New Year's Eve

Where did 2010 go?  This year has been incredible, and has gone by incredibly fast!  Before we knew it, we were getting ready for the big annual New Year's Eve party at the Call's.  Seems like it wasn't very long ago we were doing the same thing to welcome in 2010.  And here we were, bidding it farewell...

This year's party was just us, as opposed to having a ton of extended family there.  In a way, it was really nice!  We still had TONS of food.  Danny tried a new Garlic Artichoke Dip from, of course, Our Best Bites, and it was to die for.

While the cooking and cleaning was going on, Grandma was keeping the kids entertained...

Grandma and Sophie worked on some puzzles, and then Grandma helped Claire, Sophie, and Johnny make Happy New Year's crowns!  What a fun Grandma my kids have.  They all looked so cute!

It was about 5:00 by the time we got everyone to the house and the food was ready.  We all decided to play "Bezzerwizzer" first, which is the game that David and Camillia got us for Christmas this year.  A few of us had played it earlier in the week, but you can imagine how much more fun it was once everyone was together!  And by fun, I also mean competitive.  "Bezzerwizzer" is a trivia game, and we had all the Call brothers in the same room.  Enough said.  :)

While the adults played their game, the kids found ways to occupy their time.  Claire and Braxton were basically inseparable.  It's so fun that our girls have cousins their age on the Call side now!

After the game, and everyone had their first round of stuffing themselves sick, we decided to take the festivities downstairs.  There was more gaming to be done there, of a different variety.  Danny, Robbie, and David played Wii Mario Kart, which got a little noisy.  And Grandma and the Aunties played "Chutes and Ladders" with Claire and Braxton.

Once we pulled the boys away from the Wii, we busted out a rowdy game of "Reverse Charades", which was hilariously fun!  Our kids made it until about 10:00 or so before they were ready for bed, and Danny and I, while making it to midnight, were in bed shortly thereafter.  Right after Danny threw a firework at Robbie's head, or some sort of tomfoolery.  :)

2010 was an incredible year for our family.  We started the year out grieving the loss of Rachel, which made us very much appreciate the precious relationships we have with our family.  We spent a large majority of the year looking forward to Johnny's arrival, and then enjoying the sweet spirit he brought to our home.  We added two sisters-in-law and two cousins.  We were able to make our way to Utah four times, as well as had visits from family in between.  Really, 2010 was about family for us.

What an amazing year it was, and I can only imagine the experiences that await us in 2011.  Personally, I'm excited!