New Years Eve 2011

This year we decided to meet my best friends in Chicago for New Years.  Maria and her family live in West Virginia and Sarah lives in New York so Chicago was a good middle of the road meeting spot.  We arrived late Friday night and ate pizza in the room, let the kids exchange presents, and watched the Hawks end their terrible season at their bowl game. Saturday we hung out at the hotel, went out to lunch, let the kids swim, and ordered food in. We found that Harper really doesn't enjoy swimming much.  After a few minutes she was crying to get out of the water.  It was an extremely low key New Years.  All the kids (and the Mercer's) were in bed by 10:00.  Brett and I spent the last hours of 2011 chatting with Sarah and catching up on everything we've missed while she's been in New York.  Sunday we took the kids bowling at Ten Pin and let them swim after Riley woke up from her nap.  Monday we ate breakfast at the hotel and hit the road to head home.  We found that Riley is a great passenger, although becoming a bit of a back seat driver.  Harper, well, she is not the best traveler.  She did well for the first few hours and then was not a happy camper for the rest of the trip.  Even though we only get to see each other once or twice a year it is always fun to catch up with Maria and Sarah!  Here's a few pictures from the weekend:

 Gift exchange

 Exhausted

 On the move!

 Dance Party NYE Chicago

 Maria, Maxx, Sarah, Riley

 Riley and Daddy

 Bath time

 Maxx and Riley playing

 Happy New Year!

Maxx and Riley coloring

Maria, Jenny, Sarah