New traditions and New Year celebrations!...Part 2 of 3

J and I are trying to set up a family tradition for the holidays. We figured since Christmas is taken up by both our families, we would come up with our own tradition for the New Year. 

We decided we would go see a light show somewhere between Christmas and New Year and then have dinner out on New Year's eve and a nice meal on New Year's day with just us as a family and for as long as JOE and her future siblings want to keep up the tradition with us.

This year, we went to a park to see the lights. It was really cool! But of course, JOE was asleep the entire time. She spent most of our time in MA hanging out with her cousins running around. She didn't get much sleep so she's been catching up the last few days.

I tried using my point and shoot camera but the images weren't really good so thankfully, my phone was fully charged. It took much better pictures.

The sign reads "Happy Holidays!"

Last year for Christmas, J got me a gift card to a really nice spa. We decided that since the spa is in the same hotel we would be staying at for New Year's, we would make a day out of it. 

This is the view we were greeted with when we walked in. How cool is this?

The spa...this is all indoors. Inside the hotel's premises.

Chillaxing at the spa while J & JOE got checked in and were hanging out in our room.

After my very relaxing facial and full body massage, I met up with J & JOE and we headed out to diner at Rosa Mexicano. 

I am still working on my photography skills so here are some pictures of our evening.

They had a special (at the top) so J & I decided to do that instead and we were able to swap out our dessert.

Like I said, I am a work in progress. I need to get some tips from Faith :-)!

Rosa Mexicano is known for their awesome guacamole that they make right there in front of you. I had 85% of this entire bowl because hubby doesn't like avocado. I would have had the entire 100% if not for JOE fussing. Thanks kiddo :-). 

For appetizers, J got mini hamachi tacos. He wanted me to take a picture of this. He called it "the world's smallest tacos!" See the lemon next to it? That should give you an idea of how small they were.

I got Fluetas de pollo as my appetizers. They were YUMMY!!! I almost didn't want to share with J :-).

For entree, I got the red snapper. It was just OK. Tasty but I give it a 3 out of 5 because it had A TON of bones! I couldn't share it with JOE because I was afraid of her accidentally swallowing a piece of bone. I think the sauce would have been better on Salmon.

Since J's appetizer was so small, he inhaled his meal before I even go a chance to take a pic! He got the Shrimp and Scallop Brochette.

Don't let the picture fool you! That kid was a handful the entire dinner!!! But I love her so...

The decor inside the restaurant. They were ready for the New Year.

We had our waiter snap a picture of all of us. My skin looks so clear! Love it! I hope I can keep it glowing like this throughout the year. Will be drinking lots of water!.

Our dessert. This I give a 2 out of 5. It was a pumpkin cake with cherries inside. The idea was good but not the actual product. It tasted more like a pudding than a cake.

On our way back, we saw this and I wanted to take a picture. 

Back in the warm interior of the hotel. 

We decided to walk around for a bit before going up to our room. Here are some pictures from our walk around the hotel.

Hmmm...I honestly have no clue what this guy was wearing that would cause such a glare. There are aliens among us!!! I can see J rolling his eyes when he reads that statement. Love you babes!

There is a Peeps store not to far from the hotel. We were hoping to let JOE ride on the train the following day but we were both tired and wanted to get back home to get ready for work. We did manage to visit the Peeps store though.

Saw this t-shirt and thought it was funny! I need one :-).

Practice practice!

More practice.

Tree at the hotel. I couldn't quite get a good picture. I need to figure out lighting.

View from our room.

View from our room. We were able to see the fireworks at midnight.

Yup...watching Ryan Seacrest on TV. 

JOE, after looking out the window of our room.

First pic of 2014. We made it!

View from our hotel floor. 

We visited the Peeps store! JOE was underwhelmed.

This Peep kept changing colors. Caught it when it was pink! It looks like an alien "thing" from a Disney movie.

Too cute! But I wasn't spending $19.50 on ONE onsie. 

Oh how true! :-)

I thought this was pretty cool. It was on the side wall of a restaurant building.

And this was in front of it. Not even sure what to make of it.

A huge tree above the Peeps store. I wonder how long it took to decorate that tree.

Our new tradition of having a steak dinner the first day of the new year.

Our first real meal of 2014. I made steaks and we had Mac & Cheese my mother in law made for Christmas dinner. Then threw on some string beans. Not a bad way to start the new year.

For desserts, I made an apple cobbler. It is basically 5 ingredients. Apples, oatmeal, brown sugar, pie dough and cinnamon spice. All mixed together and baked in a 375 degree oven in the pie dough "pocket" (just fold the dough into 2 to make a pocket) for 35-minutes.  Serve with ice cream if you have some on hand. It was YUMMY!

Happy New Year!!! Wishing everyone a truly blessed 2014!