New Year's

After having the best best best two days in Vegas...

 s'mores in aunt maria's backyard

beautiful 60 degree weather

S and L's first time at chucky cheese's

 goodbyes 

...we were lucky to ring in the New Year with old friends.

Bitter sweet emotions as we celebrated and visited about so many things.  But lots of happy togetherness.  

Before the Fitzes left we let our kids experience the delight of Harry Potter jelly beans.  

Long ago, Wes and Ry and Amy and I had a box that we used in conjunction with a favorite card game.  Whoever lost the game had to eat a bean.  Sometimes you got lucky, sometimes not.  

The kids played rock paper scissors, but the idea was the same...loser eats a bean.

My kids can't stop talking about those "wizard beans."  Such sincere laughter that afternoon.  Which is so rare, and such good medicine!