Family New Years Eve

I think that this was a first too - normally the kids get shipped to the grandparents for New Years Eve, but this year we started a new family tradition of going to the beach house.  It was a bit chilly, but we had a nice long stay.

 Very low tide, no waves, gorgeous winter day at the beach.  Hard to believe this is the same place that was covered with sea weed a few months earlier.

 Notice the sand on Ella's back side?  Yeah, it was all over her pants and all in her boots.

 This would be the reason for the sand everywhere - although we tried to clarify that you don't sit in the sand in your clothes, she might as well have been in a swimsuit.  

Another first for the girls - fireworks! It is always fun to visit the fine folks at the fireworks stand.  Nothing too fancy, just some sparklers and Roman candles.  We also got some spinning ladybug things that the fireworks lady said were fun for kids.  The darn things spun around making this loud noise, sparks flying everywhere and then it shot off into the air.  No clue where they ended up.  I was pretty sure that Addy would like the sparklers, but figured she'd drop the Roman candle and run when it shot off at first.  But she was a fireworks pro.  Closely supervised of course!

Ella and I spent most of the time inside watching through the window.  Too loud apparently, not so much of a fan...