You know it's going to be a party when...

You know it's going to be a New Year's party when your sister in law shows up with Jagermeister

and a crafting box.  Add to that the fact that you brought your needlepoint stocking pattern for your youngest child.  And yes, you know it's going to be a party.

You know it's going to be a party when the moon is full and you have a bunch of adults all gathered around the telescope geeked out by how cool it is.

You know it's a party when the babies start wearing bags (breathable ones, of course) on their heads.

You know it's going to be a party when the babies then discover static electricity.  And it's -10 outside, with a -45 wind chill, and the air is as dry as dry gets.

You know it's going to be a party when the foos ball balls start rolling.

You know it's going to be a party when your kid creates a game with checkers, a spoon and a sippy cup.  And is happy playing it for 30 minutes.

You know it's a party when your brother, Mr.-life-of-the-party-himself, falls asleep, as predicted on the floor after a day of snowboarding.  At 8:30 p.m.  Two days in a row.

You know it's a party when the moose is wearing a party hat.

You know it's going to be a party, when your husband looks like this.

You know it's going to be a party when your siblings and siblings-in-laws look like this.

 

You know it's going to be a party when the bling looks like this.

And then you remind yourself that you are 35, and that your toddler will wake up at 6:30 a.m. (and at 2:00 a.m. before that).  And you beg to be able to go to bed at what you keep calling

"Guam New Year."   (Cause it was New Years there hours before it will hit here.)

And your husband and siblings make fun of you. 

And you feel really great about the fact that you managed to not show up in any of the photos and got to bed at 11:30 CST.

And you still feel like, as your grandfather used to say, that it was a "helluva party, helluva party."

Happy New Year.