New Year's 2013!!

Every year we so look forward to having a New Year's get together at our place!! It started out years and years ago as mainly a young couples get together. But now with 18 kids running around, I'd say it turned more into a kids get together! It is so wonderful to be all together, for the kids to have the opportunity to make life long friends, and for us adults to spend time together.  Every year I feel so thankful to have such a good group of friends that encourage us on in every way...

18 kids (Aubry and Cari not in the picture), 3 days = Lots of FUN, Noise, Laughter, and Good times!!

This year, we had fun with a tape ball wrapped with delicious candy, treats, and toys! Can it get any better than that?!

Chet and super Zach waiting their turn for the tape ball!

Happy Birthday to Zoe!! Zoe was born 7 years ago while we were all gathered at our place for a New Year's get together anxiously waiting for her to come into the world!

A very live baby doll!

Minute-To-Win It!

 This year at New Year's we did a whole bunch of Minute-To-Win It games! There were two teams, the kids did great, and everyone got root beer floats at the end! Yippee! This top one was hilarious to watch because well mostly, its just so funny to see a boy/guy wear panty hose on their head while they try to knock down water bottles! These are a couple the kids did...

Stacking cheerios...

Wrapping up your team mate in a whole roll of toilet paper...first one to finish up the roll first wins!

 Moving M&M's to an empty plate only using a straw...

 

This was Hilarious to watch!! Using no hands, you have to dip your nose in Vaseline, then pick up cotton balls (stuck to your nose) and transfer them into a bowl!

So sweet! Ty and Aubry...

Balancing dice on a popsicle stick...

Daddy's girl :)

 
Cereal box puzzle...

First one to take all the Kleenex out of the Kleenex box first!

Joe did awesome on this one! Putting pasta on a stick of spaghetti using no hands!

 

Beth and Alesha put together some really fun crafts for the kids to do! Cookie decorating...yumm! Mask making, and decorating  personalized mugs!

Kiera and Claire...best buddies!

What a creation Danny made!

Chet and baby Cari hanging out! It is so sweet...Chet has always loved babies, and will lay next to them, or hold them and be content just doing that :)

Getting my baby fix! There's nothing like a newborn!

Making masks...

The kids had a super fun time going over to Corvallis to bounce some energy out at the Wacky Indoor Bounce! It was perfect!

 

Martha and Aubry!

Lily was very well loved and taken care of by the girls!

Alesha was Reid's special buddy...so sweet!

Zane got a ride to the car from Ty!

Fun boy time!

Aww! :) Lily getting loves from Beth

Joe and Reid have always been super good buddies...so sweet!

Arizona here we come!!

The day before the kids got out for winter break in December, we jumped into the suburban and headed for Arizona! We had special, special times with Grandpa and Grandma Garrett.  It was a teary hello and goodbye, but so thankful for the opportunity to see them both and for them to spend special time with the kids. It was a very fun and memorable trip that will always hold a very special place in our hearts...

 

The kids were such happy travelers!! We put in a lot a miles driving in the car, and they all did amazing!

Beautiful! Not to mention sunshine...Yippee!

 

 

 We had such special, special times with Grandpa and Grandma! Those memories with them we will hold dear in our hearts... 

 

We also got to meet up with my cousin Brian for dinner! Always love spending time with him! 

Grandma and Lily instantly fell in love with each other!

Another special treat was meeting up with my Uncle and Aunt who winter in Arizona! They arrived in Arizona the day we were leaving! We were so happy that it worked out to see them!

Fun times at Grandpa and Grandma's!

 

Sea World, San Diego!

On our way back home from visiting Grandpa and Grandma, we took a detour to San Diego to go to Sea World!! Sea World was amazing, and so was the sunny warm weather!  We went to many different shows...dolphin, killer whale, and a hilarious seal show! What a super fun time, and great memories made as a family!

Anxiously waiting for a dolphin show to begin!

 

SO excited to be at Sea World!

My cute little hatchlings!

 

 

 

 

Feeding the seals...

The killer whale show was by far my favorite!! Chet and Zane convinced us to sit in the 'splash zone!' No need for zoom on our cameras! It was amazing, and very wet! :)

 

Sea World also had an awesome kids play area! The kids had fun running around in between watching awesome animal shows!