New Years with the Kirkhams

We had a very exciting New Years! Our friends the Kirkhams (met them in Germany, now they live in North Carolina, just four hours from us) were willing to come with their four kids to join us on New Years. We LOVE their company and were so happy to have them here.

On their drive here, they go through S. Carolina which is a big fireworks state. So they stoppped at one of the stores and got us some perfect fireworks for our party.

We made cheese fondue for dinner which was very fun for the kids. Then we played a couple of games and waited for midnight. Brandon asked to go to bed at about 10:30pm, but the rest of the kids stayed up for the party. We had planned on building a fire out back, but it rained up until about 11:30, and then it cleared up for us to go shoot fireworks.


(Starting to get tired)(Oz, Tori, and Steve playing Settlers)

Oz and Steve had a great time with their toys of course, while the kids watched from the trampoline.

After that excitement was over the parents went to bed and we let the kids sleep out in the family room watching a movie. They thought that was pretty exciting. I think all the kids were finally asleep by 2am. Which meant sleeping in for the next morning. Most of them woke up at 10am

We then made some chocolate pancakes for the sweets lovers in the house, and breakfast burritos for the salt fans. It was a fantastic breakfast



I love having the Kirkhams over and am so happy they live close enough for us to see them often.

CHRISTMAS

We enjoyed Brandon's santa outfit so much last year, I thought we could make it last one more year!


Christmas was wonderful as always....

Steve got a new Telescope from Santa and some massage oil from me.

I got $$ to go towards my trip in April to visit Jessica in NYC for her birthday and a popcorn maker from Laura that I think is going to be so much fun.



Steven also got the telescope from Santa, and he loves his pocket knife from Mom and Dad and the science kit that G&G Allred gave him
(One of the projects in the science kit)


Nathan got a remote control plane from Santa and some other random presents. For some reason that boy never plays with what he gets for Christmas.

(Nathan is using his foot to get into that present)

Jacob got a bake oven from Santa, and a top secret bank from G&G Allred that he loves. It has to detect the right voice before it will open, and Jacob loves that it won't open for anybody but him. His password is "YES".

(This is his SpongeBob snow cone maker he got from the Seraydarian's. The boys have big plans for a snow cone stand this summer.)

(The three older boys got guns from Nana & Papa. We are really going to turn these boys in to hunters.)
Brandon got a really cool ride on toy from Santa that is big enough for all the boys to use. That was my favorite Santa gift.

We had so much fun opening presents, eating quiche and then sleeping on Christmas Day. It was very enjoyable. And I am getting used to it just being "us" for Christmas.