New Year's and Justin turns one year older

Justin worked from home on his birthday. "Work from home" means he went over drawings while the kids ran around really loudly asking him to do stuff. 

 These chocolate covered almonds are his Cadbury mini-eggs. And they work well to bribe the children to do housework.

 Erica was super excited to watch him open presents.

 I got him a chicken leg smoking rack.

 And a woman's shoe organizer.

 He went shooting with his friends that afternoon and then he and I went to the Black Sheep Cafe for dinner. We had never been there but had heard good things. Those good things were accurate because it was delicious. The last couple of times we went out to eat the service and food were disappointing so it was extra wonderful to eat a good, fun, interesting meal. Our love of eating new food is one of the 3 things we have in common.

Then we went to my parents' house to pick up the kids and eat birthday pie. This pie. It has dethroned cheesecake as Justin's favorite dessert so that's saying something.

 I call this picture "Blessed"

 Sarah made him a birthday paper airplane.

Sarah really wanted to stay up until midnight but we didn't even think the two of us would make it so we had a pretend countdown at 10. Thank you Netflix,

 Then we let her watch another one.

 Happy New Year (East Coast)!

Good-bye 2015. The year that brought me the worst cough I've ever had, the worst sinus/ear infection known to man (my left ear will never be the same), a finished basement, and the return of one set of parents and the departure of the other.

Hello 2016. May you be full of healthy, growing children, an awesome 10-year anniversary, a decent newly elected president, and a garden that actually grows something.