On New Year's Eve, Grandma and Grandpa had their 2nd annual "Grandkids' New Year's Eve Party and Sleepover." It must've been sheer insanity, with 6 kids 6 and under at their house, but the kids had a blast. My girls looked forward to it for WEEKS; they still remembered the party they had last year. Grandma Beth goes all out for this thing: decorations, party hats, noisemakers, special crafts, special dinner
and snacks IN the grown-up dining room, games, stories, AND a sleepover? Can it get any better than that!? This year, the hit of the party was the "blindfold game," where Grandma blindfolded someone and they had to guess which stuffed animal they were holding (chosen from a giant pile of stuffed animals next to the party-goers). The best part was apparently when GRANDPA took a turn. Another hit was storytime- they read books for at least an hour. Grandma said their favorite was one about a little sheep, wolves, and a shepherd -a parable full of symbolism - when Grandpa asked if anyone knew what that meant, everyone said no except for Sadie, of course, who piped up, " I know what it means... it's like when God killed the devil, which is sin. I learned that at the Boar's Head Festival!" Yay, my future English major!
The next day, all the parents showed up and we opened our Christmas presents and had waffles. The kids loved their gifts from our Ohio family... a Mousetrap game from Aunt Sarah, books, teacups, and the next Little House Book on CD from Grandma & Grandpa, a paintable teaset & Shirley Temple movies from Aunt Cindy & Uncle Bob, a Sit and Spin from Beck & James, teeny dress up dolls from Lyd & Darryl, mosaics, ponies, and a keyboard from Lynn & Deanna... I can't remember everything. There was a lot! They loved it all and they were very good this year about saying thank you and giving everyone hugs. I was proud of them for their good manners! Later we bundled up and trekked over to the sledding hill in the nearby park. I, of
course, abstained from sledding, since I would probably end up in the emergency room or WORSE, but the girls had a good old time flying down the hill with Uncle James, their cousins, Aunt Becky, Aunt Cindy, and Grandma. They are so brave, if somewhat lazy... Aunt Cindy kept pulling Josie and Ireson up the hill because they didn't want to have to walk back up on their own power! :)It was a good day, and we are thankful for our families, near and far.
