Happy New Year 2017

Becoming a Blackham ... New Year's Day has become completely connected to the idea of Pammy's pastry wreath. It's a tradition going back 27 years! This flaky creation is a TON of work, but oh so yummy. At times, Maga has mentioned that maybe, just maybe, this will be the last year. They are just so time and labor intensive.

This year ... Uncle Clay made sure the tradition would continue!

Clayton is known for his homemade donuts, so I guess it shouldn't be such a stretch that he'd accept such an undertaking. I think he'd done a trial run earlier in the year, and they turned out perfectly to welcome in 2017.

Grayson is more than happy to keep up HIS tradition of eating said pastry wreath!  Callahan had to work (as always) and missed out on the gathering ... but I made sure I cut off a big piece and took it home to him. He said it was heaven.  So Maga could have had the year off (other than some overseeing) but I guess she couldn't quite give it up, and made some for her work ...

Lucky co-workers!

Now earlier, on New Year's Eve, we had our usual Grandparents and Games night (our own little tradition going on several years now). We had a late start this year, as Grayson had snagged great seats to the Jazz game downtown. He, the two little boys, and a friend of Colton (as Keaton nor Cal really wanted to go, friends win out over family for them ... but for Colton, a friend was better than a brother anyway! Game started at 6:00, so they were home by about 9:00.

Second row seats!

... and the Jazz won too!

As mentioned ... Callahan and Keaton were off with friends, but the two little boys, my folks and Gray and I played some Speed Rummikub (several games ... because Grandma said we couldn't quit until she won a game, and that took a while). Then a few rounds of Scattergories and then it was time for the countdown.

We played a couple games of Progressive Rummy after midnight, but called it quits before finishing (as the game, with seven hands can take a while) ... we'll  have to get together again and play more. Colton and Cooper didn't seem to have any trouble staying awake this year (they both fell asleep last year. Cooper woke up for the photo but Colton was out cold!)  Way past bedtime for Gray and I though!

It's a New Year (2016)

 Not everyone made it til midnight ...

It's become an annual tradition. We invite my folks over on New Year's Eve for a Grandparents and Games night. Maga Pam has attended a time or two as well. The little boys really enjoy playing games with the grandparents, and sometimes the older boys stick around too. This year, Callahan was working (until a little after 11:00) but Keaton graced us with his company. We missed Landon. Landon is great at games!

We tried out our new game Tapple  (Cooper got it for Christmas)... it's a bit like Scattergories, thinking of things to fit a topic that begin with a certain letter. It was fun (silly Grandma ... something green that starts with K ... "kangaroo"??) We also played Speed RummiKube, which my parents introduced to us a couple of years ago. We do have our own set, but we rarely get it out unless the grandparents are over. Keaton rocks, but Colton, with Grandpa giving tips, did really well too! 

Then the "grownups" moved onto Progressive Rummy, which was a little too slow moving and complex for the boys. We actually played all seven hands (usually we skip the 5th/6th ones), and although Gray won the final hand, I won the game! Yea me! Colton and Cooper fell asleep. 

 We gathered around for a family picture ... and Cooper woke up.

Grandma is saying "close your eyes, go back to sleep"

Last year, my dad brought out a big box of "new year" stuff. Hats, tiarias, horns, etc. Then he gifted us with said box. I did store it for the year, but brought it out and gave it back to him! After we adorned ourselves in our New Year attire of course. We put a tiara on the still sleeping Colton, and Grandma couldn't stop giggling (she'd gotten a little silly during rummy too, I think it was past her bed time!) The little boy stirred and shifted, but slept on...

... even after I blew the horn in his ear!

Once the ball dropped and we got our smooches, the folks headed home and we headed to bed. It was past MY bedtime too. But with the holiday, we could sleep in.  Maga doesn't sleep in though, and she was busy working last night, making her famous pastry wreath.

We headed over to Maga's house around noon. She said this was the last year she was going to make the wreath ... it's just so much work. Of course, she's said that before! We'll see, and we'll eat it while we can!  Clay made his yummy pulled pork, so we all ate and ate, then came home and took a needed nap. Happy New Year. Welcome 2016!

