Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Happy New Year 2008!

Happy 2008 everyone! We had a really fun time celebrating the New Year! Mike had to work on New Year's Eve day, so I took the kids to the library. They had a "New Year's Around the World Celebration," complete with a countdown to noon. Adam and Grace made noisemakers, little shoes with candy, had their fortunes told (Adam will (apparently) learn how to sign the alphabet in sign language), and cheered during the coundown. A reporter was there taking pictures, and he took a lot of Grace, but because we don't get the paper, I'm not sure if she made it in or not. Very fun, though. I love the library.


When we got home, I made Adam and Grace take a late nap, because we had decided to let them stay up until midnight. I made some snacks while they slept (7-layer dip, lil' smokies, and Adam's "lobster" (aka cream cheese puffs)). When they woke up and Mike got home, we ate the snacks, and watched Shrek the Third, which was pretty fun. Cute story... Grace LOVES salsa. It doesn't matter how spicy it is. I actually have to HIDE it in the refrigerator, because she takes it out otherwise and eats it straight from the jar. LOL! Too funny. Well, Mike brought some Mint Oreos (yum!) home from work for our little party. Guess what Grace dipped hers in? Salsa. Yummy!


We cleaned up and played games and puzzles until about 11:30. We had heard that there were fireworks on the strip at midnight, so we found an empty lot about a mile from our house with a clear view of the strip, and we parked there to watch the fireworks and countdown. We all screamed and cheered at midnight, and Mike let off some poppers. The fireworks were actually pretty cool. Eight of the casinos let off simulatenous fireworks for about 10 minutes. We were pretty far away and it looked really neat, so I imagine if you were even closer, it would be really crazy. But, we were happy keeping our distance. :)



We all slept in the next morning, and when Adam and Grace woke up, they got to open one last present. I had read about some people celebrating the New Year by receiving a visit from Little New Year, an elf who fills the stockings one last time before they are put away, with healthy treats and things for the new year (like calendars, etc.). I didn't get around to doing that this year, but really want to next year, because it sounds SO fun. BUT, I decided that every year everyone IS going to get new journals on New Year's day, and we will all take an hour or so EVERY Sunday and write in them. I really want to get everyone in the habit of this, because it's so important. I got these cute little notebooks for Adam and Grace for $1 each, and they were so excited to get one last gift. This past Sunday after church we had our first "Journal Sunday." Mike and I wrote for the kids (Adam dictated to him, I just wrote about Grace in hers), and then let them color on the pages, while we wrote in our journals. It was a lot of fun, and I think that if we keep it up, it will really be neat to look back on someday.

Hope everyone's New Year's was wonderful. We wish you all a Happy (belated) New Year!

3 comments:

Grammy Suzzy said...

That elf idea sounds soooo cute! (Don't think we will try it, though. You know, that leprechaun thing was a killer!) Good job for keeping your journals, too. Maybe you will even inspire me!

Ashlynn and Coleton said...

What a fun new year. So sorry that we did not come and see you. I feel like a jerk. but with no car, and family that we didnt get to see during the holidays. I was really stuck

the W* family said...

I completely understand, don't feel like a jerk!