New Year's Eve

It's not very often that New Year's Eve lands on a Family Dinner night, but this time it did. We pushed dinner back to 6:30 since it would be a long night. We planned to have a Mexican themed dinner. We all pitched in to put together the dinner and it was absolutely delicious. We had Cafe Rio styled burritos with taquitos and chips with dip. Along with all that delicious dinner food everyone brought snacks to share throughout the night.

When we were done with dinner the kids were all over the place. They played games, they played in the toy room, and even watched a few shows. Along with all of that they of course had plenty of treats. One of which were red vines. William of course had his own fair share. So much that he had red all over his face. I never asked how many he had, I just told him no more and he went off with the other kids.

They continued to have fun the rest of the night, which for them is all that mattered. At one point I was headed upstairs to get a drink and find all the young ones huddled in the stairwell. They were watching a show on Cameron's tablet. I laughed and asked them why they weren't watching it upstairs on the big TV. Apparently the older kids were watching their show and the young ones weren't allowed in. They made the best of it.

While the kid were having their own fun we adults were playing a plethora of games. We love our games and on New Year's Eve we had plenty of them. A family favorite of course is crap on your neighbour.

As the night went on the kids were getting sleepy and we put them all in the upstairs TV room to watch a show. I was surprised that a few of them had actually fallen asleep before the ball dropped. Shortly after it did, we cleaned up, and took our sleepy kids home.

Christmas with Annie

It's been hard finding places that will house all of us during a family party. We were asked if we wouldn't mind hosting. Annie has tried to make it fair and ask everyone for a turn to host or find a place and this year it was our turn. We happily said yes to hosting at our place and tried to figure out the best way to fit everyone. We decided to move some furniture out of the front room and bring in some folding chairs. We hoped that this would work and that everyone would be comfortable. Luckily that did the trick.

When everyone was finally there we set up dinner and while the kids ate in the kitchen, the adults headed to the front room. Once everyone was done eating the kids went down to play and the adults visited for a little bit. After a while the kids came up asking  about presents. We all laughed and weren't really surprised and decided it was finally time for gifts. Sadly not all the cousins were able to come, but the rest of them sat down and did their gift exchange one with another.

Once the cousins were done with their gifts Grandma handed out a few of her own. She gave each of kids a toy or book and then an outfit that she had made. The girls got a skirt and the boys got a vest and a bow tie all plaid patterned. I was surprised that some of them were more excited about the outfit then they were about the toys.

Once the kids part was over they all ran back downstairs and played while the adult got to open a few gifts. The men all got flannel shirts and a tool the girls all got jewelry, a necklace and earrings.

Once things were cleaned up Greg had pulled out some fireworks and called all the kids to come outside. They weren't sure why and were a little worried that it would be too cold, but they came anyway. They were upset when they found out that they would get to watch some fireworks. He didn't have a lot but it was enough to put smiles on the kids faces,

When the firework show was over we all went back inside, cleaned up, and then said good night to everyone until the next time.

Office Remodel

With all of the remodeling we have been doing we decided to put the office desk downstairs in the TV room. It ironically fits quite nice how we have set it up. It's almost like we have twp separate rooms. Not to mention it's out in the open. It has been suggested that the family computer be in an open room so there's no room to hide things. Our new set up works great.

Train

William loves his new train set that he got from Nana and Papa. To make it even better we even pulled out the train set that he inherited from Grandma Shupe. They are compatible so now he can make a giant track. One big enough for him to lay down in...well if he were to actually finish it.

Ferdinand

I was so excited when I saw the first preview for Ferdinand. I remember reading the book as a kid and I couldn't wait to see the show. Even more so to be able to take the kids to see it.

We came across a Saturday that we had nothing going on and jumped at the chance. We bought our tickets, found our seats, and waited for the show to start. When it finally did we were all surprised that it wasn't Ferdinand. It was actually Jumanji. Everyone was looking around and then a few got up and went out to let someone know. 20 minutes later they finally turned it off and got Ferdinand going.. 

It was such a cute show. They did a great job with it. One we will definitely be purchasing when it comes out. The kids loved it, we loved it. All around a great afternoon. To top it all off we got tickets to come back again. The theater felt bad that they had started the wrong movie and eventually ours late that they gave everyone tickets to come back again. I wasn't complaining about the mess up, but the free tickets were nice too. We had such a great time that we decided to stop for a treat on the way home.

Christmas with Mom and Dad

I love the traditions we have and that they haven't changed in years. We started our morning off with a brunch as usual. We had a breakfast casserole with Belgian waffles. Once we were done and cleaned up it was time for the fun. We all went upstairs and awaited for the fun. Presents that is.

When we got upstairs William was acting very strange. I'm not sure why or what for but he was hiding. First behind a door, then the couch, and then a pillow. There he sat until it was his turn to open up a present.

Each grandchild got to open two presents. We started with the oldest and worked out way down to the youngest, then we did it again. The kids truly are spoiled and get pretty much whatever they ask for, within reason of course. Our kids again asked for Lego kits. I am surprised that the fetish is still very much in play.

This time around Gabbi asked for some Disney Princess kits

Owen asked for a Jungle kits with Dinosaurs so he could make his own Jurassic Park.

William asked for Duplo kits. A Construction vehicles and a train set. 

Once all the gifts from Nana and Papa had been handed out, then it was time for the cousins to exchange gifts. Gabbi got some art stencils, Owen Star Wars Lego Kits. and William some Thomas the Train trains.

Then it was time to give Nana and Papa their gifts. They asked for a portable heater and extra propane tanks for it. They like to attend Miranda's softball games and some of them are during cold weather and its a nice little heater to keep them warm while they watch the games.

When all was said and done I think everyone had a great Christmas thanks to an amazing Nana and Papa.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was a nice and quiet one. I love how the kids stay asleep and we have to wake them up in the morning. When it was finally time, I went downstairs to get some good pictures of their faces and Ben went and woke them up.

The first thing they noticed when they walked in the room was that the cookies had been eaten, the milk drank, and a letter was left from Jingle. The kids sat down by the tree as Gabbi read them the letter. They all seemed pretty sad that Jingle was now gone and wouldn't be back till next year.

When they were done with the letter it was time for the kids to open up some presents. They each got 3. A read, a play, and a wear from Ben and I and then a stocking full of surprises from Santa Clause.

This year we decided to let them open them all together instead of one at a time. It was actually kind of nice instead of hearing the kids complaining that it wasn't their turn yet. We first started with the wear.

Then the read.

Then last but not least, the play.

They were all happy with what they got and couldn't wait to start playing. They of course had to first let me take one last picture of everything they got.

Sadly they had to wait just a little while longer so Ben and I could open up our gifts to each other. First we started with one from Owen. He had painted us a nice frame with his school picture in the middle. The it was Ben's turn. Ben got some "decorative" items for his truck from me (steering wheel cover and dash mat) and a book, a blanket, and a play station controller charger from the kids.

Then is was my turn. The kids got me some craft items. They got me some colored strings, beads, and instruction books to make hemp tied bracelets. Then when I was done with that I was told to leave the room. I wasn't sure why, so I headed out the room and upstairs until I was called. When I came back into the room I was surprised to see a cabinet jewelry armoire with mirror standing in front of me. It was beautiful and I couldn't wait to put it in our bedroom and place my jewelry inside of it.

Now that Christmas morning was over it was time to clean up. While Ben and I cleaned up the kids opened up their toys and started to play until it was time to head to Mom and Dad's for Christmas morning.