Happy 2015

It is incredibly difficult for me to believe that we are beginning a new year! WOW. I seriously do not feel like is should be 2015. But I am excited for a new year and the fun new things that this year will bring! Out with the old, and in with the new! 2014 was a fun year and as hard as it is for me to watch the calendar turn, I am looking forward to more adventures with our family.

To ring in this new year we rented a cabin in Gatlinburg with two other families from Benton. The plans actually started back at our Halloween Party between the four of us couples there...everyone was super enthusiastic! But then reality set in and two of the couples couldn't get off work for the times we were wanting...and the idea kind of melted. Then, long-story-short, the plans picked back up and another family was invited. So it was the Robinsons, the Clapps, and Us! Six adults, seven kiddos. And it was so much fun to celebrate New Years Eve and the start of 2015 with these other two families!! Such a fun and no-stress weekend...  Welcome to the Smoky Mountains (view from our cabin at dusk)

When we arrived, the fire was on and the Christmas tree was lit. It was so homey and warm!

This picture of Keagan makes me laugh...because once we got to the cabin and changed into jammies, Keagan was all about what the big boys were doing: video games galore!

Let me introduce you to Tuck: he is just about the same age as Finn. He is such a cutie, and super sweet. And see that yellow ball he has? He carried that like a security blanket all week. Someone did manage to snap a pic of him with a regular soccer ball in his hands, but otherwise it was this yellow ball. He was such a good boy all weekend...so easy going! Especially compared to my loud and rowdy boys!

And then it was time for our NYE celebration! It wasn't too rowdy, but it fun! And despite everyone saying at 10 o'clock that they were tired, we all (kids too!) ended up staying awake until 2ish in the morning!!

During our NYE celebration I learned that you have to stick your neck out to eliminate the triple chin...I knew this, but I have a hard time with this in pictures. I always have a triple chin. Always.

Do this:

Not this...

OK Girls! Put the "Chicken Neck" technique to use for this picture... (p.s. I tried to do this technique all weekend...awkward...but I will keep trying!)

While the grown-ups were hanging out in the dining room, the kids were playing games and enjoying each others company in the living room. Finn is only slightly obsessed with Molly Parker (Paul and Paula's daughter). Ok, like, I think he would go live with her forever and never look for me again if he had the chance. And to give him credit, she does give him 100% of her loving attention! He LOVES her.

And Keagan and Nick (Amber and Scott's middle boy...same age as Keagan) were getting to know each other. They played two seasons of soccer together so they knew "who" the other was, but they are buddies now.

Couples!

Scott and Amber Clapp

Paul and Paula Robinson

Trying not to freeze when we all stepped outside...looking for bears....fireworks?

Finn and Keagan might thing they are the only ones who love this girl...but I do too!! She is super sweet to my babies...and because she enjoys playing with my kids so much I get a little adult time (read: a break).  And she plays "kitties" with the boys...which is their all-time favorite pretend game. Haha! Sweet girl.

The countdown begins...

10-9-8....

7-6-5-4...   (this face is HILARIOUS!)

3-2-1...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

After the "party" this is what we did until 230ish...and we thought we were tired at 10pm! HA! well...we certainly were the next morning!!

New Years Day was a beautiful day and a lazy day of football and lots of food. I made my all-time favorite food: Chicken Chimichangas (my mom's recipe) and they were a huge hit with everyone!! Even the kids!

MP took Finn outside to play on New Years Day...I think Finn thought he was really looking for bears! Regardless, he was excited about wearing some "Gwubs"...but he was outside less time than it took to put on those "gwubs" and hat!

"Mr. Paul" was all about introducing Keagan and Nick to HayDay on the iPad...and Keagan is now a proud player of it on his own device.

Finn wanted MP to wrap him up in a blanket and he would be the baby... she's a sucker! ;)

One morning we woke up to the mountains truly being Smoky...it was stunning. Hard to get "the" picture...but here's the best I could do. It really was gorgeous.

As the cloud cover burned off we were left with a gorgeous view. And it was in the 60s the day we all decided to venture out to Gatlinburg. As we were readying ourselves and loading kids in the car and such, I had my camera on my shoulder and snapped this picture...lovebirds! Super sweet. (They also don't have littles to prepare and put in the car...their kiddos do everything themselves. Maybe someday Josh and I will be like this when our kids don't require us to walk for them!)

And then there was this: I came downstairs after completely getting ready and getting dressed for Scott to tell me that Amber had the same shirt on. I laughed, but didn't hear the word "on" so I didn't think anything of it until she came out of her room in the identical shirt. We got a great laugh out of it...and didn't change!

Before we headed to Gatlinburg we decided to get some pictures of the kids and each family.

Scott and Amber Clapp and Nate, Nick, and Tuck

Paul and Paula Robinson and Molly Parker and Rush

US!

First stop once we made it down into Gatlinburg was for gourmet donuts...my boys LOVE a good sprinkly donut!

We walked into a shop that sold different types of moonshine and sauces...and Keagan thought it smelled horrible!

Rush and I joked about wanting to take Old-timey photos while we were down in Gatlinburg but no one else seemed enthused about the idea. So this is the best we got...maybe next time we will convince everyone else!

Like a kid (or two) in a candy store...mine went ape when we walked into this one. And of course we had to get some candy! I introduced them to rock candy suckers and Smoky Mountain taffy...yumm! You can tell by Finn's cheeks that he is smiling big. He is just like his Momma!

Keagan and Nick. these two boys became big buds during this week in the mountains.

A bunch of boys and a water fountain...like moths to a flame! We were certain that someone was going to fall in, but we all walked away dry!

My two boys seriously were spoiled this weekend by the bigger kids. They were carried and doted on the whole vacation time...evidence:

Poor Molly Parker was crawled on the entire time...and she was so patient. I felt bad for her, she really didn't get a break! But we did make sure she had some extra green to go shopping with at the outlet mall...

These boys fit in well with this bear family...

Our lovely group!

Pretending to ride a mountain ski lift...

His faces. Seriously, they are so funny. This child has personality-plus!!

Moonshine tasting. This guy was hilarious! He described some of the flavors as ones that would make even him look pretty! Hahaha!

Here is what my children were doing while we were tasting moonshine. Really, it is a family affair...(i.e. we weren't the only people with kids..)

Don't mess with this mess!

We rode this ski lift (Ober-Gatlinburg) up the mountain...it was a lot of fun! Unfortunately when we got up to the top the man-made snow couldn't even keep up with the warm temps!

Finn fell asleep on MP on the ride back down the mountain. Bless.

Sweet big boys...Nate and Rush were so friendly to Keagan...these pictures make me smile. It is so nice to be around good families with good kids. Very thankful that my children have good role models.

The.End.

(Happy 2015!)