oLd, nEw, borroweD, continued . . .

Traditions Old:

Christmas card pictures!

(I have cute kids)

Christmas Parties: 

• Baby octopus eating contest (white elephant gift) (pics of our neighbors)
• Company Christmas party (the cleanup crew for Heritage-too chaotic for pics of actual party-the few I did get, so stinkin blurry.  Grr)
• G n G Fondue Christmas gifting party (And the after party)
• Girls’ party at The Old Spaghetti Factory (not pictured, at least yet …)

Many many trips to the mall.  Including 2 trips to see Santa! He wants: A Nintendo DS. (Good thing someone stood outside Target for hours Thanksgiving night to get the top of the line!)

She wants: Makeup.  Geez Louis, The same thing as last year and mom’s huge pet peeve!

Lil’ boy wants: To do whatever it takes to get away from that bearded man!  He didn’t so much cry as he did squeal!!  Good thing he didn’t ask for too much seeing how his behavior can be a little sub par! (See following pictures)

Naughtiness!!

(Standing on Dad’s desk eating chocolate)

Vegas Bowl Game, Christmas week (I’d be good if this tradition died. I know, bad wife!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditions New:

Santa hat in Kindergarten

Enjoying fluffy snowflakes out the window

Kindergarten Program (So proud)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Here’s what he thought)

 

 

 

 

 

Traditions Borrowed:

This year, our kids ate up every detail of the holidays.  So I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to teach them the truly important aspects, along with the slightly more frivolous they caught onto so quickly.

So we had an FHE about being thankful at Thanksgiving and one about remembering Christ’s Bday at Christmas.

We made Thankful Trees in November and passed around a big fluffy Snowman (not pictured) in December from room to room, the recipient being responsible for doing something nice for everyone else for one whole day to try and be more Christlike.

The kiddos were so cute.  I actually heard the words “Yay!  I get to do something nice today!”

 

 

And the Flu:

The night before D left for Vegas was definitely up there on the list of “hard parenting moments.”

First, Lil E woke us up crying.

When I bent to hug and kiss him, I noticed he was on fire.

So I scooped him up and after an affirmation by Mr. thermometer, the high fever ritual ensued.

Drugs were administered, beverages high in electrolytes were served, a luke warm bath was drawn and a wet washcloth on the forehead was worn as he finally climbed in bed with us for close monitoring.

When the fever broke a few hours later, the hubby gave him one more dose of meds and then returned him safely to his own bed.

Moments after dozing back off, I felt a little tap.

Princess C stood by my bed and told me in a soft voice that she had thrown up.

Double whammy in one night.  I kinda wanted to cry.

Sheets were washed and changed, another bath followed, more drinks and more drugs, and a bed made on our floor. 

She cried out of stomach pains and threw up one time that night.

At that point, D just got up and showered and then headed downstairs to prepare to leave for his flight.

 

The next day . . .

Princess C threw up one more time that morning and had a sensitive stomach the rest of the day, but other than that, experienced a rapid recovery.

I let the drugs lapse for Lil E to see where he was at fever-wise and when I retrieved him from his nap, he was on fire once again.  And now had that awesome barking cough we mothers all know and love.

The kicker- my parents and feeble grandparents were set to arrive late that night to stay at our house for the holidays.

Although I suspected croup, I also slightly feared the walking pneumonia a nearby cousin had had, so we shipped off grandma and grandpa great to stay at Lindsay’s house, just out of precaution.

After a hellish night (by myself) of 104.5 on drugs, multiple baths, a rapid heartbeat/ labored breathing and a nasty cough that resulted in barf on both of us, I took the lil guy into the doc who gave us a steroid for croup and permission to continue the drugs.

The steroid transformed my little mischievous angel boy into an angry, ravenous bear who acted as if he would devour us all if given the chance.

He pretty much fluctuated between this beast and a docile, lethargic lamb throughout the entire holiday. 

It was pretty sad to behold, and the great grandparents never really got to experience his sparkling personality.  They forgave him, I ‘m sure.