Happy New Year 2015

Welcome 2015 ... we had our usual game night on New Year's Eve with my folks. We had our usual New Year's Day with pastry wreath at Pammy's house. Landon will miss the pastry wreath the next couple years! We will miss Landon the next couple years!

Pammy actually gave us a bit of a scare saying she might give up making pastry wreath. It is a HUGE job. But it's tradition! She isn't fully moved into the Riverton house, which made some things a bit tricky. After running back and forth borrowing things from Clay and Courtney down the street, she gave up and made due. Not finding a rolling pin, she used a bottle to roll out the dough. Funny!

The boys had fun playing with cousins ... 

as usual, Amare is the center of attention!

What will 2015 bring?

New Year's Eve

 For the past several years, we've hosted a "game night" on New Year's Eve. Generally, it's just been the grandparents, although a couple years there we included the entire Westra side. This year we had my mom and dad, and Gray's mom over.

At first, the three older boys were at the church playing basketball (from about 7:00-9:00), then of course, Callahan (Mr. Social) had plans with friends. But Landon and Keaton returned home to join the game playing. Until they got there, Grandma played some games with the munchkins, while I challenged Grandpa to a game of ping pong. I won! 

We played some Rack-O, and then Grandma introduced us to "speed rummykub" which was an instant hit! 

Grandpa brought out a box of "New Year" wear.

Who wears it best? The Grandmas (pictured above)?

Or Landon and I (pictured below) *Ü*

Cooper didn't make it to midnight, but Colton was still going strong! We got a lot of game play in, then turned on the TV to watch the traditional ball drop. I sent Landon out to pick up Callahan, and we bid my parents goodnight. Pam was actually so tired she opted to spend the night! Maga sleep over. She snuck out uber early ... and you'll see why in the next post.

Another New Year

2011 has come to an end. Last year we hosted a big get together for the Westra side of the family, but this year we kept it small. The older three boys went to their own activities, and Grandma and Grandpa Westra came over and played some games with Colton and Cooper (I should have snapped some pictures!). After the munchkins went to bed, we played a game of  Progressive Rummy. The grandparents headed home around 10:30 and Gray and I would have happily gone to bed too, except we did have to wait for Callahan to get home, and had to go pick up Landon. Keaton had come home right around 10:30 too, just as the grandparents were leaving.

With New Year's falling on a Sunday, we saved our celebration for Monday. We went up to Maga's house for the annual pastry wreath and for more games. Ticket to Ride anyone? I think Clay won.

Happy New Year! 2011!

For the past several years, we've hosted a New Year's Eve party at our home. This year was no exception. Family is invited over and we get out the favorite games and play them all night long. This year we had Grandma and Grandpa, Chris and his boys, D&D and baby Ani ... Shane's family was planning on coming, but they had to cancel due to sickness. Keaton actually wasn't feeling that great either, and he went to bed early, as did Cooper and Colton (and Gray!) Landon abandoned us to go to a church dance (doesn't he look handsome in the picture above?). So it was the grandparents, Callahan and cousins who were the main game players ... a little Blokus, Apples to Apples, Pictureka, Rat-a-tat-Cat, SET and Farkle (my SIL put together this dice game as gifts this year, GREAT instructions found here if you'd like .... it's a new favorite) ... a highlight of the evening was a little earlier, when D&D introduced "Just Dance2" for the Wii, here's a little video ...

We made it to midnight ... but I was very ready for bed (Gray had to go pick up Landon from the dance at 12:40, good thing he got that nap in). Luckily everyone got to sleep in the next morning, January 1 ... a new year. 01/01/11 ... I pointed out the date to the boys at 1:11 as we were in the car headed up to Maga's house. Another family tradition is spending New Year's day at Maga's.

For the past ... I don't know for sure, 25 years or more, Maga has been making this delectable pastry wreath, it's very flaky and flavorful, and it makes people break any resolutions they had just made, YUM!