New Year's in Ogden

We spent a few days in Ogden after visiting Irvine. We were only able to be there for four days, so it really didn't feel like a lot of time and we wanted to make sure we were able to do enough with everyone. We had a ton of fun with all the Leiningers while we were there though.

One of the best things we were able to be there for was the bachelorette and bachelor parties for Troy and his fiancee Sarah. Troy is getting married in Denmark at the end of this month, to Sarah, and they will be living there from now on. So this was our last chance to see Troy here before becoming an ex-pat, and my first chance to meet Sarah, who was visiting for Christmas and New Year's. Kurt and Kristen planned some parties for each of them to celebrate. The girls went to Color Me Mine and painted some pottery, and then to Olive Garden for dinner. It was really fun to get some planned conversation/bonding time and to get to know Sarah better. I loved it. After these parties, Tommy and I said to each other that even if we could have only been in Utah for this one day, it would have been worth it to be there for this.

One mom, four sisters, and three sisters-in-law. We were just missing Lindsay in China and Kurt's future wife, whoever she may be!

The boys (or men) went to a shooting range for their manly bachelor party, and then, of course, to a steakhouse for dinner. They had all four brothers and one brother-in-law there! Greg was working and couldn't go because he has a hurt shoulder.

On New Year's Eve morning, we were wanting to take Dane sledding, but Dane threw a major fit and would not get into his snow clothes, so we gave up. But an hour later he happily put on his snow clothes to go play in the snow and "sled" in the backyard. He had a number of willing slaves to pull him around the backyard!

Zach came too and the two of them LOVED getting towed around together.

Dane was majorly obsessed with Jet and kept running around with him trying to pet him.

We got to go on a lunch date while Dane was napping on New Year's Eve--our last one for the year! On the last day of the year! Good timing, Tommy!

Dinner with a packed house on New Year's Eve.

After the little kiddos went to bed, we played some Minute to Win It games (like pencil bouncing into a cup, passing M n M's with a straw, etc.) and had a Just Dance Wii competition in the basement for our New Year's Eve festivities. 

Probably my favorite moment of the night--the four brothers doing Just Dance together to "The Final Countdown." So awesome!

And then we had the three sisters-in-law, and Kurt representing his future wife.

The Leiningers' tradition is to make Black Bottomed Combos for New Year's Eve--some concoction with ice cream, chocolate syrup, and meringue. 

And of course, sparkling apple cider!

On New Year's Day, we went to a children's museum in Salt Lake City. Look at all these adults going to the kids' museum for just two toddlers! Also, note the engaged couple in the middle. (More pics of this to come.)

We went bowling on the last day we were there, and Dane absolutely LOVED it. He even got his own bowling shoes--so cute! He kept saying, "I push the ball into the pins!" He totally got it and understood what was going on. Thank goodness for those little kid helpers to get them to bowl.

Dane even got a STRIKE using this thing on his third try. What a champion! He also kept saying, "I got a strike!"

These two were VERY helpful with everyone bowling. They both of course wanted to help push the ball every time. For some reason we all got very low scores this game.