Has it really been a year since the Hansens, the Baileys, Sister Hamblin, Sister Swena and 8 young missionaries were here celebrating the entrance of 2014?
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| New Year's Eve 2013 |
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| 2013 |
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| 2014 |
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| 2014 |
Two young elders came around 5 and immediately set about putting a new puzzle together we received for Christmas. They worked diligently while I finished getting dinner ready. I crock-potted (I'll bet you didn't know that is a word - or phrase.....but I wouldn't try it out in a Scrabble game if I were you.) some pulled pork, and made funeral potatoes, orange jello salad (no, it just didn't come close to the real American product, even though we had real Jello from America.....it was the frozen orange juice concentrate and marischino cherries that were sadly lacking.), mint brownies, and chocolate eclair cake. Others brought snacks, soda pop, vegetables, another potato dish and chocolate.
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| Elder Vance and Elder Child |
Everyone was there by 6:30....Elder and Sister Bailey, Elder and Sister Thorne, Sister Hamblin, Elders Child, Oakey, Hawkes and Vance. The cutest young men ever and so happy to be with us. Elder Child was with us last New Years and he said a couple of times, "What are the chances that I could be here to see this twice in a row."
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| Elder Hawkes and Elder Oakey in the foreground |
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| Elder Hawkes has a wonderful tenor voice |
Our apartment is ideally located to see fireworks from all other the city. We went up on the roof terrace at 11 p.m. to watch fireworks and were all mezmerized by the constant barrage of colorful explosions in every direction. The noise was deafening....in fact, it still continues even now at nearly 3 a.m.
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| Everyone went to Tivoli for a couple of hours around 9 to watch a spectacular display of fireworks up close and personal. Several of the elders had not been there. |
We spent the evening playing games, talking, eating, singing and watching all the fun. The young elders were soooo cute! I was so happy that they could join us.
By 12:30, SK took those four home....round trip 25 minutes, and then took the Baileys home, about 30 minutes. He had no trouble negotiating the crowds and debris.
Sister Hamblin watched with me from the roof, both of us in awe at the sight, then she sighed and said, "We will never see another New Year's quite like tonight."
She is right.
I agree, not another like last night! I am all alone this New Years Eve! Alan and Tessa are in London, the other of my kiddos went to Bryan Reagan and I am home alone with the dog, who hates all the fireworks going on outside! I am enjoying myself, but it sounds like fun to have so many over too! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOh Kate! I wish you could have been here for all the hoopla! But sometimes being alone has its own kind of sweetness....well alone with a dog may be even a touch sweeter. Sure love you. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you! Get some rest!
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