New Years Eve

Normally we do New Years Eve with my family because Ben's side generally has things going on already. This year however, Mom was so physically exhausted that she didn't want to party on New Year's Eve. It was left up to us kids to decide what we wanted to do and if we partied together. Jenny and Brian were going to be short 3 kids, they were going to Brian's aunts house, so they decided that they wanted to do an all day movie marathon. That would have been a blast. There are a bazillion movies out that we want to see, but with 3 kids and one being a newborn still, that was unrealistic. So Jeff and I were left to decide what to do. 

I am so grateful for Tiffany. She talked with her mom and we were invited to do New Years Eve with them. Ben and I were so excited because we love spending time with the Wrights. They were a second home for Ben growing up. Dinner's at there house were always a blast. When Tiffany asked us if we wanted to come with them, we jumped on the offer. 

They planned on doing dinner and games. We were all for it. Karen made pulled pork sandwiches and the rest of us brought sides to go with it. I made my mom's frog eyed salad. We also had a pasta salad, a coleslaw, and chips. Not to mention all the munchies that we had throughout the evening.

When we got there, we went right to playing games. Jeff and Ben played a round of Stratego. Ben lost quickly. Then Jeff challenged me. I knew I was going to lose, but the game is a lot of fun, so I agreed to play. At least I lasted longer then Ben. While the adult were playing games and getting dinner ready, the kids went into the playroom to play and color. They all played so nicely together, even with the little ones. 

When dinner was over and some what cleaned up, it was time to breakout the games. The men went to one side of the table and played Halo Risk while the girls were at the other end. We played 2 games in the time it took the men to play one. The girls played, What's yours Like? Its a game where one person is trying to guess the object on the card while the others give clues as to what their's is like. For example: one card said measuring cup/spoons. Some of the clues given were color's, where they were kept, that they are used to cook with, etc. The less amount of clues you needed to guess the object, the better off you were. For this being my first time playing, I did a really good job, I won. Since I won I got to pick out the next game. I picked Apples to Apples. That's a fun game too, I won again. I was on a roll. I never win.

When the women were done with our games we visited while we waited for the men to be done with theirs. The kids were being really good. Some were watching movies and some were coloring. As you can tell from the picture Gabbi was one that chose to color. After a while, Karen and Tiffany went into the playroom and asked the kids to clean up. They wanted to play a game with them. They taught/played Button Button. They played quite a few rounds as the men continued to finish their game.

When the men were finally done, we started another movie for all the kids and the adults played Jeff's Train game. I was the dealer, which was nice. I didn't have to worry about playing and trying to figure out how to master my Trains. Plus it allowed another person to play. Those that weren't playing the Train game, played Yahtzee. As we played and visited the clock was inching ever so closely to midnight. We were so enthralled in our games that we almost missed it.

Christmas jammies

The kids in their new Christmas jammies from Grandma Annie. Don't you love Williams? They have booties on them and everything.

Christmas with Annie and Greg

After taking family pictures we didn't have much time til it was time to go to Grandma Annie's and Grandpa Greg's place to celebrate Christmas. 

When we got there hardly anyone was there. I thought we were late, but apparently not. While we were waiting for others to come, we helped Annie and Amanda get their food items ready. Amanda had a veggie tray, it was nice to help her because that meant we got to munch on the veggies as well. It was nice to have good food instead of junk food.

When everyone got there, our lunch/dinner wasn't quite done yet, so the kids had some time to play. At first they were a little discouraged because the tree and the gifts covered up the toy cupboard. Grandma Annie ended up going down to the basement to see if she could find some more toys for the kids to play with. They all thought that was the coolest box of toys ever. It was filled with toys that none of them have ever seen or played with before. It was funny to watch them discover the new toys.

Once all the food was ready, we all sat down to eat. We had ham and cheesy potatoes with different types of salads and rolls. It was very yummy and once we were done, we still had the veggie tray to munch on.

When everyone was done eating Grandma Annie had a Christmas story that she wanted to read. It was a different version of The Night Before Christmas. All the kids loved sitting around Grandma and listen to her read the story. They were even more excited when the story was over and they got to open presents. 

It was a tornado of chaos when it came time to open gifts. Everyone was opening everything all at the same time. No one really got to watch anyone specific open their gifts. The kids opened theirs so fast that they got board once they were done and the adults weren't. Then they started asking those that still had gifts to open if they could open their gifts for them. It was crazy, but its all in good fun.

