We partied like it was 1999!!!

We rang in the New Year Welch style, with lots of food and fun! We played some games, watched some of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve, ate some delicious food, and we definitely enjoyed the company! We were even treated to our very own concert by the girls! See the videos below! We did one firework--don't judge us---it was FREEZING and the wind was blowing like mad, so it was really hard to light them! But the girls loved it anyways and we did a few more the next day (though it was still just as cold!) We all drank sparkling grape juice (Welch's of course!), gave a toast and everyone got their New Year's kiss! I made sure to get a picture with each of the kiddo's because as I was looking through the pictures from last year's celebrations I was amazed at how much they had changed! They are growing up so fast! There are several of Lennon in many various hats--the girls had a wonderful time dressing him up--and he never once complained! We thoroughly enjoyed our time in MN with family and can't wait to see them again!

This past week we started the kids with their very own journal pages. This was a New Year's tradition in our home growing up and was something we did every Sunday after church. We got to write, or draw, about our week and then the pages were put into a folder that we decorated at the beginning of the year. At the beginning of the year we fill out a cover sheet for each of the kids, with their age, height and weight, favorite things, memories of the past year, and goals for the upcoming year. I hope they enjoy looking back on their journal pages, as much as I enjoy looking back on mine! The kids have some really good goals this year. Aleece wants to continue learning to read, start kindergarten, learn how to read music and to play the piano and learn how to ride a bike! Madelaine wants to become potty trained and learn how to talk a little more clearly! Lennon wants to learn how to crawl, walk, talk and eat real food! We made some family goals as well with some suggestions from the kids. We decided we are going to be better about reading the Book of Mormon every day as a family and not skip any days, and we are going to be better about saying family prayers in the morning as well as the evenings. We are excited for this year and can't wait to see what is to come!