Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!!

Last night is the first time as a family everyone stayed up to see the clock click over to midnight. We spent the day watching movies and playing games on the Wii. Last night we played Aggravation, In a Pickle, and Pass the Pigs all new games for the kids.

Aggravation is a game a friend recommended that we get so I did for Frank’s birthday. On his birthday Jade had a blast making a cake for daddy, wrapping the present, and the 5 younger kids spent a good portion of the day creating the small felt toys they so carefully and loving made for their daddy.

Pass the Pigs came just after Christmas from Nana and Poppy. Poppy picked this game out for us and the kids loved this game too. What makes this game special for us is Frank and I had this game when we first got married. While I was in labor with our oldest we taught the OB staff how to play the game and they all played the game off and off with us until labor really progressed. We also played this many times after that until it eventually got lost in one of our military moves.

In a Pickle is a game the Celidah picked out for Corbyn for Christmas. This game is similar to Apples to Apples, with the exception that the cards are placed in a line (or a pickle) and the words on each card must go from smallest word to longest word. The person who places the longest word at the end of line wins that row of cards.

The kids also LOVED a surprise (to them) Skype call from Nana and Poppy. This was a real treat for them as they commenting on how much they were missing their Nana and Poppy this year and had not spent enough time with them. Now through Skype the kids will have the opportunity to see them much more often now thanks to the technology of the internet. In December they got to see both sets of grandparents.

Last night shortly before midnight Jairon had to ask us what happens when it becomes midnight…Well, we told the kids it would be bedtime for all. At this Jairon was stunned and replied “what we have to go to bed after it turns midnight and becomes 2012? But I thought that is when the partying started?” We informed him that no, it would be bedtime and asked what we had been doing all day long. “Well, just playing games, watching movies, eating lots of fun foods, and getting ready for the party to start…” At this with a chuckle we reminded him the day had been filled with the fun foods, games, movies, and activities as it was a day of partying and celebrating the New Year coming in. Not to mention the fact that we had to go to church the next morning.

What is crazy this year is the fact that Celidah will be old enough to get her learners permit for driving, Corbyn will graduate from primary and move into the Young Men’s program, Zach will be baptized. The kids are growing up on us so fast. Ellie is the only left in jr primary now.

Celidah and Jade will once again be Youth Team Captains for Relay for Life. We are praying this year proves to be kinder on the family than 2011 was. While we were greatly blessed, we also had some great challenges to overcome to get those blessings.

So as we move into this New Year, into 2012 my hope and goals for the year are to keep improving as a family. Help the children continue to develop more love and charity towards each other and for others. To remember the joy found through service and expand on what they have done before to stretch their horizons and find new ways to serve others and give back to their new local community. As it is through service for others that we find ourselves especially amid trials and struggles.

I hope to help instill a stronger love of Christ and the Gospel in each child and help their individual testimonies grow. The goal is for each to have a strong testimony and know for him or herself, without a doubt that the Gospel is true, and will guide and direct them in their lives. Additionally, to watch their love for the Savior grow.