Happy New Year 2009!

New Year's weekend was a lot of fun because my family came down to spend it with us. Kyle, Jenn, Mom, and Dad were planning on coming in the first place and at the last minute Steph and Jim decided to come as well. We missed Cath, Jay and Geoff.

They all arrived on New Year's Eve and the night was spent playing games, having Wii competitions (Guitar Hero and Dancing with the Stars), eating fondue, talking, laughing, and having a great time. Our fondue dinner was delicious with 2 different types of cheese dips for veggies and bread, 3 different types of sauces and meats, and a chocolate fountain for fruits and treats. Katelyn loved the chocolate fountain so much she even asked Grandma if we could buy it from her. (I guess we know what to get her for her birthday) Half of the family fell asleep before midnight (Mom, Dad, Tyler, Madi, Jake, and Carlee) and the better half stayed awake (Kris, Jim, Steph, Kyle, Jenn, Clark, and Katelyn) to actually ring in the new year. We made our new year's resolution toasts over sparkling cider, pulled poppers, blew horns quietly and then crashed for the night.

Dad and Jenn were partners in Dancing with the Stars.

Dad really got his groove on!

Mom and Jim were partners. Mom was laughing so much she kept pausing the game accidentally and Jim was trying to keep his frustrations with her at bay.

Kyle and Katelyn were partners, Jake and Steph were partners, and Clark and I were partners. Ty, Madi, and Carlee just enjoyed dancing around the room and trying to copy the moves. The champions were . . . obviously, Clark and Mom!!! Where's our mirror-ball trophy?

On New Year's Day we woke up late, had a late breakfast and then went to the outlets. No trip to Vegas would be complete if the sisters and Grandma didn't do a little shopping at the outlets. The brothers, Grandpa, and children were good sports and we got some good deals. Then we headed home to play more board games and the other renewed tradition of Neon Leon.

Friday we went to the Lied Children's Discovery Museum and a discovery it was. The kids had a great time and it was so fun. They had a bank, post office, grocery store, hospital, puppet theater, performing arts theater, karaoke, a construction site and bubble tanks on the first floor. On the second floor, there was a wind tunnel, wheelchair basketball, virtual soccer on a holopod, chair pulls, and other scientific discoveries.

Clark tried his hand at basketball wearing hoops goggles. While looking through those glasses, the hoop was deformed and you had to make the shot.

Carlee tried her hand as well with Uncle Kyle's help

Katelyn sang a little Hannah Montana for the crowd in the karaoke room. Way to go, superstar!

Jake loved going up and down the slides. What a poser!

The kids used all their muscles and strength to pull themselves up the ropes on these chairs. Clark's wincing and grunting helped him the most. Carlee got a little help from Grandpa.

This was my favorite. It is called the Torture Chamber, I mean, Wind Tunnel. I put all four of my kids in there and the wind gets up to 78 mph. As you can see, Carlee definitely didn't like this and everyone was laughing at her while she was crying and screaming. The best part is that I couldn't hear her or any of them at all. Definitely on this year's Christmas Wish List.

Just kidding.

Here is Jake climbing on the gopher holes. Obviously you're supposed to go under and pop up in the holes like Steph and Madi but being Jake, he'll climb on top and bang on them.

I don't know who had more fun at the bubble tanks, the kids or Kyle and Jenn.

Katelyn put on several puppet shows.

And Carlee was the perfect forewoman at the construction site. She gave the workers plenty of lunch breaks by pulling the whistle.

It was a fun day and ended well at Cold Stone Ice Cream, our favorite. Yummy!

Saturday we had a breakfast buffet at the Aliante Station Casino and the kids loved piling their plates up with all the choices they could wish for. Then everyone packed up and headed home. I started taking down the Christmas decorations and 2009 has officially begun. Thanks for a wonderful weekend, fun family!