Happy New Years 2014!

We were all a little under the weather for New Years Eve this year. We were tired, the parties we wanted to go to were far off, and to be honest, home sounded really good this year…

Setting off some small fireworks to get the night started. Setting off some small fireworks to get the night started.

I threw the party together in about 45 minutes. I started with a run to the dollar store for supplies: small little doodads for goodie bags, a fresh glue stick, some ribbon, and some discounted glittery balls for the Photo Booth…

Some of our New Years Eve goodies. Some of our New Years Eve goodies.

I made some treat bags with paper lunch sacks (we have to get a whole bag every year for school and end up using three) clocks downloaded from the internet, and lots of fun!

The garland we made last week at Grandma's house is now complete! The garland we made last week at Grandma’s house is now complete!
Opening the first goodie bag of the night. Opening the first goodie bag of the night.

We were going to use some Photo Booth supplies I’d picked up ages ago at Wal-mart, but when I couldn’t find them, Nick reminded me that I’d donated them to a church pre-teen event (I never saw photos from that, btw!)

Our own little Photo Booth. Our own little Photo Booth.
We loved glittering up these photo booth props. (We found them online and cut them out ourselves.) We loved glittering up these photo booth props. (We found them online and cut them out ourselves.)
David said I couldn't post this to facebook, but he never said I couldn't post it on my blog! Bwahaha! David said I couldn’t post this to facebook, but he never said I couldn’t post it on my blog! Bwahaha!
Trying out the photo booth myself. Trying out the photo booth myself.
Nick said he was watching football, but slept through most of the evening. Nick said he was watching football, butslept through most of the evening.
We loved the sentiment this sign displayed, so we printed one of our own. We loved the sentiment this sign displayed, so we printed one of our own.
All our snacks came from a Christmas present from Grandma All our snacks came from a Christmas present from Grandma
Another hour, another goodie bag. I made them all out of things found at the dollar store. Another hour, another goodie bag.

Even with hourly goodie bags, the evening dragged on, so we watched Harry Potter while we waited for the countdown.

Movie watching time! Movie watching time!

Finally it’s time for the big countdown!

The end of the evening and the last of the mini fireworks. The end of the evening and the last of the mini fireworks.

Our New “Favorite Movie Ever”

Took the kids to see “Frozen” this afternoon, so all you people I’ve shushed can now talk to me about the movie.  It was delightful! So delightful, in fact, that Greg asked to watch it again the minute it was over. Or to go buy it on “cd.” When I said those were not options, he asked if we could at least sing the songs. And he has been. All afternoon and into the night.

Ben is Adorable

I frequently forget to post adorably weird things about Ben. He is fabulously weird. Case in point: I walked into the living room this morning and he was having a conversation with the dog about parrots. “How do people live with them? What if they landed on your head claws out?! There’d be blood everywhere! I should ask Aunt Kay. Oh, wait, she kept her birds in a cage. You should be glad we don’t keep you in a cage, Rose. Or birds. Mama doesn’t like cages OR birds.”

Christmas Eve & Day

Grandpa got a new roulette wheel.
Grandpa got a new roulette wheel.
Greg loves his new take-apart nerf gun from Aunt April
Greg loves his new take-apart nerf gun from Aunt April
David is already at work on his new Lego set
David is already at work on his new Lego set
The tree is pretty. :)
The tree is pretty. 🙂
April is building her own muppet. I find this incredibly awesome. Why did I ask for a camera when I could have had a muppet of my own?!
April is building her own muppet. I find this incredibly awesome. Why did I ask for a camera when I could have had a muppet of my own?!
Setting up for Santa's visit
Setting up for Santa’s visit
Toys
Toys
more toys
more toys
Outdoor toys. Santa is a good man.
Outdoor toys. Santa is a good man.
Toys, really?  After all those others?
Toys, really? After all those others?
Waiting for boys to wake up. I never used to have to wait. This is getting weird.
Waiting for boys to wake up. I never used to have to wait. This is getting weird.
Finally, a boy!
Finally, a boy!
Another happy boy picture.
Another happy boy picture.
"A DS! For real! ONE THAT DOES THE INTERNET!!"
“A DS! For real! ONE THAT DOES THE INTERNET!!”
Soon this will become a very familiar sight. Oh my.
Soon this will become a very familiar sight. Oh my.
Santa even knows that David is a coin collector now.
Santa even knows that David is a coin collector now.
Playing quietly commences. Now Mama can get the croissants in the oven.
Playing quietly commences. Now Mama can get the croissants in the oven.
It may not be quite sunrise yet, but it's not dark any more, so we can totally go out and scooter. Right? Right.
It may not be quite sunrise yet, but it’s not dark any more, so we can totally go out and scooter. Right? Right.
"See, that's sunrise, Mama!"
“See, that’s sunrise, Mama!”
Using my new coffee mug from the boys (and the school's holiday store)
Using my new coffee mug from the boys (and the school’s holiday store)
The Punching Bag of Love
The Punching Bag of Love
Rose might not make it back home with us. She may be smuggled home in one of April's bags.
Rose might not make it back home with us. She may be smuggled home in one of April’s bags.
Another day, another Lego set built.
Another day, another Lego set built.

Polar Express 2013

We took our fourth ride on the Polar Express. We’re becoming experts at it. 🙂 This year for the first time my sister joined us, so we got to relive the newness of the ride with her. It was lovely. 🙂

Me and my boys get ready to ride the train
Me and my boys get ready to ride the train

My mom, dad, and sister on the train
My mom, dad, and sister on the train

The boys and I were right across the aisle
The boys and I were right across the aisle

Dancing chefs serve hot chocolate
Dancing chefs serve hot chocolate

Ben is already getting sleepy
Ben is already getting sleepy

Greg hoarded everyone's cookies.
Greg hoarded everyone’s cookies.

This picture makes me laugh. I can't not think of that part of Titanic. Oh well. Approaching "The North Pole"
This picture makes me laugh. I can’t not think of that part of Titanic. Oh well. Approaching “The North Pole”

"There he is! There he is!"
“There he is! There he is!”

My sleepy Greg and me
My sleepy Greg and me

Dancing with the chef
Dancing with the chef

Santa brings a bell for all the good girls and boys, even the grown up ones.
Santa brings a bell for all the good girls and boys, even the grown up ones.

There's an elf behind me!
There’s an elf behind me!

Super cute cupcakes April's bakery made for us.
Super cute cupcakes April’s bakery made for us.

Aren't they adorable?!
Aren’t they adorable?!

 

After all that, we hit our usual Mexican restaurant for dinner and everyone gorged on burritos and nachos and enchiladas, oh my! We had such a great time!