My nieces Aubrey and Amanda took the girls ice skating. I have no pictures but imagine rosy cheeks, razor sharp skates, and lots of bumps and bruises. My girls did pretty well but Amanda didn't fare so well. However, they all seemed to have a stellar time.
The boys felt a little left out, even though Ethan hates ice skating and Sam doesn't know how, so Michael took them to the Discovery Center.
This is how Sam forecasts the weather using the green screen. "Watch out! That snow storm is coming for YOU!"
While everyone was out on adventures I had the whole quiet house to myself. Heaven!
After dinner we started our rockin' New Year's Eve party. We watched a movie! We played some board games! We ate popcorn and Christmas candy (as I write this 19 days later we are still working on Christmas treats. It's the gift that keeps on giving...) By nine o'clock the grown ups were all partied out. Michael got on the computer and found London's New Year's celebration. I love London! They are so brilliant for celebrating early so us Americans can put our kids who can't tell time to bed. We watched their countdown and then let off our very own fireworks.
By fireworks I mean we stomped on bubble wrap. If you have enough of it is sound like fireworks. Thanks to Aunt Heidi we had more than enough. We blew horns and toasted the holiday with Mormon bubbly aka sparkling cider. It was fabulous. The little ones felt they had thoroughly celebrated and we still got them to bed by nine.
My big kids were not at easily persuaded. At some point I had the misguided notion to teach them how to tell time. They know when midnight is and insisted in staying up. We pulled out some board games I won't pull out with Sam the Terror around. We dusted off Risk. Michael beat me at it once years and years ago and has refused to play since. Ethan was so excited to play. Libby was not interested so Michael, Ethan, and I played (mission Risk not world domination for those who play). I had plans to reclaim my victorious reign over Michael. Alas, lady luck did not like me. She kissed Ethan on the head and he tromped all over Michael and I. He won as graciously as a ten year old boy can.
At midnight we watched the glorious Idaho potato drop which was just as exciting as it sounds and then went to bed. Everyone was snoring by 12:07. We will not talk about how naughty my tired children were the next day.
Happy New-ish Year!
