Ringing in the New Year

A brother and a sister, on a final day of a year. 

I love how protective he looks...

They play together so much now, usually still peacefully (occasionally things get a little heated)...

He's trying so hard to smile normally for the camera...

It's a work in progress :)

This gal was all kinds of fancy, ready to ring in the New Year...

My oldest friend has a baby girl just 2 and a half months younger than Cecilia. I hope these two can stick together through life like their mommas have...

Way back in 7th grade D and I went to her Grandma's house for New Years. We drank orange soda floats and I made fun of her Grandma's name like an idiot. D just laughed it off, though, and we've spent every New Years together ever since, except for only two.

This year wasn't one of those two exceptions so we got to celebrate together as usual, along with many other friends new and old (and lots and lots of children...eleven of them ages 8 months to 6 years, plus two in utero). We were home before midnight, but that's life with little ones and I wouldn't change a thing.