New Years Day

We started off our 2011 by making Olibollens at my Uncle Ric's house, just like we have for the last 3 years. It is one of our very favorite family traditions! It is something my Great-Grandma used to do when my mom was young and my uncle and my mom decided to start it back up and we love it!!! It brings together a lot of extended family that we rarely see and they started it when my Grandpa was really sick with cancer, so it kind of is a big reminder to me of him. Olibollens, or Oil cakes are delicious! They are a dutch dessert and they are kind of like a cross between a scone and a doughnut. They are fried and then rolled in SUGAR and they are addicting! I seriously eat like 10 every year and then regret it big time later! My cousin, Rikki, was also here from California this year and it was so fun to see her and her cute family. She has 3 of the most adorable kids and my kids loved playing with them. Too bad this picture of all of us has ALL of our eyes closed...I think we were looking right into the sun.

Logan and Rylee hanging out with Grandpa Boman. The kids watched some movies and some football downstairs.

Avery made a new little buddy - My cousin's little boy, Ben. He is so stinkin' cute and LOVED Avery. It took her awhile to warm up to him though. They both were big fans of the popcorn.

Avery and Uncle Dean

It took Logan awhile to try an oil cake. I don't know why! He has eaten them before, but for some reason, he was kind of scared to try them. Once he did, he ate several! He loved them too! How could you not? They are covered in SUGAR!!!

Logan laughing at his Uncle's - He LOVES them so much and thinks they are hilarious!

Thumbs up from Logan - This is his favorite pose for the camera for some reason!

Our kiddos!

Rylee playing in the kitchen

My cousin's cute kiddos before they left for California - Bella, Maddie and Ben. I felt so bad that they had to get in the car and drive all the way home that day...especially after all the sugar they had!

Ben was a regular Casanova. He just wanted to love on Avery the whole day and gave her some kisses before they left. She wasn't having it though and kept pushing him away. It was so funny to watch them interact!

Cute little friends - at least for a minute...

Mom and Avery - We finally let Avery have a taste of an oil cake and she loved it! Once again, it being rolled in SUGAR makes it a little hard to resist, especially for our little sweet tooth, Avery!

For some reason, it took all my kids' awhile to try the oil cakes. Rylee just kept eating all the fruit, but wanted nothing to do with the sugar cakes but once she tried them, she LOVED them too!

I was walking upstairs and found this lovely display of all my Uncles' baby dolls and stuffed animals - I knew right away who the culprit was - Rylee has a habit of lining up and arranging everything! Then she got a chair for Avery to pose with them. Such a funny girl!

Then, she wanted a turn...

It was a fun day with the family and a great start to our 2011! Happy New Year!!! (only a couple months late...)

Out with the Old...

Speaking of old, this post is SO old. I am so far behind it is a little ridiculous! So...here is a little flashback to our New Year's Celebrations. I said last week that I was going to post one thing a day until I was caught up, but that didn't happen, and this week is going to be crazy, so I doubt that it will happen again. Maybe someday I can be one of those people with a clean house, an updated blog and scrapbook and lots of completed craft projects. Heck, I would be thrilled if I could do ONE of those things! For now, I am NONE of those, but I have 3 cute kids who I do spend lots of time with and I love that. I try and remember that I will never get this time back, so it is OK if I can't keep up with the house and other things.
To start with, I think New Year's Eve is one of the most overrated holidays there is. If you don't drink and you have small kids, what do you really do? This year, we spent New Year's Eve with Darren's brother Brian and his family. Our kids LOVE going to Uncle Brian and Aunt Val's and they love playing with their cousins and their kids love to entertain ours. It was pretty low key but we had a good time.
Rylee and Daddy checking out the Ping Pong action. This is probably why Uncle Brian's is one of Logan's favorite places to visit - They have a Wii AND a Ping Pong table. Pure heaven!

Rylee and Avery
Rylee and Avery and the BIG baby that she always manages to find at Brian and Val's. She loves that thing and heads straight to Lauren's room to find it every time we visit.
Avery ready to ring in her first New Year. Isn't she the cutest??? I love those boots!
Rylee and her big baby again. She toted that thing around all night.
We played a few games for awhile and Avery just hung out in her bumbo. She loves that thing! She is getting pretty good at grabbing her toys, too.
Avery took a little nap and we found her sleeping like this - With the thumb in. She has found her thumb a couple times before that, but after this, it was a pretty regular thing. She may be addicted, just like Logan!
Gotta love this face! Rylee is full of these facial expressions. She cracks us up!

Logan enjoying some Ping Pong action!

Rylee loves to play in Lauren's special little playhouse. She had a lot of fun with her cousins!
We thought the kids would go to bed around 10 or 11.... Nope! Too much fun and excitement! They stayed up and rang in the New Year at midnight! Here is Logan and Madi. She is so good with our kids - They love her!
Avery was the only one asleep when midnight came around. This is how she rang in the New Year.
Me and Rylee - Happy New Year!
Me and my baby in our first photo of 2010!
Logan and Daddy - It took us FOREVER to get them in bed. Even after this, it was at least another half hour. It must have been way too much fun! It made for a long day the next day, but at least they had a good time. We stayed with Brian and Val that night and had breakfast again the next morning. Thanks again for a fun time guys!
On New Year's Day, we headed to my Uncle's for our traditional Oil cake celebrations. They are the most delicious things you will ever eat! I ate way, way WAY too many, but we had a great time visiting with family and eating lots! Here are Rylee and Logan with Uncle Brad watching Toy Story in my Uncle's basement.
Avery hanging out with Grandpa Boman - She fell asleep like this.
Avery's 1st New Year's Celebration - No oil cakes until next year though!
Logan and Uncle Brad watching football.
Darren fell asleep watching football with the boys. He didn't even flinch when I snapped this photo.
Me and my cute Ry close-up!
A little farther away...
Rylee posing for me!
Cute Logan
Avery napping with Aunt Vanessa - This is how we usually find Vanessa.... asleep!
Logan - I thought this pose of his was quite funny!
Rylee
Avery
Our fam! Happy New Year!!! From here, Darren and I headed off to celebrate our Anniversary and the kids stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Boman for a sleepover. They LOVE doing that! It was a great New Year! Here is to a great 2010....since we are already a good part of the way through it.... So far, so good!!!