New Year's Eve

On Tuesday Rob took Hunter and Samantha to their cousin's house for a sleep over, when he came home he told me that his sister was not going to host a New Year's party this year. I knew they were all disappointed but I was thankful I would actually be able to go to bed when I wanted to. I love a new year and the chance to start over, but I also really love my sleep and at 10 pm I want nothing more than to be in my nice warm bed.

I knew I still wanted to make the night fun for my family so I started brainstorming. I decided we were going to go ice skating on our neighbors homemade ice rink, drag all of our mattresses out to the family room and watch our favorite movies of 2015, play some games, and eat yummy food. 

Rob decided it sounded like so much fun he was going to invite his sisters family and parents over because he felt bad they didn't have anywhere to go for New Year's. I had to adjust my plan slightly and it was a little chaotic that morning while I hurried to paint my window trim so we could get everything put back together and cleaned up, but in the end it turned out to be a fun night. Plus I love throwing a fun party, just wish I had a little more time to prepare and do a few things differently.

We still went ice skating before all the family arrived. It was so much fun!! Our neighbors made a huge rink out on their grass and then had fires roaring with hot chocolate, hot dogs, and marshmallows. We are so lucky to have such great neighbors and to live in a a great neighborhood, we have decided no one gets to move ever.

We came home and pulled out all of the kids mattresses and got ready for the family's arrival. We had chili and waffles for dinner, watched The Minion Movie, had a Mario Kart tournament, played farkle, and watched some of our favorite You Tube video's of 2015.

After the clock struck 12 and every one headed home we wrote on a balloon our one word we want to focus on this year and then released them. I love picking the perfect word and then focusing on it all year so I was happy my family was willing to join in.

The kids slept out in the family room while Rob and I snuggled into our bed, and yes I made it until after midnight, it was a miracle. 

Goodbye 2015, we are all looking forward to, and hoping for, a healthy and happy 2016.

Sam's Welcome Home Party

When the Vietnam vets came home from war they were not treated very well, it is a big mistake in our history, because all vets deserve our love and respect for all they do to protect our freedoms, no matter how controversial the war may be. Because of this there are many communities who are trying to fix this and give these vets the welcome home they deserved.

Bonnie planned a surprise family celebration for Sam to give him the recognition he deserved for his service. Sam has some very funny, and very heart wrenching stories from his time spent in Vietnam and it was a great celebration where he could share and be celebrated for his service and sacrifice.

Hannah and I were not able to be there because we had to be at a team building ropes course for dance, but we came as soon as we could in time for a family picture. Thankfully Rob's cousin Traci took some pictures that I could steal.

The light was so pretty at the end of the night we had some fun trying to figure out the jumping pictures. I think we have some work to do.

Easter Egg Hunts

The egg hunt fun started Friday night with the Neighborhood Flashlight Egg Hunt for all the teenagers. They hide soda, candy, chips, and popcorn all over the park and then send them in with flashlights to retrieve it. Samantha was so excited she was able to participate this year.

Saturday morning bright and early was the regular egg hunt for the kids. It is always so much fun and a great excuse to spend time with our neighbors.

(Hunter, always the ladies man, which is what happens when you are the only boy your age in the neighborhood)

That afternoon we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa Morris' house for a family Easter party. We hunted eggs in the mountains, ate delicious food, and dyed eggs in the garage.

We came home tired and ready to just kick back and relax, and we may have all gone to bed a little early.

Pumpkin Patch

Grandma Morris wasn't ready to plant a pumpkin patch at her house this year and asked if we could plant it at our house. Since we have an entire back yard full of dirt we agreed to plant them here this year.

Our 'Aho cousins came over to help and we are hopeful we will have a pretty good crop this year. The only challenge may be keeping the deer from eating them so we decicded to plant them close to the house and move Daisey down by the plants to hopefully scare them away.

We also added some squash and zucchini along with a few tomato plants up on the deck, it is the best I can do this year until we cab figure out our permanent garden spot.

The kids got rewarded with dinner at Chuck-a-rama, which is always fun when you are with your cousins.