New Year's Eve

Grandpa and Grandma invited us down to their lake house to ring in the new year. The kids jumped all over it. They talked the whole way down there about fishing. We tried our best to convince them that it was too cold for the fish. But with a face like this...

We just couldn't deny them the chance. Plus, it was 60 degrees outside. There was a chance someone would bite, right? So we carried all the supplies down to the dock.
Abby and Grandma even came out with some bread to help get the fish's attention.
I do believe it took longer to get the poles all set up than anyone actually fished,
but at least they can say they tried.
Little sister even tried her hand at it. No luck there either.
Because it was New Year's, we wanted the kids to stay up with us. Of course, Benjamin chose this day to wake up at 6:15. So, while I got him to take a nap after lunch, daddy took Noah out to play some football.
And Grandpa and Abby went around collecting rocks and pine cones.

Maybe throwing rocks in the water is really more fun than tossing the football?

On of the best parts about the lake house is the neighbors. Can you see who is sitting in the tree just above the roof? See the two white spots?
Those are the heads of two bald eagles. They have a nest down at the end of the cove. Not only are they beautiful in their own right and amazing to watch, their living here means the cove is protected property so no one can develop that land, so it keeps things quieter and more peaceful down there. Especially in the summer. There is another one towards the top of this orangish tree. Can you see it?
Before dinner, we headed in to town for some bowling. We have never been before and the kids were so excited.
Well, maybe not all of them. Abby did not like the bowling alley at all. I got her to try it once before she collapsed into a blubbering mess. I think she'll probably just stick to dancing...

Daddy helped show Benjamin how to do it.

But he was quick to try it on his own. (No, this ball did not go anywhere fast. It did, however, make it all the way to the end of the lane.)

Here is how he waited patiently to see the outcome of his roll.

Unfortuantely, we got there just after they filled the lanes with the bumpers for the little kids. We got a LOT of gutter balls. Not everyone in our party was okay with this...

Eventually our neighbors left and we were able to snag this little device. It helped the attitudes of all involved tremendously.

After a soft pretzel, Abby decided she would rather just explore the bowling alley itself. Good thing, too. If she hadn't, we might have never known that they offered Cappaccino. I mean what says cappaccino like a bowling alley. Am I right?
Eventually everyone made their way to the snack counter for a pretzel.
Safe to say we didn't break any records at the alley, but I do think 6 of the 7 of us had fun. The boys were asking to go again before we were even in the car. We'll have to try again with the gutter bumpers...

After a yummy steak dinner, we broke out some games to awat the big countdown. Abby has become quite the go-fish player. She likes to play best against herself, however. (That way, she can be sure she gets all the girl cards.)
Grandpa and Grandma were keeping an eye on Times Square so we didn't miss anything important.
The boys played air hockey.
In the final minutes, all eyes were on the TV.Well, almost all. Little Miss wanted to keep playing her favorite game these days - Mary and Joseph.The sparkling grape juice was poured and waiting.Noah and daddy sneaked in one more quick card game.HAPPY 2012! I had a video of the big moment but it was a little underwhelming, so I am going to spare you. In the picture below, can you tell which two boys did not take a nap?A certain little Mary did not want to participate in group pictures. Me thinks she does not like New Year's Eve parties...We all slept in until 7:00. Woo hoo. But it is all good because I got to go to sleep holding hands with my eldest son while we shared a twin bed. (That's an old habit we have and I am not willing to break.)

Before heading home, we seeked out a real eagle's nest. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any eagles in it, but we did get an appreciation for the size of these nests!
Then it was home to get ready for 2012. It's gonna be a great year, we just know it!

Merry Christmas!

Three cute children anxious to get down the stairs. Middle child was a little sad when I told him he had to wait so I could get Grandpa and Grandma on the computer.This picture says, "Enough already, Mom! Let us go!!!"
Stocking stuffers. I guess she thought she couldn't put them down or someone else might pick them up.
A paddleball. Daddy had a bone to pick with Santa over this one...
Abby showed Grandma and Grandpa her new pony.
Baseball bubble gum. (Benjamin ate most of his by the end of the day. I should add he did a great job sharing, though.)
A football? Well, Santa, how did you know?
Benjamin's blue glockenspiel!
Abby spent a great deal of time digging in her stocking for more Reece's peanut butter cups. She ate everyone she came to - can you seem them in her cheeks?
Noah showed Grandma what he got from Santa.
And then he went directly upstairs to change.
This is what we saw everyday for the rest of his break. He did sleep in pajamas (so we could attempt to wash the white pants) but every morning before he left his room he was right back in this very outfit.

Abby's new doll house. She was so, so excited.
Marble Mania! I wish I knew what Benjamin was saying in this picture. (I suppose if Vanna White retires anytime soon we should send him for an audition.) This present with a big hit with everyone. Well except maybe cousin Alex. He and daddy spent almost 4 hours trying to put it together at Grandma's house. Yikes. And Abby figured out how to make it talk in Spanish which they all think is funny no matter how many times they listen to it.
Benjamin's present from Eric and Andrew. I should note he was just as excited about the diaper box as he was the actual baseball helmet. (His daddy says that is no surprise as much as he talks about diapers...)
Noah's present from his best friend Eric. Two football helmets? Whatever is a boy to do???
Abby rode her new pony, Rainbow Bullseye, over the computer to show Grandpa and Grandma her new lipstick.
After getting everyone dressed, we headed over to Grandpa and Grandma Campbells'.

Andrew (6ft,7) and cousin Erika (5ft,2) got engaged the night before. Can you tell? Look at the way she's looking at him. Awww.... And cousin Alex.
Kenzie's boyfriend, Isaac, McKenzie, and Nick anxiously await the go-ahead to dig in.
Aunt Cynthia. She got some really big picture frames. Which is good because she has a lot of children. 6 of theirs, plus two bonus males in the household.
Abby got a whole pile of pink books. How on earth did they know??? She pretty much sat right here the rest of the afternoon reading. (She had her new "Pinkalicious" book mostly memorized by bedtime.)
Grandma had planned to do just a simple sandwich dinner but the teenagers put their feet down and insisted on the traditional ham dinner. So glad they did - it was yummy! After loading up all our goodies, we headed home.

Had to make sure all of her friends were safe and sound in their new home.
And one last video game - through the football helmet mask, of course.
And then it was lights out.
PS. When Benjamin opened his headphones, he informed us that next year he wants a record player for Christmas so he can "rrrennr-rrrnnerr" on the records. Not sure where he has seen a DJ in action - maybe it is just in his genes. Must be from his dad's side of the family.