For New Years, we met up with some families that live near us & had a little get-together. We met up at the church first to play some basketball, volleyball, & some board games. . . then when the kids/teens got bored, we moved over to our friends' house where the kids played guitar hero while the adults played more board games & while we all pigged out on yummy snacks until midnight.
At midnight we set off about 150 fireworks of our own, then watched all the other neighbors set off theirs. I love Sylvester in Germany. It's always a fantastic light show in the sky with all the fireworks people set off. The Germans are a little crazy on New Years, but it's fun to watch. There were 2 guys who were shooting off BIG fireworks while holding them in their bare hands. I swore they were going to blow their fingers off, but they survived. It was really really fun.
With the New Year coming in, our church put on a big youth New Year's Dance. This year Bladen turns 14 so he is now allowed to attend church dances. Wahoo. I was so excited to help him get all dressed up for his first dance.
(I think I was a lot more excited than he was.)
He said he was really nervous, but I taught him how to ask a girl to dance & how to dance so that he wouldn't be too anxious about it. We also talked about how to start conversations. Plus he had his awesome 2 big sisters there to help him out. (They had some of their friends ask him to dance too.). He danced 5 times & actually really enjoyed himself. I'm grateful for fun activities like these for my teens to help them navigate friendships in the real world. These are SO important & they're a BLAST.
Santa visited & the kids were thrilled with what he brought.
Lorien got a set of luggage since she's moving out & going to college this summer.
Taya got some figure models & a drawing book to help with her drawing skills.
Canyon got the Princess Peach set that goes with the Mario Lego system.
Bladen got a bunch of D&D minifigures, paint, & brushes.
Craiger got a rock tumbler.
We had a blast opening our gifts. I always give my kids 3 gifts:
A Want
A Need
& Something Church Related
Then we draw names so each member of the family buys one gift for the person they drew.
Lorien got Canyon a Zelda Sword
Bladen picked out some Hufflepuff slippers for Craiger.
Opa & Oma got Canyon a hat, game, & Donald Duck action figure.
Baba got Craiger a ping pong set & some books.
Baba got Canyon a Mario ship.
Opa & Oma got Bladen a chess set & a donut tie.
Justin & Cari got Taya the 1st illustrated HP book.
Mimi got Trek some new lights for his mini cooper.
Mimi got Canyon some books.
Opa & Oma got Craiger a chess set.
Mimi got Bladen some paints
Baba got Lorien a flat iron.
Baba got me a REAL charcuterie board. I was so excited.
Justin & Cari got Trek an electric razor.
Talon & Carolyn's family got us some treats & games.
Justin & Cari got Canyon some Lego
Mimi got Craiger a chess board.
Justin & Cari got Bladen some HP Lego.
Justin & Cari got Lorien a phone holder for her car.
Mimi got Trek a bluetooth beanie.
Opa & Oma got Lorien a dress.
Baba got Taya some viola books.
Mimi got Lorien a curling Iron.
My "Daddy Gift" was a big piece of Mickey Mouse luggage. I love it.
Trek's BIG gift from my parents was a new backpack, toiletry bag, belt, & wallet.
My dear friend Nancy always sends us a bunch of amazing gifts. She loves to help the kids with their wardrobes & make sure they have everything they need for the upcoming year. We call her our fairy godmother. She is such a beautiful & giving person. We love her so much.
Nancy got Lorien a professional chef's pan set for culinary school.
Nancy got me a gorgeous emerald & diamond ring this year.
After opening presents, we went to church since Christmas was on a Sunday this year. Once we got back home, it was time to open up stockings.
Lorien got a big surprise in her stocking this year. She got plane tickets to London with her friends for her Senior Trip. I'm taking her over President's Day weekend (her birthday) to London. It's going to be a blast.
And here are a bunch of pictures of the kids with all their fun new surprises. It was a wonderful Christmas. (Notice the hilarious blankets Lorien gave all of us.)
Christmas was wonderful! We spent the next few days cleaning everything up & playing with all of our fun new things. Bladen has been having a blast painting his minifigures, & he's letting the rest of us join in on the fun. It's been fun spending time together. I just love Christmas.
