New Year's Eve Traditions

Sorry I have no pictures for this post!  I was too busy partying!

I know it's too late for this year, maybe I'll re-post this next December, but I just had to share with you our super fun New Year's Eve (NYE) Traditions!

First off we make a lot of Chinese food including our own homemade Egg Rolls!!!  The whole Menu is HERE on my recipe blog.

Jason and I both grew up with BIG NYE traditions!  

Jason's dad's birthday was on NYE, and he was the bishop of their ward (leader of their congregation at church) for several years.  They lived in a big old farmhouse, and every year the whole ward would basically show up for the "Bob Ritz annual surprise birthday party."  They had a pool table in the attic game room, and everyone would bring food, shoot pool, play board games, sit and visit, and count down at midnight!  Even after Jason's dad passed away the "Annual Bob Ritz Surprise Birthday Party" took place for several more years.  Jason's mom had moved away, so he and I made an appearance one year at it.  It was great fun!

My family lived away from extended family most of the time I was growing up.  My parents didn't want to leave us kids to go hang out, and let's face it.  We were way more fun than any friends they might have had.  One year for Christmas, when I was very young, my dad gave my mom a wok and a Chinese food cook book.  That's when the Chinese food tradition started.  

Over time my mom added more and more activities that became part of our annual NYE.  Something we do often, but not every year, is a family talent show.  I have many home movies to prove the success of these talent shows!

Have you seen the movie Dan in Real Life?  Our NYE looks a lot like that movie.  HAHA Lots of crazy family fun traditions.

Of course, lots of board games were played, but the best #1 activity was Predictions. 

My mom would write predictions down on square pieces of paper, and we would vote one them.  Here are some examples, "Will Isaac pass his driving test?"  "Who will win the Presidential Election?"  "Will Mom still be Relief Society President?"  "Will Corinne be engaged?"  "Where will Jackson be called to on his mission?"  "Will there be another Terrorist attack on US soil?"

So you see a wide variety of  predictions.  We would sit in a big circle, pass them around, write our name, and our best guess.  As we go around people start calling out prediction to add.  My mom always had a stack of blanks ready to go.  Then, my mom would tuck them away in a safe spot till the next NYE.  

Each year before the new predictions are made, we read through the previous years predictions.  This is SO much fun!  It is a hilarious blast to read what people predicted a year before.  We have evolved to the point where we just don't write yes or no.  We add comments as to why we think yes or no.  These are hilarious to read a year later!  Some years my mom would have her act together, and there would be a prize for the winner!  

This year is the first year that we, Jason and I, have done predictions just us and our kids.  What a blast!

National Ice Cream Day

Did you know that there is an official National Ice Cream Day?  Oh YES!  There is!  We found this out, and had to celebrate it... or observe it... or honor it.  However you wanna say it, we had a great Family Fun Day.

 (To be honest, while writing this post I looked it up and couldn't find that September 15th was National ice cream day, but one of my friends posting it on facebook was good enough for me.  Plus it was my baby sisters birthday, so we could say that we were just celebrating her birthday!) 

That afternoon we loaded everyone up, including the dog, and headed into the Columbia River Gorge.  It was a gorgeous day, and when we stopped at Multnomah Falls it was very crowded. 
We didn't get to hike up there with the crowds blocking the way, but we did get some great pictures.

My kids loved the walk back to the van, as they were able to play by the stream for a bit.

We then continued on a little further to the fish hatchery.  If you live in the area, and you haven't been, you should go!  We actually talk about this place with our friends, and have a sticker on the back of our fan that says, 'I Love Herman' which many people have asked us about.  Herman is a very huge sturgeon, longer than Jason, who lives at the hatchery. 

While we were there walking around we ran into friends of ours from church.  They said that they were there because of us!  How funny!  I wonder how many other friends we have who have visited there because of all our talk about it.  

Harrison, Max, Lily and Bennett watching the sturgeon pond, looking for Herman.

Glenn and Harison

Harrison and Bennett watching for Herman.

There are gorgeous ponds and gardens all around the hatchery, filled with trout and other fish.  The kids LOVE feeding them and watching them splash around.  It really is a gorgeous place.

After this we came home and we made some vanilla bean coconut ice cream in the ice cream maker.

Then we used this ice cream to make Banana Sundae's.  It was seriously divine! 

After the ice cream we watched America's Funniest Home Video's, our family's favorite show!  Harrison was so wiped out by this point he fell asleep on the hard floor.  So cute!

Whether or not Ice Cream day is real or not, we intend to observe it every year from now on.  I Googled it and in 2013 it is on the calendar for July 21st.

Family Fun Day - Astoria

Our last trip to Astoria was back in the Spring before Theo was born.  We were due for another.  One day I woke up, and I just felt like going.  Jason agreed, and the kids were thrilled!  It was a gorgeously perfect day for Astoria!

Our first stop was to visit the Sea Lions on the docks as we first drove into town.

Jason took some pictures of us way out on the dock.

 Max ran off as Jason took this one.

One of our favorite places are the fishermen docks down on the Columbia River.  It's very close to the mouth of the river opening into the Pacific Ocean.  The Sea Lions love to come into the river looking for fish.  These docks have become a popular hang out for them.

Bennett really loves this place!

Next stop was the Astoria Column.  Jason and the kids climbed to the top.  I stayed on the ground with Theo and Karl.  Harrison actually ran up and down several times.  That kid is full of energy. 

At the base of the Astor Column.

Glenn showed Harrison how to roll down the grassy slope at the Astor Column like a pro.

Next Stop - Aunt Mozelle
We stopped by to see Jason's grandmother's sister.  Her daughter Cathy happened to be visiting.  Her son and his wife were there also, so we got to see lots of family. 

Next Stop - Bow Picker
Best Fish and Chips in the Pacific Northwest!

Next Stop - Fort Steven's and the beach!

We told the kids to not get wet.  The sun was going to set soon, and it was going to be cold.  I wanted to build a fire, cozy up and roast marshmallow's.

Of course, as soon as we got there, Harrison went running into the ocean up to his waist.  He was miserable after that!  Cold, wet and super sandy!  The more he moved around the sandier he was going to get, and it was hurting him to have the wet sand stuck to his skin.  So I banished him to a chair.  He sat in it by the fire trying to dry off and get warm.  

Jason helping out.

Bennett was in heaven!  He had SO much fun running around.

Even after the fire was going, the older kids had fun going all over the beach and bringing more driftwood over to our pile. 

Lily found a dug out area, like a pit.  She called it her fort.  She was busy most of the time turning the pit into a home.  Her brothers all wanted to be invited inside.

Max and Glenn rolled down the dunes, helped Lily with her fort, built up the fire and overall had TONS of fun.

My beautiful daughter!

Roasting Marshmallows and watching the sunset was our favorite part.

 

The worse part of the day was when Bennett decided to reach into the fire and grab a hot stick to take out and play with.  Luckily we had ice packs in the cooler.

Bennett was a for sure fan of the s'mores!

Harrison finally got out of the chair.  He was just kind of dry.

The sun setting over the Pacific and the Peter Iredale shipwreck.

Glenn held Theo for us while we were trying to get everyone and every thing sorted out in the van before heading home.

We had to make one more stop before heading home.

Our two goals for the day were 1. Have Fun! and 2. Wear the kids out.
We succeeded on both counts!