me because it gave me time to enjoy some coffee and time with Dad and Marilyn before the craziness of the morning really began.  As you can imagine, both kids were so excited when they saw the two piles of presents from Santa Claus next to our Christmas tree.  It was just so much fun to watch the kids open their presents.  John was just *slightly* excited when he opened his Santa presents.  He got lots of Legos, Nerf guns, a Flipeez hat, and a Lite Brite.

Laura was slightly less excited, but she was still talking in that high-pitched, squealing tone that always accompanies excitement…  She received a Lite Brite, lots of American Girl things, and a Flipeez hat from Santa.

This was also a big year for Andy as I finally told him to buy that tablet that he has been wanting.  It hardly seems fair that I wrapped it and made him wait until Christmas morning (especially given that he let me have my new Kindle Fire HDX on Christmas Eve), but I think he’ll get over it.  Maybe…

After all the presents were opened, we ate a great breakfast and relaxed for a bit.  The kids played with all their new toys and I couldn’t resist snapping this photo of John wearing a Santa hat and running around with one of his new Nerf guns.

Rachel and Alia (minus B who was sick) joined us about noon.  After exchanging presents, the kids spent the rest of the day playing, playing, and more playing.  We did manage to sneak in a photo or two of them.  It only took six tries to get this one great one…

The adults ate great food, talked, drank some good drinks (Candy Cane Martinis FTW!), and just enjoyed the day.  It was a great Christmas spent with family and great friends.  Exactly as it should be.