Ringing In The New Year

This year, New Year’s Eve was quite different for us! Princess got invited to a birthday party sleepover, so we figured why not have Dude invite some buddies over for a little party of his own. He asked 4 of his buddies, they said yes, and the party was on! We decided that instead of just toasting our own midnight, we’d toast midnight in different time zones starting at 6:00 p.m. our time. Dude and I MAY have gone a little overboard at Party City getting party favors for each celebration We got our table all laid out ahead of time

The boys had fun hanging out while we waited for 6:00 p.m. to arrive. You can probably figure out that five 11-year old boys had no trouble entertaining themselves with 60 helium balloons

Throughout the evening, Hubby and I entertained ourselves upstairs with margaritas and games! We played games and had fun until it was time to go downstairs each hour to toast with the boys. Our first toast at 6:00 p.m. was to help the island of Azores ring in the new year. Happy New Year Azores!!!

After ringing in the New Year with the Azorians, the boys headed upstairs to make their own pizzas and have some dinner before heading back down just in time help all the fishes in the Atlantic Ocean ring in the new year with blue sparkly party hats. Happy New Year Ocean!

8:00 arrived and the boys helped the folks in Greenland ring in the new year with green bowler hats - yes we know Greenland is covered in snow, but the green hats were super fun. Happy New Year Greenland!

After some yummy popcorn to keep them going, the boys helped Bermuda ring in the new year in colorful sparkly hats at 9:00 p.m. Happy New Year Bermuda!

10:00 p.m. arrived, and the boys helped New York ring in the new year with sparkly, and very fashionable, 2012 glasses. Happy New Year New York!

After snacking on a bowl full of chips, crackers, and fruit leather, the boys were ready to help MN ring in the new year in snow white hats at 11:00 p.m. Happy New Year Minnesota!

After a night of celebrating with other countries and time zones, it was finally our turn! We turned on the TV and watched the countdown in Times Square. Just before midnight, Hubby and I grabbed our giant glasses of champagne . . .

. . . made sure the boys were wearing their Happy New Year Colorado hats . . .

. . . and filled the boys’ giant cups with yet another flavor of kid champagne.

10 . . . 9 . . . 8 . . . 7 . . . 6 . . . 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Happy New Year!!!

We hope you all had as much fun ringing in the new year as we did. Best wishes to everyone for a happy, healthy, prosperous 2012!