New Year's Celebration

Sean's family all came to our house to celebrate New Year's with us this year.  They came down early in the day on Saturday (the day before Christmas Eve).  The cousins were super happy to see each other and play.  Kevin and Brandon have always gotten along well and have enjoyed each other's company.  Olivia and Bianca got along great this time around and Olivia loved having her around.  So much in fact, she would not leave Bianca and wanted her to stay with her wherever she went.  Pam and I spent most of Saturday getting the house stocked with food (we were out since we were gone for Christmas) and getting stuff for the fondue dinner we were planning for New Year's Eve.  We watched a movie for a bit after the kids went to bed but most of us were tired so we went to bed early.

On New Year's Eve, the kids actually slept in late.  The kids had a blast playing together.  The weather was bright and sunny and we found out that Olivia figured out to pump on her own on the playground!  The kids had fun going outside and playing.  We designed Brandon's Pinewood Derby car and Papa helped Brandon sand it down into a hot dog shape (he was making a Minon).  Sean and I ran off to Home Depot to run an errand (getting the towel bar replaced) and took the girls (Bianca and Olivia) out to lunch.  We came home and tried to get Olivia to take a nap and she claimed she did (I am not sure if she did or not).  Sean's parents' good friends Annie and John came over (they were the ones that we went to the Duck game with) and we began our three course fondue meal with the cheese.  We had way too much food but everyone enjoyed the cheese and the sausage and veggies to dip in.  We then started the meat fondue and had giant shrimp and steak with all kinds of dipping sauces.  It was fun to eat the fondue and talk with everyone.  Then we played several games of Uno Attack which all the kids participated in (even the kids).  Olivia sneakily won two games!  After Uno Attack it was 10:00 PM and we made the chocolate fondue.  It was so good!  We had fruit and pound cake to dip it in.  We then put the girls to bed around 11:00 PM but the boys (Kevin and Brandon) were determined to make it midnight and they did and were able to ring in 2018.

Brandon 7 and Kevin 8

Brandon trying out the cheese fondue 

Brandon liked the cheese fondue 

Sweet Olivia on New Year's Eve

Olivia's poker face!

Brandon and Kevin enjoying Uno Attack 

Selfies with Liv on New Year's Eve

Silly Brandon!

Chocolate fondue! So yummy! 

Sean with Olivia and Bianca 

The next morning early on, Dawn and her family left.  Sean's parents stayed behind and helped me clean up and then they left.  I had the fun time of taking down all the Christmas ornaments on the tree and putting away all the Christmas decorations.  It is always way less fun to put away than to put out. We did end up meeting the Mowery family at Deer Creek and letting the kids play together for a while. The kids enjoyed that and then the next day it was back to school and work!

Olivia and Addie swinging together on New Year's Day