1-1-11

For last year's words belong to last year's language,
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
-T.S. Eliot

After spending the afternoon at the Davis' new home in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, we drove down to Eden Prairie in an ice storm to ring in the New Year with the Andersons in what has become an annual tradition since 2003 (excluding 2008 & 2009 when we were off celebrating Christmas with the Hamanns over the New Year's holiday). We were joined by the Dales, who also celebrated with us 5 years ago.

New Year's Eve 2005, a much younger Henry, Braxon, and Collin. Posing for the New Year's pic, from back, left to right: Carter, Henry, Kate, Nolan, Collin, James, front: Braxon and Aaron.
SUPERMEN!

Playing with Kate's new microwave

Molly reads the bedtime story, Scooby Doo

Heather and baby Dale #3

Coefficient of friction

Learning the Puerto Rico ropes. Heather squeaked out the New Year's win, against some veteran players, after her "teacher" made a rookie mistake (which might have had something to do with late in the game jag bomb consumption).

Shhh...hanging out in the Anderson's basement after all 8 kids are finally asleep.

Breakfast!

For fun, a recount of New Year's Eve past:
1999: Cities 97 New Year's Eve Party in downtown Minneapolis with Litterbox gang
2000: Hill City Palooza #1
2001: Schmidt home in Rhinelander, WI
2002: Davis skating party at Centennial Lake Park in Edina
2003: Wabasha with the Andersons, Amy Forbes, and Ellen
2004 - 2007: Matt and Molly Anderson home in St. Louis Park (2004) and Eden Prairie (2005-2007), playing Puerto Rico
2008: Ryan and Amy Forbes home in Volga, SD with Geiers and Ellen
2009: Hamann Christmas, Brandt, SD-Adam stricken with strep throat