Happy New Year! I grew up in Oklahoma and as a kid (this will reveal my era😜) I grew up watching Dick Clark ready the country for the ball drop in NYC. My mom was doing charcuterie boards before anyone ever uttered that phrase...hers was on a huge mirror lain flat on the dining table. Lots of things I wouldn't touch as a kid but I'll always remember the care and artistry she used doing it every year. She's long gone, and I'm long over staying up til midnight, but I LOVE imagining your celebration! The audio and your little son's sweet voice will stay with you forever! Keep savoring every moment! (You're good at it!)
Thank you so much - Donna! I remember seeing Dick Clark as well, and I also remember when his voice changed when he was ill too. Thank so much for your support. It means a lot ! I appreciate you.
All clothes must be washed and the house cleaned. That’s law. But being married to a Haitian only added traditions. I love soup joumou! Couldn’t find seeded oranges though 😭
Yooo I was going to add something about the oranges but I thought I was making that up. Looked like I need to ask Phil about that. She used to bathed with them 😂
Happy New Year! We spent NYE at church always for watch night service when I was growing up. I was jealous of all the friends who could go do something “fun”. But I didn’t realize how much that tradition meant to me until living in GA our church didn’t have watch night service so we tried to find different ways to celebrate but nothing really “stuck.”
Now that we’re back in a church that has a NYE service, it really feels so good to carry on that tradition and be able to share that experience with our kids. E’s family would make breakfast after getting home from church so we had homemade pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and mimosas at 2 am.
Welly, I love how we end up trying to honor traditions. I miss being at church for new year service too, but I think we will wait till we are out this age. How did the little ones do being at church all night? I’m sure your church had a thing for the little ones, yes?
They had a “pajama party” for the kids at 7:00 service, but since we went to the 10:00pm service they stayed with us. They had a good time, they love music and were pretty tired by the time the sermon started so they were chill. Now if they were younger it would have been a different story. 😂
Marc, there is so much good in this, and so much remembered joy that it very nearly covers up the part that had to have been a tough pill to swallow. I'm so glad you're a different kind of dad. Happy, bright, and shiny New Year to you. (I still want to try soup joumou sometime!)
Liz, I love the way you phrase that. Sometimes I think how much beauty there can be in absence. Would I have appreciated being a father so much if my father was present? God really works mysteriously.
Love this! Some of my favorite memories from growing up are from New Year's Eve parties with my mom's family at her sister's big old house in New England. Everyone got dressed up, the hair was big, music and laughter loud, dancing joyous. It was very much a grown up party that us kids were granted access to and that made it feel special. Counting down together, hugs and kisses at midnight. Seeing everyone look beautiful and happy, I felt beautiful and happy. You brought back great memories for me with this one. Sounds like Myles has some wonderful NYE memories to look forward to!
Stephanie, thanks so much for sharing. That sounds like such a good time! My favorite part about this party was how easy it was to get home after 😂 but you have me thinking about all our nieces and nephews. Might be nice to invite them to our early new year party in the future!
Happy New Year family!
Thank you Deirdre! ❤️ looking forward to more snaps and books this year!
Happy New Year! I grew up in Oklahoma and as a kid (this will reveal my era😜) I grew up watching Dick Clark ready the country for the ball drop in NYC. My mom was doing charcuterie boards before anyone ever uttered that phrase...hers was on a huge mirror lain flat on the dining table. Lots of things I wouldn't touch as a kid but I'll always remember the care and artistry she used doing it every year. She's long gone, and I'm long over staying up til midnight, but I LOVE imagining your celebration! The audio and your little son's sweet voice will stay with you forever! Keep savoring every moment! (You're good at it!)
Thank you so much - Donna! I remember seeing Dick Clark as well, and I also remember when his voice changed when he was ill too. Thank so much for your support. It means a lot ! I appreciate you.
Your posts always charm me, Marc. Happy New Year to you and your family! I hope 2026 treats all of you well.
Wishing you the same, Diana ❤️❤️❤️
And as always, I appreciate you being here.
All clothes must be washed and the house cleaned. That’s law. But being married to a Haitian only added traditions. I love soup joumou! Couldn’t find seeded oranges though 😭
Yooo I was going to add something about the oranges but I thought I was making that up. Looked like I need to ask Phil about that. She used to bathed with them 😂
Idk about bathing in them lol but Phil says if you have a lot of seeds in your orange it’s a positive financial omen.
Happy New Year! We spent NYE at church always for watch night service when I was growing up. I was jealous of all the friends who could go do something “fun”. But I didn’t realize how much that tradition meant to me until living in GA our church didn’t have watch night service so we tried to find different ways to celebrate but nothing really “stuck.”
Now that we’re back in a church that has a NYE service, it really feels so good to carry on that tradition and be able to share that experience with our kids. E’s family would make breakfast after getting home from church so we had homemade pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and mimosas at 2 am.
Welly, I love how we end up trying to honor traditions. I miss being at church for new year service too, but I think we will wait till we are out this age. How did the little ones do being at church all night? I’m sure your church had a thing for the little ones, yes?
They had a “pajama party” for the kids at 7:00 service, but since we went to the 10:00pm service they stayed with us. They had a good time, they love music and were pretty tired by the time the sermon started so they were chill. Now if they were younger it would have been a different story. 😂
Happy new year to you and yours!
Ramya! appreciate you! Same to you and yours!
Happy Blessed 2026! 🥂✨️
Thank you so much Jesci! Wishing for a calm one!
Beautiful bro!
I’m into resolutions but in the form of themes and phrases that guide my way of being. Goals don’t do it for me.
Love you man!
Would love to share what themes are you focus on for the year my brother. I think Mike is community.
Marc, there is so much good in this, and so much remembered joy that it very nearly covers up the part that had to have been a tough pill to swallow. I'm so glad you're a different kind of dad. Happy, bright, and shiny New Year to you. (I still want to try soup joumou sometime!)
Liz, I love the way you phrase that. Sometimes I think how much beauty there can be in absence. Would I have appreciated being a father so much if my father was present? God really works mysteriously.
☺️
Love this! Some of my favorite memories from growing up are from New Year's Eve parties with my mom's family at her sister's big old house in New England. Everyone got dressed up, the hair was big, music and laughter loud, dancing joyous. It was very much a grown up party that us kids were granted access to and that made it feel special. Counting down together, hugs and kisses at midnight. Seeing everyone look beautiful and happy, I felt beautiful and happy. You brought back great memories for me with this one. Sounds like Myles has some wonderful NYE memories to look forward to!
Stephanie, thanks so much for sharing. That sounds like such a good time! My favorite part about this party was how easy it was to get home after 😂 but you have me thinking about all our nieces and nephews. Might be nice to invite them to our early new year party in the future!
Now that I’m an adult, 100% with you on no drive home 😆 But I’m sure your nieces and nephews would love the early nye party!
I knew the ending gut punch was coming and still I felt the PUNCH. Happy New Year indeed ✨🪩
You know, I write these fully trying to capture the party and it feels like the punch finds me. I appreciate you reading, Violet ❤️