Ringing in the New Year!

Happy New Year!  We are 5 days into January and on the last day of Christmas break.  Boo!  This makes me ready for summer.  Christmas vacation is the longest break for school and it doesn't take long to get used to being off schedule and carefree!  I do look forward to some of our activities and I'm excited for the things to come over these first few months but summer break is always something to look forward to!
I have to rewind to our week leading up to New Year's day.  After Christmas the kids had a whole week off to spend at home enjoying all their new Christmas toys.  We also wanted to get in some fun time too.  We had asked Cohen what was one thing she might want to do over the break and she had chose ice skating.   I had never been and neither of the girls had either but we decided to give it a go.  Kelly had been before so he was the only one of us who would know what to expect.  We decided to go on Monday night.  Nana had agreed to watch Bryce for us while we skated.   We got our skates and headed out to the ice and two sweet girls immediately came up to Cohen and offered her their "seal" which helps give you something to hold on to while you learn to skate.  Cohen decided she didn't want the seal because she wanted to try it on her own but it was a lifesaver for Kate.  In fact she spent the majority of the time sitting on the seal being pushed around by me and Kelly.  We did make her try it just a little but she wasn't wanting to try anymore than she had to!  It was a good trip and Cohen did great!  I was so proud of her.  I was surprised at how well we all enjoyed it.

We had a fun night out on Tuesday with our friends.  We went to eat and to see a movie.   Then on Wednesday we got together with Rebekah, Cade, and Nolan and went to see another movie! Kate had not gone on Tuesday so she was excited to go and see Alvin and the Chipmunks.  With all the nasty rain we were having we were having to find indoor fun!  It was a cute movie.  I know Rebekah and I were cracking up several times during the movie.

Tuesday night's crew!

Thursday was New Year's Eve!  We had some of our friends going ice skating and Cohen really wanted to go back so we did!  Again Kate was content to ride the seal the entire skate session and this time we had several pushers!  She loved that she could ride with Nolan this time too.  Cohen did great once again and I think she was loving all this skate time.  It was fun getting to skate with all of our friends.  And after skating we all went out for a yummy pizza lunch.

That night we spent our last hours of 2015 with alot of our close friends at the Burton's.  This is where we spend most all of our New Year's Eves and we always have the best time.  We also get to see some of the best fireworks too!  Bryce actually hung in until midnight too but he was not loving those fireworks!  He cried and just shook he was so scared!  The girls actually did really well.  Cohen has always hated them because she is not into loud noises but she watched outside the whole time.  She may have kept her fingers in her ears part of the time but it is progress!  It was a fun way to end the year! Thanks for the memories 2015 and I hope that 2016 has many more fun times ahead!

Bryce was interested in Baby Liv!  Its hard to believe this was him last year!

 Kate really enjoyed the sparklers!  She would run around and spin them around!

Sweet friends!