While the Cat's Away

Camille and Steve took Sophia to New York City over New Years, to have some good times before her cancer surgery in January.  Dave and I usually spend New Years Eve at the Eberts' house, with whatever family members are still in town.  Camille invited Dave and me to come even in their absence, and to celebrate with the remaining Ebert children.  Annelise and Emilie took charge of the party plans, and the event was on!

We began the evening with Italian cream sodas and all-you-could eat pizza.

 We then moved into the Ebert game room, where Jonny and Jenny joined us for a couple of hours before leaving for their friends' party.  Emilie spent the evening as co-chair with Annelise.

 Annelise and Emilie had assembled our game options on the table, together with the all-important treats--cinnamon bears, red licorice, and Rolos.

Jonny and Jenny rarely let six-year-old Sam go to slumber parties, but they made an exception tonight.  He got to stay up till midnight playing games and toasting in the New Year, and then he slept over with Ezra and Mia.  Big time!

 We played Connections, then the rollicking charade game, "Rollick."  The kids laughed as they acted out "cobra" with lots of body twists and flourishes, and I guessed "skinny dipping."

 Mia's favorite game was "Exploding Kittens."

 Mike grinned with satisfaction at his good hand.

 And Sam was thrilled to be in the thick of things.

 That's a "head scratcher" on Ezra's head--a relic of Christmas tables past.

 I brought with me the 36" sparklers I bought for Mike and Heidi's wedding reception five years ago.  They were greeted with delight!

 And, as we gathered in the middle of the street with all our sparklers, Steve, Camille, and Sophia drove up in an Uber.  They were tired from their flight from New York, but not too tired to give hugs all around and then toast the New Year, 2020, as we watched a two hour late replay of the glass ball dropping in Times Square.

Sophie gave Sam a big hug.

 Steve relaxed on the Ebert couch with Sam and Ollie, the new family hunting/running/cuddling dog.

As midnight approached, the Ebert girls lived it up in the front yard with bottle after bottle of bubbly--Martinelli's bubbly apple juice, that is!

A good time was had by all.