Happy New Year 2009!

We spent 3 days up in Blackhawk, from Dec 28-30...it's what my mom wanted to do, so we did it...and we all had a great time! On the way there, we went to Toys R Us, b/c Aunt Jay gave the kids gift cards for Christmas. They were in toy heaven running around the aisles and they got a Diego Rescue Center and some Dora figures. We also had lunch with Becca & Amelia and Deb & Cade (baby Ava went home for a nap, so we'll meet her later). It was so good to see them...we're going to do better about getting together (we live in the same state & don't see each other nearly enough). We had fun at Blackhawk...won some, gave most of it back...and had a lot of fun doing it & spending time together. It was so nice to get away (thanks Mom!).
We rang in the new year with the Polans. They came over for dinner and we watched some odd stunt show on ESPN and the ball dropping at midnight. Mich spent the night, so he could watch the Iowa Hawkeyes destroy South Carolina, in the Outback Bowl. Charlie & Susan and Deb & Perry came to watch it too (and eat breakfast) and Virgil & Jan stopped by to say Happy New Year! Then we all ate chili and taco soup (there was a lot of eating going on!). We got to Skype with the Lesperances--we sent them a webcam, so they could see the kids opening the presents they sent them. Daniel got a cool Diego game for our VSmile and Ashley was thrilled to get a Barbie phone that calls her (seriously, Barbie calls her and tells her funny things from the info David downloaded into it)! Then the Polans came back and we played games until very late at night. It was a fun way to ring in the new year...with family & friends.