Cannons of Carolina: New Year's Eve 2015

December 31st was a day of cooking and friends. We started in the morning by fixing hundreds of won tons. Everyone got in on the action. We did the assembly line just like my family has been doing it for years. The kids loved helping out and getting to sample along the way.

The won ton assembly line.

Some of the finished product

The kids didn't like to touch the meat so that was my part. They took care of the rest. It worked for me!!

Nick fixing the wasabi!

And he thought onions made you cry!

We had a little break between cooking and the guests arriving. Bradden, Sunny and crew were the first to arrive. We had just gotten them settled in when the rest of the guests started arriving. By the end of the night we had over 65 people in the house and around the fire pit out back. It was a fun night. We all picked our favorite Chinese food to fix and share and there was plenty to go around. We all had an amazing time just talking and goofing off and eating. The pictures below tell the story much better than words.

Shelli Stewart, Steve and Shelli's mom, Sharon Burnside goofing off with a cell phone app that added embellishments to the photos.

Sharon Burnside, me, Sara Muller and Julie Todd

The front entry way is packed with kids.

One of the buffet tables.

Eating some of Shelli's amazing rice.

The living room was packed as well.

Happy kiddos (and Tabitha since Tessa needed her "security chair")

Justice trying to hide from the camera.

Sunny and Madi

Olivia is full of good food.

Tabitha, Tessa and Shelli

Jeremy and Khristen

Callie found a nice, relaxing place to hang out.

Everyone is full and just enjoying the company.

The fire pit out back. It stopped raining about 45 minutes before the party started so we could get outside and roast marshmallows. The fire pit was popular with the younger crowd.

The kids are enjoying a little "screen" time. Haylie, Kaitlyn, Naomi, Callie and Rachel.

More campfire fun.

Four of my amazing Young Women. Raven, Justice and Audrey (front) with Autumn in the back.

Justice, Justin and Audrey.

Since it was a Chinese New Year, we did the banging of the pots and pans at 9 o'clock so parents could get the little ones home and in bed at a decent hour. It was an amazing night with incredible friends. The perfect way to send out the old year.

The next morning we all slept in (as long as six kids would let us sleep in). Sunny and I left the kids with Steve and Bradden and we did some shopping There were things she needed for the kids and so we took advantage of all the sales. When we got back to the house, the boys took off for a bit while we hung with the kids. That night, after dinner, we made some home made ice cream and got the kiddos to bed much earlier than the night before. The next morning, after a good breakfast, Bradden and Sunny left for home. It was so much fun having them stay with us.