Best New Year’s Eve Ever

New year’s Eve 2014, as told through a zillion photos

Oh just $400+ or so worth of fireworks. No big deal. God Bless Texas

We started off with the smaller fireworks. Jack wore some gloves we picked up for him at Walgreens that he initially didn’t want to wear…until he realized how damn cold it was outside.

We quickly moved on to the loudest, most ear popping shell fireworks that sounded as if a canon had been fired. Several car alarms were triggered, shut off, triggered again, shut off, repeat. It was pretty hilarious. You would think our neighbors would have been pissed, and it’s quite possible they were, but for the most part everyone on the street came flooding out of their houses to watch the show.

My brother’s car served as the staging area for all the explosives, as well as a place to hold glasses and bottles of booze.

Sly being his usual creepy self.

Long time friend, Jodee, and her husband Corey came over to partake in the craziness. They brought the hit drink of the night: Michelob Ultra light apple cider. We still talk about that drink –it’s apparently not that easy to find, at least outside of Texas.

Voodoo Doughnut: pretzel, raspberry, and chocolate ale. It tasted about how you would expect it to taste. And by that I mean bizarre.

Whoever thought of the poopy puppy is a genius.

I almost burned myself with a stupid sparkler

My mom hates booze, staying up late, and being cold. Yet every new year’s eve around 11pm she manages to bundle herself up and get outside to partake in the activities. Sly and I brought an amazing bottle of champagne from our booze stash that we couldn’t carry with us to Korea. I don’t recall the name but it was aged to perfection and so fruity and mellow with a hint of honey. Like a wonderfully complex mix of sparkling juices. I offered my mom a sip and she took my plastic tumbler and never returned it. I wish I could remember the name of that champagne.

The cold eventually caught up with these two. Probably because they weren’t drinking like the rest of us fools. Not that Jack would be drinking anyway…

My silly mom. I guess this is what happens when she drinks champagne. Also, nice socks.

Jack finally got second wind

There was only one “frog prince” left at the fireworks store. It didn’t initially appeal to us but because it was the only one left we decided we wanted it. It turned out to be one of our favorites.

Finally it was time for the countdown and consequently, the lighting of “The Right of Might,” a truly awesome (and loud) box of fireworks. I love all the crazy screaming (and laughing) in the background of this video. Makes me smile every time I watch it.

By this time we were buzzing with booze and energy — the perfect time to attempt writing with light! It took us a billion times to finally write and capture “2015”  but when we did we were so elated. Hugs and high fives and screams all around.

My mom and I set off the last few fireworks since we had not lit any the entire night. My mom may be a closet pyro.

After popping off all of our fireworks, Sly and I took orders and drove to our nearest Whataburger to pick up late night eats. We waited in the drive-through forever but damn if that wasn’t the best burger we ever did eat. After eating at God knows what hour in the morning we caught third wind and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning watching stupid tv and eating even more snacks.

It was the perfect way to ring in the new year.