To Everything There is a Season...

With Kennedy's birthday being the first of the year, she wanted to get the party started New Year's Eve by going to Carraba's for dinner.  Leighton joined us as his wife, Rosa, was in Guatemala.  The twins get their love of the Steelers from Leighton.

Boston loves being goofy and insisted I document this.

In pure Bateman fashion, the twins finished every crumb of food on their plate and still wanted more.  We can't keep up with their eating as of late.  Kennedy intentionally ordered more than she could eat so she could continue the celebration tomorrow and eat it for lunch.  She's a thinker. 

Eric and the kids had the van shaking as we were driving down the street - dancing and singing their hearts out.  Someone has to be mature and keep it all together.  That was me.  No dancing or crazy movement coming from my corner of the car.

We picked up fireworks at a local stand and this poor little pony to continue with our festivities.  Eric stuffed the pony with excitement, convinced he'd started a new tradition.

Next stop - the Wallis' to invade their peaceful evening.  A disclaimer needs to proceed our family everywhere we go.  It would read:  Beware of loud voices, big bodies and never ending appetites.

This was the stick everyone decided would take care of the whacking of the pony.

Boston was first up.  He made a dent.

Katelyn continued the process and Jackson finished it off.  All the kids 13 and under got a chance to swing.

Christian, being the mature 16 year old that he is, decided the pony needed to burn. 

Mike and Melinda's neighbor, Bobby, built an igloo in their front yard with all the willing kids in the neighborhood.  It was so cool!  You laid down with your stomach up on a sled and held a flashlight while Bobby slid you in to check it out.  Eric even fit, after he squeezed his legs together as tight as he could.  I was worried he wouldn't come out the same way he went in.  It was like watching a baby be born:)  And to top it off, he decided to let off some "steam" in the igloo and as he was coming out it was like a stink bomb had been let off.  Bobby asked him, "Did you just toot in my igloo?"  Eric just laughed while the rest of us were gagging.  Disgusting.  But let's not let that ruin the mood...  It was a fabulous evening, spent with great friends.  Happy 2014!

The Christmas holiday was fun, relaxing and memorable.  Getting together with family is always a highlight and I took lots of pictures to remember it.  My commentation will be far and few between with this post because it will read better with mostly just pictures.  There are lots of them.  I have come to a stark realization.  We went to my cousin's farewell in Logan a month ago and my kids were dumbfounded at where I had been hiding this part of the family.  I want to make sure my children know ALL their family and remember them.  Pictures help keep it all alive.  

Here is a breakdown on what we did over the vacation:

- Christmas eve at the Moses Lake Bowling Alley

- Christmas eve wrestling and games at Jodi & Matt's

- Christmas brunch at my parent's house

- Christmas dinner at Tony and Alli's

- Baptisms for those 12 and older with dinner after

- Apple juice making at Jenks Brother's apple plant

- Paint balling in the orchard

- Celebrating Eric's 40th birthday without him.  He was sick in bed most of the day.

- Chatting on the couch,  a lot

- Card games and wrestling

-Went to the movies - The Hobbit (celebrating Noah's 14th birthday), Hunger Games and Saving Mr. Banks

- Ate and ate and ate and ate..using more paper goods than I can count.

Kennedy, Ashley, Hunter, Brandon, Christine, Shannon, Sara, Alli, Verdene with Meg on lap

Lizzie and Meg

Matt, Jodi and Hunter with Boston and Kennedy

Verdene, Alli, Lauren, Leighton, Christine and Boston

Jodi, Uncle Duane, Kameron, Jason, Tony and Sean

Brandon, Benson and Detton

 Bethany, Truman, Iris and Jason

Ava, Sean and Vard

Tahne, Taylor, Aunt Rhonda, Melba (Rhonda's mom) and Uncle Kevin

Addi and Colt (expecting a baby in the spring)

Jacob, Cody, Wesley and Colt

 Chad and Brandon (love the arm on the hip)

Heather, Noah, Shannon and Sara

Luke, Kaden, Noah, Hudson, Beau

Meg, Verdene, Ashley and a thrilled Launa

Seila

Tahne and Taylor (newlyweds)

Drew

Verdene and Vard (aka mom and dad, grandma and grandpa)

Taylor, Kate, Jackson, Mark and Boston

Plick and Plock

 Dave and Ella

Alli and Krew

 Hadley and Kristy

 Justin, Kai and Kale

Christine, Kutter and Callie

 Ava and Uncle Duane

Jodi, Boone and Gage

Kennedy and Hunter

 Bethany with Iris and Berlin

 Jocelyn and Alli

 Roman, Everett, Boone, Jodi and Alli

Sawyer

 Aunt Mary (the party planner)

Jennifer with a dazed Boston

Matt, Boston and Kameron

 Chad and Truman

Eric and poor Santa

Santa (Mark)

 Boston

Jackson and Leighton giving Santa a workout

Brandon and the newest addition to the clan, his 6th child - Annie

 Jackson and Leighton

Kutter and Boston

Jodi, Allyson, Verdene, Dave, Noah, Beau, Leighton

Vard, Luke, Boston making little smokies wrapped in bacon.  They made a good team.

Sara and her chocolate milk.  Sara had pneumonia and didn't feel well most of the time.

Verdene and Kennedy preparing brunch.

 Leighton cooking up sausage...

 while Jackson played video games.

Christmas morning joy!

Twins received 22s

 Boston only wanted an ipod

Kenned requested a green, Fossil crossbody purse.  Santa delivered.

My mom (we know she's Verdene by now) and her desire to have things look nice.  She goes that extra mile even if it's just paper plates:)

Kennedy and Hunter are the best of friends.

Matt wrestling with the little kids, and Boston.

Dave and his new accessory.

Detton and Boston

 Just when you think you've bought a big enough size, Eric tries it on and... it still doesn't fit.

My dad gave my mom this leaf blower.  She was thrilled.  My brothers decided to start it up in the house.  We were all high from the exhaust.

Mark in his favorite spot with Meg napping.

No that's not a booger but the sunlight was shining just right.

Kennedy couldn't resist a little cuddle time with Annie.

Adult dinner at Famous Dave's after doing baptisms at the Columbia River Temple.  The other side of the table was full too.  The food must've come and I left my post as token picture taker.

Dave left his undies out to dry, I mean freeze,  afterwards.  They were a little stiff to say the least.

Leighton (or Jackson, I really can't tell) doing some of that eating I referred to earlier.  The pizza was for Eric's birthday.  Too bad he couldn't even eat any.

Eric did venture out for a bit of fresh air.

Jackson gave Jocelyn a ride out to the orchard to join in on the paint ball games.

Grandpa Vard is always a good sport and joins in without hesitation.

Boston was very concerned about his protection.

Grandpa, Jocelyn, Sawyer, Matt, Boston, Kennedy, Hudson, Hunter, Beau

Processing apples to made cider at the plant

The most pathetic birthday cake we have ever made.  3 + 1 and a 0 equal 40 right?!  My mom made Eric's favorite chocolate cherry cake.  Eric doesn't like frosting on it so she threw some on last minute and we improvised with the candles.  The small piece of cake was the only thing Eric had eaten in a day and he said it was the best ever.

 He celebrated from the reclining chair and watched the dvd we made with pictures, messages and videos from loving friends and family.  It was perfect for the situation.  He loved it!

Alli and Boone

We ended the night and vacation with a game of Hearts and Mormon Bridge.  Eric was feeling well enough to join in.