New Year's Eve

Here's our family, ready for some exciting adventures in 2012!

Beckett, Shonn, and I celebrated New Year's Eve with our friends the Waldens, the Holts, the Johnsons, and the Uppencamps.  We looked around and commented on how much can change in a year... Last year at this time, Jayme and I were both pregnant, Adam and Abbie were on a cruise, and Heath and Heather weren't even in our group yet.  Now, Adam and Abbie have moved to Indy, Allison and Chris are expecting number 2, and Jayme and I were chasing little rascals all night.  This is the third year we have all been in small group together, and we've become very close.  2012 promises to be a year full of new surprises and additions - I can't wait to see what's in store for all of us!

It was a wonderful evening.  We got there around 6:30, and Allison had all the decorations ready to go.  It was super-cute - very pinterest-worthy, as you will see in the following exhibit: (Need I remind you that Allison is the one who did the adorable M&M Holiday party just a few weeks ago? Talent, I tell ya.)

There was a ton of food, including my disastrous, and very UNpinterest worthy Ball-Drop Cupcakes.  I saw the idea on pinterest and chose to ignore the fact that they were created by a lady who makes cupcakes FOR HER JOB.  In my "project", I had all the wrong supplies and failed to read the full directions, so my cupcakes and cake pops remained separate desserts.  (You'll see the softball-sized cake pops in the upper right corner.  Softball similarity was one of the problems.)  Cute idea.  Major Fail.  Oh well - there was plenty to go around!
We had a great time watching the kids and playing my all-time favorite, Would You Rather.  If you aren't familiar with this game, you must immediately check it out. 
Here are some pics from the night.

Beckett was very interested in Hadleigh and Braylon. He loved playing with them both.

"Hey, cutie...Want a ride? I get 100 miles to the gallon on this hog."

"Where's Chris?"

Beckett: "Alright, c'mon! He isn't looking!" Hadleigh: "But your Ice Cream Truck doesn't match my outfit!"

Beckett: "This thing has some power!" Hadleigh: "Please."

THEN THINGS GOT SERIOUS...  Beckett leaned over, pushed Hadeigh down, and being the excellent parent that I am, I grabbed my camera instead of helping the poor girl up.  This is what ensued... And it wasn't even midnight yet...

Luckily, Aunt Abbie intervened.  Isn't she pretty?

 Before I knew it, Beckett was back on his Ice Cream Truck, cruising for more interesting activities.

He and Braylon found something exciting in the popping ball toy Jayme brought. (Again, in display of my superior parenting skills, I didn't bring any toys, which is probably why my child kept taking everyone else's. He did share his food, though...For the record...)  Here is Jayme and Braylon. Such cuties - both of them!

After a while, the toys got boring and Beckett needed to PARTY! He was walking all over the place, having a great time, singing and screaming with the party hat Aaron found and so lovingly placed on his head.  It definitely made for some cute pics!

  Shonn had some exciting party activities up his sleeve, too.  As you can see, Beckett is screaming. (In delight.)

Back on his feet, crusing for some more games and friends. With his eyes closed.

And he lost the Ice Cream Truck. (Hetold me he thought it made him look a little creepy.)

I love this picture. :)

Dad was leading Beckett to the yummy snacks in the kitchen...

...and then he realized Beckett was just following Hadleigh:

But his Number One Girl (at least for another year or two?), MOMMY, was there to intercept and give him a New Year's squish. (And some smooches.)

Sadly, I didn't get any kisses quite like Hadleigh did...

After a few more rounds of walking through the house, Beckett and Braylon got in their jammies.

The grown-ups laughed and made some very important decisions in Would You Rather...

Here's Heather and Abbie! Heath and Heather had a date night dinner before joining us. Their kiddo, Braylon, was at his Grandma's house.

Approximately 3 hours past his bedtime, Beckett was pretty much over the whole New Year's Eve celebration. (Plus Hadleigh was no where to be found.)

And not too long after, he crashed. (Please note that even though I forgot to bring toys to the party and neglected to prevent my child from attacking the other little people in the room, his hair did look pretty amazing...)

What a great night.  We are so blessed and are lookiing forward to what 2012 may bring!
xo