The kids each got a new pair of jammies that Grandma Annie had made for them. They were soft and cozy pajama pants of red and green with a white shirts. Gabbi got a Candy Land game princess version along with some coloring books.

Doesn't she look happy. It had been a long day.

Owen got 3 different diesel trucks and 2 new Cars characters. He was still in seventh heaven with his Cars. He insisted on opening one of them then and there to play with. He also got some coloring books as well.

I also forgot to take of picture of William with his gift. They gave him a really cute hooded outfit and long with some bibs and some booties that Annie had made. They are so cute.

I was really excited about Ben's gift. Greg had called me and asked me about it. He asked me if I wouldn't mind giving up my gift so he could get Ben his. I of course told him that was fine, because I knew Ben really wanted what Greg wanted to give him.

Ben was really excited as he started to open his gift. Its like he could tell what it was before actually seeing it. They gave him a side cover for his motorcycle. When his dad gave him the bike to fix up it was missing one side panel. He looked online for one for a while, but decided it wasn't that important to the fix up, completely cosmetic he said. Now he has a cover and Greg offered to paint the motorcycle once he was ready for it.

Due to me giving up my Christmas gift I was surprised when they handed me one. I was taken back. They had given all of us married girls a mixer. I have always wanted one, so I was really excited about it, but I felt bad at the same time. They weren't supposed to get me anything. I pulled Greg aside and asked him why and he said he couldn't send me home without anything. Gave me a big smile and a hug. 

In the chaos of the opening, I didn't get a picture of Greg opening his gift from us, but we got him a few different western movie packages. They had over 20 different western movies, 4 of which were John Wayne which is Greg's favorite.

For Annie we got her a black sweater and a really pretty scarf to go with it. I hope she likes it and I hope it looks great one her.

Family Pictures

We finally got out and took new family pictures. A friend of mine helped us out with her fancy camera and took them for us. Even though it was cold, they turned out great; despite having to fight with 3 kids to smile, look at the camera, and what not.

Thanks Taycina

William's room

With Owen not needing his sports decorations we got to redo Williams room as well.

Owen's room

With all the cool new Cars stuff he got for Christmas, it was a lot of fun redoing his room.

Christmas with Nelson and Deann

After a fun filled afternoon it was time to head home. Nelson and Deann were on their way to our place. They wanted to see what the kids got for Christmas. We were afraid that they were waiting for us because by the time we got the text that said they were 5 minutes out, we were just barely leaving my parents house. Luckily we got there before them and were able to get a few things put away before they got there, which was nice because our house was a mess.

When they got here, we all headed downstairs so the kids could show off, to put it nicely, what they got for Christmas. The were both excited to show what they got. Then to their surprise they got to open some more gifts.

Gabbi got another Barbie with a horse. She was so excited that her Skipper barbie with a horse now had a riding buddy. 

Owen was very happy to see some cars. They had magnets on both ends so they could all attach like a train. Deann had some at her house that he really wanted to open and now he has some.

William got some really cute clothes. One was a onsie that said Rock Star, a shirt that said MASH rescue, and a cute footed pajama with stars and a football player on it. He's going to be sharply dress baby.

We gave Nelson and Deann a date night, so to speak. Gift cards to Maddox and Walkers Cinema. We also gave them a bag of the Danish cookies we made. They said they were really excited for a night out,especially to eat out at Maddox. We weren't the only ones who gave them one.

Nelson and Deann gave us a box of food storage goodies. A can of dried apples, a big bottle of soap, hand soap, etc. She also gave us some dish towels that she cross stitched herself. There was one for each season. They were really cute. I should have taken a picture of them. The picture I have only shows Ben pulling them out of the box.

After we were done opening gifts, we sat and visited for a little bit. Amanda was able to join us and the kids had a blast with that. She played with both of them and they thought that was the coolest thing ever.

After a while it was time for other visits, so we all parted ways.

We had planned on playing games with Mom, Dad, and Grandma Shupe; so once we had had our dinner we headed there.

Jeff and Tiffany were there as well. The kids watched Christmas movies while we played the Train game a few times. We love that game. It's a lot of fun. I wish it wasn't so expensive or we'd get one for ourselves.