Our Sick Christmas

Christmas was...
different...
unusual.

Christmas Eve is our day at home.
The kids wear their pj's all day.
Watch movies.
Relax.
Whatever.
Snacky stuff for lunch.
Same meal every year for supper.
Then presents in the evening.

About 10:00 a.m. Brookie says:
I don't feel so good.
An hour or so later,
into the restroom she runs.
Yippee.
You know what that means.

We went ahead with our plans and traditions.
So while we enjoyed our hummus,
fatoush salad,
grilled chicken,
fruit salad
and special Christmas drink,

Brookie stayed on the couch.
Looking miserable.

We debated waiting to open presents.
But the boys weren't too crazy about that.
She can just lay right there on the couch.
We'll bring all her presents to her.

We took our traditional pictures.
They always turn out perfectly.

 Finally convinced Brookie to get in the picture.

As soon as I was done taking this picture,
she ran to the bathroom.
She looks a little pale, huh?

We opened presents
right after she was done in the restroom.
Because, you know, there's a small window
after you loose the contents of your stomach
when you feel a bit better.
We took advantage of that window.

What is this?

 Oh! Hahaha!

 Mustaches.

Sweet lips.

That's me.

The boys giggled.

Brookelynn found it disgusting.

We made it through the unwrapping.
And I even got a few hours of sleep.
Before Jobie was up.
And making frequent trips to the restroom himself.

So Christmas morning I called my parents.
Not sure if we could do Christmas at their house that evening.
My dad was not feeling well either.
And we rely on him to grill our Christmas steaks.
After several phone calls with my brother's family,
we all decided to just do appetizers and open presents.
As long as no one else got sick later in the day.
And enjoy our steaks another day
when everyone felt a bit more normal.

Jobie had been fine since mid-morning.
But as soon as we got to my parents,
he started acting blah.
And fell asleep on my lap
before we had even eaten.
We let him sleep for about an hour.
Then attempted to wake him up.
The others were anxious to open presents.

He finally perked up.
About half-way through opening gifts.

Ryan got sick 3 days later.
On Brookelynn's birthday.

Then we were at his parents the next day for another Christmas.

The little one, in the middle on Jobie's lap,
was very stinky.
No one wanted to hold him.
We decided this picture captured our family pretty well.

So far the rest of us have avoided getting sick...

Thankful for family.
Thankful for health.
Thankful for flexibility.

But most of all,
thankful for Jesus.

Christmas Card 2012

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmases and Hoodies

I'm sorry.
I am so behind.
But here's a little look at most of our Christmases.

December 23.
Christmas at my parents.
Christmas Eve morning.
There's always plenty of new things to do
after a Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma.

Christmas Eve evening.
It seems to have become a tradition
to wear pj's all day on Christmas Eve.
Except for when you get new Under Amour hoodies.
Those must be worn with the pjs.Shouldn't it be easier to get a decent picture
as they get older?I cannot look at this picture
without laughing at Ezzie.And...we gave up.After these pictures, Brookie stood up.
And the chair was stuck to her rear.
I guess she's getting older.
It's tradition to take their pictures with their chairs.
May have to come up with something new next year...

Apparently, if you divide the kids in 2's
pictures turn out much better.
Christmas morning.
Jake's already dressed for church.
Way to go, Jakie!
Christmas Evening.
Christmas at Ryan's parents.Jobe's hair is awful.
I finally cut it this weekend.
Looks like a brand new boy now.
And for some reason,
Jobie thought he needed to show us how old he is.

December 27.
Christmas at Ryan's aunt's.
Always lots of family.
And great food.
Our first stop at her house on Christmas is the den.
For a family picture.
The kids love that tradition.
Ha!See the hoodies again?
Yah...
They have harldy been off the kids.
Especially the older two.
They did not wear them to Ryan's parents.
Only because we fry latkes.
Lots and lots of latkes.
And you come home smelling greasy.
EVERYTHING smells greasy.
And I told them I would not be washing them the next day.
I was on strike for a day or two over Christmas.

There are a couple of plusses to these hoodies.

1) They are never lying on the floor.
Because:
a) They are always on the kids.
or
b) They are on my washer.
As a "subtle" hint that they need washed.

And 2) I now get thank you's for doing the laundry.

Pretty cool, huh?

On Christmas Music

And poo.
And Christmas past.

On Christmas music:
I like Justin Bieber's Christmas song.
Under the Mistletoe.

I also suddenly like Last Christmas.
Wham's version.
I've never liked that song.

Something odd is happening to me.

On poo:
Jobie while sitting on the commode the other day:
Mommy, I bet Everett is pooping right now too.
(Everett is a friend of his from church)
Who thinks things like that?
Pretty sure I've never had that thought.

Although...
one of my friends and I
would weigh ourselves before and after
we did our business.

Is that too much information?

On Christmas past:
Our first Christmas at this house.
We just wanted one picture.
Without Jobe sucking his thumb...or crying...or sucking his thumb...or crying...I remember at the time getting so frustrated with him.
Now these pictures make me laugh.

Funny how in the moment I can get so irritated.
Seems stupid now.
But then, so does my poo story.

I was 10.
And 10 year olds are weird.
And immature.

I am nothing like that now.

The Halls Are Decked

A little taste of Christmas at our house.Our real tree.
Bought it at the grocery store.
It's one of the prettiest trees we've ever had.The reason we celebrate.
Amazed at the love of God.
To send His only Son.
To be the Savior of the world.
To be my Savior.We have lots of Christmas books.And music.
Pandora.
itunes.
CD's.
Radio.
You name it.
I listen to it.Christmas pictures for the fridge.
Jobe's.Ezra's.Ornament from Germany.
(Someday I'm going to commit myself to getting a new camera.
And becoming a better photographer.
Someday.) Entzville.Are you bored yet?
Just a bit more.The mantle.I love the little tin.
A birthday present from a dear friend.
Thanks, Danielle!
(And Amy for giving her the idea.
And another Amy for making it.)Our white tree.There's lots more.
But I'll spare you the rest.

We bought a cheap 6 foot tree for the basement.
And some purple and gold ornaments.
(The colors of the college Ryan works for.)
Brookie and Jakie stayed up until 1:00AM or so.
Setting it up and decorating it.
They maybe can get along sometimes.
There's hope!
Ha!

Ok.
I gotta go.
I really shouldn't be blogging even.
But I miss everyone.
Haven't even been reading blogs lately.
I don't know how I can be so busy.
It's ridiculous really.

I'm going now to clean the little boys' room.
Blah.
It's...there's really no word for how bad it is.
But we're having a party here Sunday evening.
50-60 people.
Good motivation to get some cleaning done.

Go me!
(Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader.)

Three in a Row

We woke up Christmas Eve to the pitter patter of little feet.
And Jobie saying:
Mommy, Ezzie is stuck behind the tree.We skyped with Lara's family.
And opened our packages to each other.
Our traditional Christmas Eve supper.
Hummus, grilled chicken, fattoush salad.Then the annual picture with the rocking chairs before gifts.
Brookelynn and Jake are beginning to get a little big for them.Ezzie could barely contain his excitement.He had everyone laughing.I have absolutely no idea what he is doing here.Christmas Day was with my parents.
Levi apparently had a hard time containing himself also.
You would think by now we could get a decent cousin picture.
Ridiculous.
Ezzie was pretty happy with his bike.The day after Christmas was spent with Ryan's family.
For some reason we only got a picture of these 3 together.And the two youngest.
Four weeks apart.
Amazing how much they change in that amount of time.
I think they look nothing alike.
Great memories once again.We are so blessed.