New Year's Eve

We took a mini vacation for New Year's Eve.
5 minutes from our house.

Did you know you can actually relax and have fun when it's not your place you're staying at and you don't have to clean up after yourself!?!?
(Before checkout the next morning, Jada got really excited when she found out she didn't have to put anything away before we left the room.  It's the little things in life that excite this family!)

After a supper at Applebees where I had a $25 gift certificate and free kids meals coupons, our bill came to 43 cents, plus tip.
Not bad.

We headed back to the hotel.
We played games.

We love the game, Mastermind!

 Because we had Jasper with us, and because the front lady said they had two complaints of a loud dog, therefore, they had to move people away from our room while we were out eating for almost free, we had to swim with the kids in shifts.  But, I'm thinking Chad minded that about as much as I did while I sat back and watched channels on cable that we don't have at home!  

Then, we came back and watched movies we rented.  

Veggie Tales: the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.

and Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer.

 Even Jazzy enjoyed this part!

We made and brought several snacks (7 layer dip, humus, cheese and summer sausage, little smokies, Christmas candy), and were all completely full by 10 p.m.

Jasper didn't make it past 10:30.

Poor guy.

Even though there were protests and, "I'm not tired yet!" through some yawns, we made the kids go to the couch bed next to our KING sized one at 11:00 p.m. and Chad and I watched the New Year's Eve shows until midnight.

Overall, we give this mini-vacation a tired-looking, just-swam-in-a-swimming-pool thumbs up-

 HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!