Nyttårs feiring

By the time it got to New Year's, Lars and I were pretty pooped after a lot of celebrating/partying/whateveryoucallit. So turning down our numerous party offers and accepting our invitation to his aunt's 70th birthday party seemed just about right.

(Birthday girl!)

Luckily we didn't have far to go as the party was next door at the neighbor's house. We met, drank, snacked, ate a delicious turkey dinner made for the 30+ in attendance, ate, drank, ate, sang, ate, drank, ate, drank, laughed and shot up some fireworks. And then drank some more.

(Uncle Jarle on the accordian.)
(Lighting 70 candles isn't easy.)

(Stine and I with our matching dresses.)

Turns out what we expected to be a fairly relaxing evening with good food and company turned into one heck of a party. That's just the way it is I guess when you have a big, crazy family. Makes me simultaneously feel at home and feel extra home sick (who would have known?).

Also of note, Norwegians don't count down. You know, ten seconds to the New Year and everyone--EVERYONE--is counting in unison (or at least the reporter on TV is counting and you are all watching)... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!

(Finally, time for some rockets!)
(Lars and Stine, 2010!)

Maybe it's not such a good sign for the upcoming year that I am just posting this 11 days in. Hmm. No one really starts their new year's resolutions until February 1st anyway. Right? RIGHT?! Maybe by then, I will actually get around to making some!

Godt nytt år (again)!