New Years Eve.

This year was one of the funnest most memorable New Year's Eves we've ever had. Not only did we get to celebrate the ringing in of another year on a new continent, but we got to celebrate it with some of the new really good friends that God has placed in our lives here.

We spent the evening at Fred and Nathanja's house with their two boys, Rhyan and Nicole and their two boys, Fred's mom who was in town from Denmark, Nathanja's parents who live here, and another couple from Ireland and Wales that are living here too.

Just a fun eclectic group of people to usher a new year in with! We all had the. best. time.

There was great food and the longest drinking straws I've ever seen! The kids had so much fun!

And while the kids were busy having a blast at their table...we were literally having a blast at our table! Fred's mom brought a bunch of table firecrackers that you light and explode with confetti! For such little tubes those suckers pack a big punch!

Nathanja baked an incredible tiramisu for the adults and even made a special cake for Sydaleigh to celebrate her birthday.

And may I just say, Europeans go big or go home! Those almost fire extinguisher needin' candles nearly took that cake to the moon! Ha ha! Wow that's a big flame!

There was confetti. And confetti. And confetti. And....more confetti. It was in the food, the drinks, our hair, our clothes, our ears, mouths....everywhere.

There was a sending off of a lantern...or Rapunzel lantern as the girls say.

There was laughing. And debates. And hilarious discussions on why Americans don't have British accents. And why we have a Christopher Columbus day. And why we don't have French accents. And Fred's mom flat out told us that she hates the way American's talk! Bah ha ha! Especially Southern American's. "It's not caaaat. It's c(ah)t. With an 'ah' sound." Rhyan and Nicole are from N.Carolina...and they sound like it. I don't think that helped us win any love! Ha ha! There were serious talks about the differences between American sports like baseball and dignified European sports like cricket. When I inquired if whether cricket was the game you played on a horse....I debated whether or not I should run for my life the response was so immediate! I think I heard someone think, "Off with her head!" Ha ha!! Apparently the game you play on horses is not Cricket, it is Polo. Ha ha! And I don't think that helped us score any points either! We just kept diggin' ourselves deeper and deeper into that 'one cocked eyebrow gapin' mouthed perplexed look of why Americans are so weird' hole. I'm gonna start telling people I am Canadian! Make another country take the blame for my lack of culture! Ahhh, good times. :~) Good times.

There were fireworks.

And may I just say...African fireworks are not the same as fireworks you buy in the United States. No no. African fireworks are, shall we say...a wee bit more unpredictable. There is really no telling what is going to happen when they explode. Or even when they will explode. Or where they will go. You gotta be quick on your toes when you light those bad boys. There's no tellin' when you're gonna need to duck and take cover. Or run looking for a fire extinguisher. Or a doctor. :~) You really need to be prepared to meet death or in the very least lose an arm when you play with those. If you succeed in not dying or losing any body parts....you can thank Jesus that miracles still happen! Isaak likes cheating death and gets a rush out of almost being left handed...so he lit all the fuses.

There was dancing....crazy kid brake dancing rolling in confetti, viking hat wearing gonna start the house on fire dancing....it was hilarious!

And of course...there was great company. These people hold a special place in our hearts already. We feel so blessed to call them friends and be able to do life with them here. Such great people. We had the greatest time.

And now it is 2013. Another year awaits....and only God knows what's in store. Excited to see what may come. Glad to have these friends to walk through it with us.