New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve night turned out to be really fun this year. I have not laughed that much in a long time. Even as I type this, I am laughing as I remember the events of the night.

The evening started with dinner. I have to say I think we are going to start a new tradition next year of ordering takeout on this night. By the time it rolls around, I am so tired of cooking that I just don't have anything left in me to give in that area. In years' past, we have grilled, but that was just not practical with the negative degree wind chills last night. So we had a really lame dinner of meatballs in BBQ sauce, salad, and dinner rolls that I threw together.

After dinner, we began our Annual Interpretive Dance Competition. This is so fun, and now that we have done it for several years in a row, the kids really get into preparing for it. This year was the best yet.

First up, Lauren and Abby doing "Waka Waka"

(theme song for FIFA World Cup)

They put together matching outfits, signs and even had confetti at the end. They choreagraphed their whole routine. It was great!!

Laila decided to play guitar for each performance

The big ending with confetti!

Cody was up next with "Dynamite"

Cody had prepared with props and specific moves as well. He did awesome!

Sam was next. He decided to do an original song that he wrote(or made up as he danced!) along with his dance routine. It went something like, "I don't like laundry, I don't like homework, I don't like cleaning my room, etc."

He totally cracked me up when the shirt came off!

I had to remind him that this was a family show!

Up next were Isaiah and Laila. They danced to "Hey, Soul Sister." I love how Laila sings this song on her own. This is how she sings it, "Hey, Soul Sicca, Hey dere, Micca, Micca, on do wadio, steweo, da way you move ain't fair you know." (Translation, in case you don't know the song, "Hey, Soul Sister, Hey, there, Mister, Mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair you know.")

This chick can dance!

Isaiah has some moves of his own.

You should see this boy's hip action!

The next part of the night is something I will NEVER forget. You need some background info to fully grasp why this was so hilarious. We watch "America's Got Talent" as a family. If you watch it, too, you will remember the Indoor Kite Flying act. Here it is:

When we watched the show this summer, we all liked the act and especially loved the story of the guy who did the kite flying. It was very inspiring.

So, you can imagine how surprised I was when Rick came out with a contraption he had created with 2 wire hangers, 2 clothespins and a scarf. He then, proceeds to do his own Indoor Kite Flying act to the song, "Breath of Heaven." Let me tell you, I was laughing so hard I almost peed my pants. I literally had to leave the room and go to the bathroom during his "performance." It was so funny. I was crying. Not to mention that I pretty much laughed the rest of the night thinking about it. I was laughing so hard when we went to bed that I could not even go to sleep for a LONG TIME.

I have to say, I was pretty proud of my husband. I know this is not one of his favorite traditions, and he would probably just bow out if I would allow it. Not only did he participate, but he raised the bar this year. We have a higher standard that we all now have to meet in the future. Believe me, you should have seen it. It was the best ever!!

He was one hard act to follow. I was next. I did a dance to the song "Solo." I prefer the pure interpretive dance form. I don't use props or costumes. I just let the music flow through me. You can see my expressions and grasp the intensity with which I dance.

The really sweet part was watching Laila try to mimic my moves. Today we were listening to music and she was pulling out the moves that I had done last night. She really wants to be like me. That just warms my heart and scares me to death all at the same time!!

I hope you all know that all of this is done in fun. We love it. We are probably the "Saturday Night Live" version of Interpretive Dance. We laugh so hard and really enjoy ourselves.

The winner of the competition this year was Sam. That didn't go over to well with everyone so we are considering having different categories of winning next year. We are all so competitive that losing isn't always taken so well.

The winner gets to open a gift that Santa has left for the family. He leaves a gift each year under the tree that is a family game that we are not allowed to open until New Year's Eve.

This year's game was Pay Day

I loved this game as a kid and really enjoyed playing it with the kids this year.
Isaiah was in tears by the end of the game because he didn't want to give his money back. Like I said, we are all competitive!

We welcome in the New Year with the East Coast (10 PM MST) eating donuts and toasting with sparkling juice.

Lauren relabeled our sparkling juice for us.

This year, we had 4 different dips for the donuts:

sugar, cinnamon sugar, chocolate, and peppermint powdered sugar

Our donuts are canned biscuits cooked in oil

My attempt at an artsy photo. Not too bad!

I will let the next group of pictures speak for themselves. This was Isaiah's and Laila's first year to join us for this tradition. Last year, they went to bed early. Their favorite part was toasting with their "baby wine glasses,"(they are really sundae dishes). They were toasting today with their sippy cups!

I love that Laila and I were kissing in the background,

not knowing that our picture was being taken.

After our toast, we sent Isaiah and Laila to bed. The big kids got to stay up until midnight.

Sam didn't quite make it.

Rick rang in the new year by playing one of his new PS3 games.

It was such a fun night. Now, we say goodbye to 2010 and hello to 2011!!