New Year's Eve, The Icelandic Edition Plus Updates

New Year's can be kind of a drag when you have little kids. You don't want to mess up their schedule & be grumpy for days, but you don't want to feel like you're stuck at home with nothing fun to look forward to.  I've had days when I've felt pretty alone as a SAHM & I don't like that feeling - I sure wouldn't want anyone else to feel that way on one of the biggest days of the year & that's how the idea hatched... have a full-blow NYE party, but for an earlier time zone. Have all the fun & still get the kids to bed at a decent hour!

I talked to Josh & he was on board. We counted ahead & picked Iceland for our time zone place of choice.  We invited bunches of people with little kids & started planning away...

I had pie shells that I never got around to using at Christmas, so the dessert of convenience was pie, but I changed them to be clocks for kicks & giggles.  7 o'clock for our countdown:

 Midnight (obviously) & 5:30 for the party's start time:

 The rest of my spread (some guests brought even more) it was eating heaven!  I'm pretty proud of my little gourmet sandwiches - baguette, fig preserves, caramelized onion, rotisserie chicken, then a slab of muenster cheese all melted together.

 We had a dragon coloring contest (2012 is the year of the dragon):

 Make-your-own noise makers with little bottles & jelly beans:

 A ball drop with tubes & cups (Caleb LOVED this!):

 A photo booth for everyone to get a picture keepsake:

 We did pin-the-tail on the year too, but I don't think I got a pic of it. Too bad, I thought it was pretty cute.

Here's Josh's masterpiece - a balloon drop (this is version 3.0, mine came apart in the night after we rigged it up, the store-bought ones stink, then Josh saved the day with this camping tarp):

We also played a game of Hide the Clock. I stashed a ticking clock behind a couch & challenged the kids to find it - it wasn't easy with all that party noise, but some kids found it.

Party time!

We ended up with a really big crowd, but it was SO much fun to have our house so full. It seemed like all of the kids found something they really liked & the adults were happy to visit.

Photo Booth! Mwahahaha:

 Swensons!

 Ottleys

 Browns! (Minus Paul IV who was racing Caleb at this moment I think)

 Hansens!

 Baxters!

 (Quoting Becca about this face here, "It was a last minute decision!") he he

Lisonbees!

The Souths had their own camera, so I don't have a pic of them to share, but they were a big part of our crowd, 5 kids, 2 grown ups, & the kids really rocked the games. : )

The countdown came & the kids were getting super excited.  They all decided to lay down right under the crack... you can see for yourselves what happens:

It was a headache to rig up, but SO WORTH it! 

Once the balloon craziness was over, we were out to the driveway for some fireworks.  No pics of that though - Josh was lighting things off & I was snuggling Elise who didn't mind the fireworks, but jumped a lot with each big boom.

Some folks went home, some friends stayed to chat till a late, but reasonable bedtime, then Josh & I snuggled under a blankie on our front porch to watch the rest of San Antonio light up when Texas finally caught up to Iceland.  It might not have been our most romantic New Year's together, but we agreed it was the best party we've thrown as a family... maybe it'll even become a tradition until our kids get old enough for the real thing.

UPDATES:

Today was Caleb's first official day as a Sunbeam! We had pep talks all week for this, about sitting in his chair & listening to the teacher, & I even had him go to a corner and jump around to get his wiggles out before heading into Sharing Time.  He did a great job! He was still Caleb, being loud & jumping around a bit, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.  All of us - parents & Primary leaders - think these new Sunbeams are going to be just fine with a little time to learn the ropes.

On the way to church, so excited!

 We have 2 Sunbeam classes of 4 kids each, that's Caleb with his teacher Ashley Hughes.

I wasn't around much that hour since I was taking care of Primary rolls for last year & the new year, but I was there for when the classes left, Caleb was squeaking, "Treat, treat, treat" & Jared was saying, "Where. Are. We. Goooo-ing?" ha ha ha.

Now the random things from the week - I love it when the kids play together, Caleb was making the snake bite? kiss? Elise. It made her laugh so hard.

 Elise loves to eat with a spoon - not using the spoon, but to have it with her... it adds to her untold messiness.

"Thanks for the plate Mom, but it really isn't necessary."

 She's such a busy girl!  She walks SO much now, almost equal to her crawling...

 "Now what do I do?" We had a quick lesson about backing down.

 You're not even 11 months old yet, how can you be so big!? Nope, I won't say you're a toddler yet, you're my lady baby still.

 This has been a sweet part of the week, Caleb takes Elise's hand & they walk together all around the house, "We're walking together Mommy!"

Taking it all down - what do you say, The Ghost of Christmas Past or the Ghost of Christmas *Presents*?

 He he, chewing celery is the best! Especially with a new tooth popping through this week (top front left for anyone who's keeping track).

 Now it's time to play Funny Things Caleb Said this Week!  Caleb just told me that this lady bug was his baby & that it had been in his belly this morning:

 There was also, "Mom I want butter with bread on it. LOTS of butter."

And today, "Caleb you're overreacting."
"I'm not over weed whacking!"

Well that's it for us. As you can see we just can't figure out how to have fun around here: