New Year's Eve with Aunt Alyssa

We braved blizzard-like conditions to drive out to Sunbury, PA for Aunt Alyssa's annual New Year's Day family party. The normally mundane 3-hour drive turned into a dangerous 5+ hour snowfest, complete with cars in ditches and jack-knifing tractor trailers.

We arrived safely, however, and the fun began. Though I have no pictures to prove it, much food was eaten and many laughs were had. But I think I'll remember Mercer's relationship with Aunt Alyssa's dog, Murphy, the most. If left to their own devices, I have no doubt they would've burned down the neighborhood. Most of the tomfoolery was initiated by Mercer, who ran around yelling things at Murphy like "Sit!", "Eat your food!", and "Stop chasing me!" Murphy always thought Mercer was playing and would jump up to lick his face. This always resulted in Mercer saying "Lookit Murphy! Lookit Murphy!" Sometimes, we'd be yelling at both of them to calm down and we'd mix their names up to create "Murpher."

Partners in crime.

Taking Murphy out in the morning with Aunt Alyssa in his PJ's.





Of course, this wasn't Mercer's first interaction with Murphy. Here is what the daring duo looked like last year: