Happy 2016!

Happy New Year!  I'm making another attempt to revive this blog!  This time, I'm setting a goal to post daily.  YEP!  DAILY!  So if there is a random weather report one day, you'll at least understand that I'm trying to keep my goal.  haha

We celebrated the end of 2015 last night with usual Collett pomp and circumstance.  It started with some selfies in the kitchen.

It was a tight enough fit before Nathan photobombed us with a wadded up shirt and blocked Daniel's face.

But Daniel recovered nicely and made up for it with a Maori-like exhibition of his tongue.  GROSS.

Oh, yeah.  These two are in charge of things around here.  That explains a lot!

We started our marathon of activities by giving our time (less than an hour) to wiping down all of the known hymn books in the church building.  Some disinfecting wipes from Target and we were set.

Did you know the current Hymns edition was first printed in 1985?  I can remember when they came out.  I have seen some books that are slightly different in format, but are still the same hymns and the same #'s.  The Church is still translating this 30-year-old version into other languages and has no plans for a newer edition at this time.

While were there with extra disinfecting wipes, we decided to wipe down the backs and sides of the benches in the chapel.  There has been a recent report of hand, foot, and mouth, so it seemed like a good idea.  I understand that Daniel went around wiping door knobs, too.  I'm just not sure if he made the whole trip with a single wipe.  (EEW!)

Joseph may not be approaching this in the easiest of ways!

We'd stopped for donuts on the way to the church and the lady gave me a free dozen.  So we had a donut BEFORE and AFTER we worked!

It looks like Rebekah is pouncing on another donut, but she's really reserving it for Daniel.  I am shocked since those two are usually at war!

After we returned from the church, we set about putting away Christmas decorations.  This activity took longer than the first!  Everyone worked here, and I worked at organizing everything into proper bins.

By the time the house was put back in order, it was after 9 PM.    Only three hours left to go!  Out came the snacks and games.

Daniel must always pose for the camera.  We're fortunate his tongue stayed in this time.

Do you watch Studio C?  We are the unofficial Titusville, Florida chapter of the Studio C fan club.  We added them to our list of party activities.

When we got out some glow sticks, strange things began to happen.

And don't forget the 2016 glasses that barely stay on your face.

This reminds me of that creepy Sesame Street segment where wavy, free-floating eyes and mouth helped you count to 10.  At least I don't have fears of nightmares after seeing these eyes!

I tortured some of the kids by making them fill out some reflections on the year past and coming.  Joseph nearly died of trauma.  But it was interesting to see how similar some of ours from last year to this year were.  It seems that I really want to have an organized and clean house!

And then came the traditional New Year's Eve photo.  Not everyone was willing to play along, so it will require more than one photo to see everyone's faces AND signs.

And that is how you ring in the new year in our family!  No one fell asleep early, but I can think of someone who should have.  Thankfully, we were able to sleep in and recover some of our cheery dispositions.