New Year's Eve

I guess since we're halfway through January I better post about New Year's Eve before it's too late! New Year's Eve was all about a low key night for us. After our trip to Hong Kong, the last thing we wanted was to be out among a crowd of people. We actually considered staying in, just the two of us...but as the night approched, we realized we'd have more fun if we were with just a few friends. Fortunately, our friends Jason and Amanda opened up their home for friends and food for the night and we gladly accepted! Jason works with Matt and since moving over here, we've become good friends with them and their two sweet children, Seth and Maddie. We're glad they're from Houston so that we can continue hanging out when we all move back to the states...someday! Anyway, they also invited their friends Tom and Nicole and their two daughters and we invited our friends Elissa and Henning. We all rung in the new year together with snacks, champagne and fireworks. It was exactly the evening we wanted! 2009 was full of blessings for us, more than we can count, and we are so thankful for all of them. We're excited to see what 2010 has in store for us (hopefully a move back to the states by the end of the year...ha!).  Happy New Year!

With a lot of time on my hands these days, I've gotten really into decorating sugar cookies...so these are what I made for New Years Eve :)

This is the view from Jason and Amanda's balcony. They are on the 34th floor...and yes, I'm jealous ;)

Amanda and Nicole took the kids outside to light sparklers. Seth was a little nervous, but he loved them once he was safe inside his mom's arms :)

Maddie having fun with her sparkler

Seth challenged Matt to a game of air hockey. Matt showed no mercy even though Seth is only 3!

Matt trying to stay ahead in the game...

...but I'm pretty sure Seth still won :)

The big firework show was great! I heard there were thousands of people out by the marina watching them, so I'm really thrilled that all we had to do was walk to the building next door and enjoy them from the balcony!

A not so successful try for a picture with fireworks in the background ;)

Amanda, Nicole, Kim and Elissa

When the night was over we went back to our condo and Matt drifted off to sleep under the safety of his new University of Texas Snuggie, courtesy of our very close friends, Keith and Sophie - thanks guys!

Then I woke up in the morning and called my mom so we could ring in the American New Year together over Skype. Toby and Houston came out to celebrate too :) I took this picture just after midnight VA time.