New Year's Eve

Our New Year's Eve party was much the same this year as it was the year before.  We did our traditional snack platters and got the spread all laid out on the counter.  We had to go around to the other counter since our "bar" isn't as big in our new house.  Maybe we just need less food! ha ha

Ian got his snacks earlier than the rest of us because he was going to the Stake Dance/Activity with Jason and Samantha.

It was hard to keep the kids from snitching off the trays until we were ready to begin.

Wayne, Suzette, and Melinda came over and we played The Farming Game.

At Midnight, we had Sparkling Soda and toasted each other.

Zander actually made it this year.  I think it was a first for him!  

We had some confetti poppers for the kids.  Micah was having a hard time pulling the string to make it pop, so Melinda helped him.

We went outside to do the rest of them.

Micah was sad when we were out of the poppers.  I remembered we had some more in the basement.  He was excited when we got them out!

John even lit a few other fireworks.

And a parachute man.  We had a great time making so much noise in our "retired" neighborhood. Nobody came out and complained at us, so we figured we were okay.

 Eli isn't quite awake, but everyone else helped to ring in the new year! Ian was still at the dance.  I guess we are entering a new phase of life with teenagers in the house!

Happy 2015!!

Book of Mormon First Nephi Party

 

John found a bookmark on Pinterest of Activities/Parties to do with your family when you finish each book in the Book of Mormon. 

 We decided we would do them the next time we started the Book of Mormon.  We finished reading First Nephi on October 21st, so the next night for Family Home Evening we had our first party.  The book mark says to go to an Archery Range (Nephi's Bow), but living in Green River, that was not an option.  Our next plan of action was to buy kids bows and arrows that they have at the Melon Vine.  But, when I went to get them, they were all out.  Back to Pinterest I went in search of anything Bow and Arrow related.  I found some bows made out of popcicle sticks and the arrows were q-tips.  Perfect! 

I made them a few days before we were finished because they had to soak so I could bend the wood.  For our party I found some pictures of Deer and Elk that we could hunt, laminated them, and cut them out.  I attached them to easels so they would stand up.  That night we reviewed the story of Nephi's broken bow, then everyone got to decorate their own bows.  We gave the kids some arrows and set up the animals around the room and let the kids shoot them.  They got so excited when they knocked the deer/elk over!  We had a lot of fun!  For our Family Home Evening treat that night we made pretzels in the shapes of bows and arrows. 

The kids loved it! :) Can't wait until we have our next celebration!

First Grade Christmas Party

December 20th, after the afternoon performance of the school program, it was time for class Christmas parties.  I helped with Zander's first grade class.  We played Christmas Bingo first.

Then we had a relay race to see who could unwrap the 8 layers of wrapping paper on their box to get to the treat inside first.  They had to wear oven mitts to make it more fun!

After the games we did a chocolate fountain, which the kids totally loved, and had a drink of raspberry sherbet and sprite.  It was a fun party!!