New Year's Fun 2017

See past years here: 2015, 2013, 2012

I can't even begin to describe the ripple of excitement that went through me when I got the text message from my college BFF Jenny saying that they might be willing to make the trip up here to do our mostly-annual New Year's Eve celebration. She has a carseat-hating two-year-old, so I really thought it was out of the question, and we were in no position to travel there with a three-month-old. But when you've been best friends for almost half your lives (we'll hit that milestone in 2019), what's a few hours of screaming toddler?!

This year boasted eight kids under eight years old: two sevens, one six, two fours, two twos (though Toby was just days away from his third birthday), and baby Calvin. We let Caleb (their seven-year-old) have Toby's bed so that he and Levi could share a room, and that alone was worth the trip. It was a "first sleepover" for both of them, and we couldn't hardly stand hearing them whisper in their room after lights out -- so fun! Even more fun when they told us the next morning that they'd stayed up for exactly 16 minutes talking about books. Two peas in a pod (as long as it's okay for one pea to be a full three clothing sizes bigger than the other).

The whole crew, minus me behind the camera.

We started off our weekend with these delicious strawberry cream cheese rolls.

After baking and glazing. Giant, scrumptious, sticky-sweet.

Then our bravest-of-brave husbands took the oldest five to an indoor play area (we had a Groupon) while the moms and the three littles took in the mall play area, lunch, and nap time. It was very sweet to watch the two-year-olds interact, and I was reminded of my days four years ago of having three under three. 

Reading with the two-year-olds.

Inside the coin-operated car at the mall.

While the littles napped, Jenny and I planned out our New Year's Eve activities. We try to do something every hour to celebrate, and the longer kids are awake, the more time we have to fill! This year, my kids were obsessed with their Advent calendars, so we played on that theme and cut doors into a box. I say "we," but I really mean that I suggested an idea, handed Jenny a box, and she used her fantastically creative brain to come up with this:

Covered in wrapping paper, with construction paper behind the doors.

Each number represents a time on the clock, and behind each door is an activity. The kids loved taking turns opening up the doors to see what was next! Here's a snapshot-view of our day:

We started by making sugar cookie dough (everyone helped dump in ingredients), then played for an hour before coming back to roll out cookies. Bells (to ring in the new year) and circles (to be clocks).

We had GIRLS in our house!!

Toby would not surrender his rolling pin to anyone.

Lunch was grilled cheese (standard for the kids, fancy for the adults), tomato soup, and a veggie platter. (Not quite as impressive as two years ago.)

To (attempt to) calm down before nap time, we did this fireworks in a jar experiment. Nothing fancy, but we learned a thing or two about density. 

Watching the colors swirl.

While the littles napped, the big boys played games and colored NYE pictures. Also, their four-year-old girl and Levi played "house" a lot of the time, which was a new phenomenon in this boys-only family!

After nap time, we decorated the baked cookies--and then ate one for a snack.

Methodical Owen.

So. Many. Sprinkles.

Toby, worshiping his cookie.

Then, while the table was a mess anyway, we made these toilet paper tube confetti poppers.

The moms did the duct-taping part.

As a bonus (unplanned) activity, Jenny brought along some really fun tie-dye balloons, which Silas and Toby had a blast chasing around the living room (while Isaac got in some last-minute sermon prep in the background).

The balloon didn't make it into the picture.

Since it got dark so early, before dinner we sent the dads out with the kids and a pile of glow sticks. Given how cold it was, we were amazed that they stayed out for as long as they did! (Maybe twenty whole minutes!) Owen told me later it was his favorite part of the day.

Meanwhile, I finished up some crockpot chili and two loaves of bacon cornbread. (The second loaf turned out to be unnecessary. Also, by this point in the day I was so tired that I had to take the loaves back out of the oven TWICE -- once because I forgot the bacon, and again because I forgot the cheese!)

After dinner, we cleaned up the play areas, got everyone in jammies, then settled the littles down to watch The Snowy Day while the bigs played minute-to-win-it New Year's games.

Silas and Toby

Abby and Leah

Kisses Countdown: rearranging numbered chocolate kisses hidden under the numbered cups to be in the correct clock order

Levi and Owen insisted that Isaac give it a try, too.

Tick Tock Tic Tacs: move 17 tic-tacs from one plate to another using tweezers.

Never mind the basket of clean laundry in every one of these photos.

A Toss Through Time: "tossing" (or dropping) giant marshmallows through each hour on the clock. It helps to have two youth leaders (Jon is, Isaac was) around to organize games like these! They've had lots of practice!

While the kids finished up their show, Jenny and I set out our final celebration activities: noisemakers, the confetti poppers, and milk-and-cookie toasts (using the cookies they decorated earlier).

Milk in plastic champagne glasses. :)

We turned on the Puffin Rock countdown on Netflix . . .

Then blew our noisemakers and popped our poppers with glee! Yes, there was paper confetti (all hole-punched and/or ripped by Jenny and me) all over the floor. That's why we own a vacuum. We were very pleased with how well they worked!

Back to the dining room to toast the new year. (It was 8:00pm at this point.)

Cheers!

At long last, the grown-ups were left alone to play our traditional NYE game of Catan. For the first time ever, the game lasted less than an hour: Jenny destroyed us. Also as usual, I had a discussion question at the ready (because I'm not about to waste good quality time with good friends!): What do you want to do when the kids are gone? 

Chocolate caramel Oreo pie. Oh yes.

We woke up to a meaty breakfast skillet (I threw in some cranberries and pecans, inspired by this wonderful recipe) and chocolate zucchini muffins (not that great, but I overbaked them). Church, lunch at Granite City, one more afternoon of games, dinner at Pizza Ranch, and the visit came sadly to a close. Oh, how I love these dear people!

We have kids old enough for a "kids' table!"

Happy 2017, all!