I know that we're almost half-way through the month of January... but I felt like I couldn't blog about the new year until I shared where we were as the New Year began!!! The kids and I were in Arizona with Papa and Grandma Annie and Dele was deejaying a party. We brought the new year in an hour earlier than most of our family, so we celebrated twice...once in AZ time and once in NV/WA time! The boys spent the afternoon at the park and the girls went shopping. The girls met the boys at the park with lunch and then we went home. After dinner Papa took each of the kids on a tour of the Christmas lights in their golf cart. The big kids even got to drive the golf cart around the neighborhood. Sade was in heaven! She can't wait to drive, so driving the golf cart was like a dream!
After all of the rides were given, we proceeded to play games and eat our way into the New Year! Every hour a new appetizer came out and, of course, we devoured every last bite of each different one. About 10 minutes before our New Year, Papa and Grandma got out the champagne flutes, sparkling cider, hats, poppers, blowers & pots and pans.
Ayodele was hoping he could have some real champagne...
Derek was happy that they bought poppers!!!
Kayode and Papa "blew" in the New Year with lots of noise!!!
We had so much fun in Arizona! Papa and Grandma kept us busy the whole time we were there! When we were at the house we played Apples to Apples, Ten Thousand, Michigan Rummy and One Card! We even played our new Wii! Uncle Jeff organized a "Family Friendly" competition that included all of the games we played, and of course, he won!!!
The kids and I had a wonderful trip to Arizona. We left on the 26th of December and returned to Vegas on the 3rd of January 2009. The only thing that would have made our trip any better was if Dele could have joined us for all or part of the trip. Maybe next year!
We were supposed to be there before everyone else, but we had a late start and then had to turn around and go through Laughlin, NV because there were terrible backups on the Hoover Dam! Anyway... it was wonderful to be greeted by Dad, Annie, Jeff and Carter! (Even though Carter didn't want anything to do with Auntie! I got over it...kind of!) The kids all immediately got out their Nintendo DSs and started playing! It was like there had been no time between our last visits! Kayode was so excited to see Carter!
Dad went and got pizza and we set up their tree. The kids all helped decorate the tree and put the village up! Once we were done decorating a huge stocking came out filled with gifts! What fun! We all got to open fun little gifts from Papa and Grandma Annie. My favorite gifts out of the stocking were name scrolls that Dad and Annie had hand painted in China last summer. They're beautiful and I can't wait for the kids to have their own space to put them up!
What a great start to a great week!
We had another terrific Christmas! I think I was more excited about Christmas morning than the kids. I couldn't sleep a wink the night before! I got up and started the cinnamon rolls at 6am and then sat on the couch admiring the tree... I love Christmas morning! The kids started getting up around 7 and by 7:30 we were all up and opening the stockings that Santa had left the kids. As part of our tradition, the kids also get to open their one gift from Santa before we stop to eat our traditional Christmas morning breakfast: homemade cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, bacon, little piggies, and orange juice. Mm mm! Once the kitchen was cleaned up, the rest of Christmas could begin!
