COUNTDOWN

I LOVE New Years Eve! And this year was perfect because of who we spent it with. FAMILY made my celebration absolutely splendid!

We started the celebration with commemorating Ken! Yes, he's a tax right off baby! And we were so thrilled to be invited to fondu to share in his birthday festivities. Happy Birthday, Ken!

Fondu!

We ate until we were stuffed!

But we sure do appreciate living close to my sister and father!

This boy LOVED the chocolate fondu - as you can tell from his chocolate mustache!

Then we continued the party at our own home. (Ken, GJ, and my dad don't enjoy staying up late, so they bowed out...) but we invited the Browns and Sheila to join us for food, fun, games, laughter, dancing, predictions, and, of course, making resolutions. Making resolutions is my favorite tradition.

Mango

Red Skittle

Lobster

Bael

Aiden

Skylar

Katia

Kiara

Cody

Sheila-la-la

Alicia

Ian

GJ

Scott

Me

Having fun with Bael

The gang at midnight

Drinking problem?!

Don't worry it's Welch's Grape Juice.

Skittle is looking forward to 2025

So much fun dancing!

Crazy boys! Lobster and Skittles

Grandpa Ian loves our Mango

These two! Ha ha ha!

And these two! Man I love them all!

Yes... we match!

The OG DeGooyers

Scott, Kiara, Katia and Me

Perhaps my personal favorite part of the evening (aside from watching the girls [and Cody] dancing) was being with my grandchildren. I even got to finally "put them to sleep" after midnight while the others laughed together in the other room. It was absolute bliss cuddling these two precious children from God. I am so blessed!

My favorite name is Grandma!!!

Bring on 2025!

GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite things about Christmas time! We always have a WONDERFUL dinner (thanks to Scott) and then a spiritual evening focusing on the Savior. This year we invited my dad, my sister, Ken, and Ken's brother: Steve, and Ken's parents. I feel so blessed!

Each of my daughters celebrated Christmas Eve with their families and their own traditions. (Some traditions are carried over from their own childhoods... and some are brand new.) :-)

Matching pajamas are always a hit!

Dinner and Lights!

Then Christmas day:

Christmas morning was quiet, but then I got to hold my granddaughter!

So excited about the Minecraft theme....

Stockings are so much fun!

And Santa Clause is AWESOME!

Cody is so excited to make oriental food!

And Red Skittle was excited to share in the giving.

Then they went for a cold walk.

These guys got PJs too.

We really did enjoy holding our granddaughter on Christmas....

Guess what?! Mango tried "real" food. She likes sweet potatoes but doesn't enjoy peas or carrots.

And Zane hosted a White Elephant Gift Exchange two days after Christmas. It was tons of fun and lots of laughs. I actually took a few pictures:

Dad showing off on a shoe bench.

He spent a lot of his childhood selling shoes like this.

The batman mask was the hit of the party.

Juju Bean got it first.

I call this shot: "Batman with Braces!"

And Ken made us all laugh!

I call this picture: "Oriental Batman"

The Hulk also made an appearance.

Ken had us rolling on the floor.

GJ got shower caps.

Kristi and Ben made out like bandits.

Kristi got the sword.

Ben got the batman gear.

Wow, McCallisters are well equipped.

Look at all those swords!

My crazy brothers!

I honestly feel so blessed! I love my childhood family! I love my daughters, sons and grandchildren! I love my husband! I love Christmas! I love the Savior!