New Year's 2018

And then, after a couple of quick work days (on which Seth, still on leave, took the kids hunting and let them wear PJs and eat whipped cream as a meal and spread their new toys across the living room)

I managed to come home early a few times for warm, rainy playground antics (thank you, southern weather!),

and we squeezed in some always-appreciated Carron-Taylor time.

Before we knew it, it was New Year's Eve. One of my absolute favorite holidays, packed full of Walters family traditions like the annual "eating of the chips" and "burning of the bad habits." We also make New Year's resolutions for each other, and if you've never survived a true challenge to your relationship, you should try this. Finley, for example, resolved that Ford should eat more vegetables. While he told her she should "get it together, Finley! And don't hit me!" I'll leave mine and Seth's to the imagination...

Anyway, on a whim, we headed south to Myrtle Beach, because of the (admittedly fabulous) "noon year's eve at Lulu's"

at which sand castles were built

 and a new New Year's tradition, the dropping of the beach balls, was begun.

Plus, Ford acted like this

 and the kids danced to live country music barefoot. Because, South Carolina.

 We finished off the day with, predictably, a trip to Bass Pro Shops,

 a walk on the beach,

and a trip to the truly horrifying indoor water park at our hotel. Which the kids loved, almost making it worth whatever ringworm I am definitely going to contract.

We had dinner at a lobster joint, popped confetti cannons, and slept in, after which we jubilantly welcomed 2019 like this:

(perfection in every way.) Below is an actual photo of Finley biting it and eating sand, our favorite clutz incarnate. Plus, funny Ford. Who hates the sun.

And then we broke alltheresolutions at Senor Frog's on our way home.
Which is as it should be.

We looked like this (photo of the week) as we arrived home, ready to tackle the new year. But so, so tired.

2018 was rough, and exhausting, and just not our favorite. We made lots of resolutions this year, among those which are "making the best of everything," but we sincerely hope that's less of an effort in 2019. Here's hoping it's full of joy, and irreverence, and stolen beach days. And lots and lots of love.