New Year's Fun

I've discovered celebrating the New Year is more fun with kids than not. Chandler loves the idea of getting together with others and staying up until midnight to say GOODBYE to the old and HELLO to the new. So, Scott and I hosted and played the part of having a HAPPY NEW YEAR with Chandler and most of his cousins.  All the kids (minus Tori, who is 12 and had her own plans, and Nicole, who is 3 months and wanted to be with mom) came over for dinner, games, and a little bit of fun. We started off the night with play dough and coloring and Shirley Temples. This was followed with mini pizzas or mac and cheese. Promptly after we all burned up energy with balloon volleyball and musical chairs. After a couple rounds of Red Light, Green Light and Simon Says the older kids played the Wii while the two little girls enjoyed a movie. We then ate yummy "Smith" brownies with ice cream and sprinkles and capped it all off with poppers and noisemakers at 10 pm. I'm still picking up confetti from the sidewalk. The kids got picked up by parents shortly after and Chandler got a little sleepover with Stratton. He did insist on staying up until midnight--and fell to sleep immediately after. It was a great night with fun for everyone. Thankfully Watson slept through it all.