New Year's Eve

This year for New Year's Eve, we had Marc and Kenna and girls come over, as well as Anne and her kids.  It was one giant party, with lots of noisy little kids running everywhere.  We had pizza for dinner, then spent the rest of the night singing karaoke, playing Rock Band, and playing board games.

 Kate and her cousin Gabby enjoyed rides in the wagon.

 
 Anne brought her boyfriend, Gary.  Nate really liked him, and played with him all night. 

 
Aaron really loved the karaoke.  He sang and sang for hours (even after everyone else went upstairs to play Rock Band).  He wore his weight vest all night, too.  It helps him with his sensory issues when there is a lot going on and lots of people around.

Kate can't pass up a good pair of shoes (Anne's boots).

 We played lots and lots of Rock Band.

Sara, Brynne, and Savannah playing Apples to Apples.

Marc and Kenna left around 10, to go home and put little girls to bed.

Midnight rolled around and everyone was still going strong (except for Kate, who had gone to bed an hour earlier).  We poured everyone glasses of sparkling apple cider and watched the countdown on TV.  Anne brought poppers for all the kids to use at midnight too (which is why Nate was plugging his ears).

 Even though it was freezing outside (and Josh and Nate were both in shorts), the kids braved the elements to light sparklers to celebrate the new year.

Owen didn't want to go outside for sparklers, so we went out with the other kids.  While we were out there, he changed his mind, and decided to get shoes on so he could come out.  He wasn't quite fast enough.  We finished and came in just as he was ready to come out.  He cried and cried when we told him the sparklers were all gone.  

Scott sat down in the chair to comfort him, and he almost immediately fell fast asleep.