The week before Christmas was really hectic. We had a snowstorm the Sunday before, so I was unable to bring all of my cookie trays to church. We ended up delivering some, and bringing the rest to the Christmas Eve service. Although I'm happy that we were able to make & give away so many cookies, I'm really doing to rethink how I do that next year. We didn't get half of the family things done that I wanted to, because I was so concerned about the cookie trays. Christmas stories went unread, crafts went unmade...we were just too busy. Remind me of this post next Christmas, when I'm about to going on a baking binge!
After the Christmas Eve service, our friends, Kim & John, and their girls, came over for pizza. They were so kind to get us a gift--the game, Blokus! Steve and I had actually bought that for the kids. Great minds think alike! We had a great time playing games and visiting. They're moving to VA in 8 weeks, so times together are appreciated even more now.
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Christmas morning was a quiet affair. The kids let us sleep until 7:30 (have I mentioned how MUCH I love having big kids?
). We read the Christmas story, prayed & then dug into the gifts. We gave them the Wii first--they were so thrilled! We hooked it up as soon as the other gifts were opened.
I love the looks on their faces. :)
Eli, modeling his new robe. It will last him forever, it's so big!
Showing off his new Sargent Rock comic books--Steve used to read these as a kid.
Patience hugging her fleecey sweatshirt
As I posted before, we were bummed out that my sister wasn't able to come down to RI for Christmas. (My parents ended up going to Canada on the Sunday after Christmas, and brought the scarves that I made my sister and nephews, and some chocolate covered pretzels
and chocolate covered Oreos that we made
Christine said that they enjoyed them immensely!)
Because she didn't come, I had my parents over for Christmas dinner. The food came out great, except for the rolls--I bought frozen rolls that had to rise, and they rose WAY too much. Oh well, live and learn. I also forgot to make the Cranberry Pineapple Relish that I wanted--I made it the next day, and it is fabulous:
20 oz can crushed pineapple--drained well
2- 15 oz cans whole berry cranberry sauce
16 oz sliced frozen strawberries, thawed
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Mix well and chill 4 hours or overnight.
I ate the whole batch. It took me 5 days. It is SO yummy! (and just so you don't think that I'm a pig, Steve doesn't like cranberry, and the kids don't like trying new things!)
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After dinner, my in-law's called to see if we were home. The came by for about an hour to visit.
Then, peace and quiet. Kids were in bed by 9:30. A lovely Christmas.
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The day after we had the snowstorm on 12/20, Patience went sledding with her friend, Bethany. Patience went over a ramp and slammed down to the ground. Her back was still bothering her a week later, so we brought her to the dr on 12/28. After x-rays, the doctor said that it looks fine, but is probably just bruised. She goes back on Monday for a recheck, but is already feeling better.
After Patience goes to the doctor on Monday, I have to call her dentist. Patience has a rather large cavity in one of the molars on the bottom left of her mouth. So large, in fact, that some of the enamel surrounding the cavity actually just chipped off several months ago. She had a cleaning, and they said to let them know when it started bothering her (it's a tooth that she will eventually lose, so they weren't too concerned).
Well, this week it started to hurt. Badly. Over a holiday weekend. Sigh. This chick is Calamity Jane. I'm not sure what they'll do--I'm wondering if they'll just pull the tooth? If they do, I'm having them knock her out.
*** Warning: Gross picture of the inside of Patience's mouth ahead***
The camera wouldn't flash on the super macro setting, but can you see how there's no side to the tooth next to the filling? No wonder it hurts.
***Back to our regularly scheduled programming***
After Patience medical exploits on Monday, I went to my friend Courtney's home. Some high school friends who were in town for the holidays came as well, and we had a nice time visiting.
From L-R, Jessica, Libby, Cerey, Courtney & me
Here's Cerey and her one-year old son, Cameron--what a doll. He was such a happy baby!
I should have taken more pictures, but we were busy chatting!
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The kids and I went shopping on Tuesday, so that they could spend their Christmas money. Eli got jeans and some nice, thick sweatpants, and 3 Bionicles. Maddie bought jeans, 2 shirts, but no toys. Patience "Money burns a hole in my Pocket" Towne, bought jeans, cozy pants (what we call nicer sweatpants), a shirt, a video game...there might have been more. That chick wasn't coming home with $ in her pocket. Sigh. I'm forcing her to put some of the $ my sister sent into the bank. Since I have to drive her to the bank--Tine sent a check-- I just won't take her until she agrees. Mwahahahaha!
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Wednesday, I got to go out with my best friend, Kathy. We had lunch at the Longhorn Steakhouse, then went to see The Blind Side (it was excellent!), and then did some shopping at Barnes & Noble. It was a really fun time.
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Thursday was another day out for the kids. Patience's friend, Katie, invited her to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. They had lunch at McDonald's, saw the movie & then came home. While they were out, I took Maddie and her friend, Bethany (Katie's older sister) to the mall. I think they had fun (even if they had to hang out with me).
We were supposed to go to dinner at a friend's home, but not only had it snowed most of the day, Maddie came down with a fever. I think she just has a cold, but she's feeling icky and congested. That was also the night Patience's tooth really started hurting. So we cancelled plans and just stayed in. The kids stayed up until 9pm (maybe next year I'll let them shoot for midnight?). We just hung out watching USA's Burn Notice marathon. We love us some Michael Weston!
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Yesterday was New Year's Day. My dad came over in the afternoon to deliver the gifts from my sister, and my mom came over after work. We ordered pizza and played Blokus and Wii games. It was a fun day.
I totally don't feel ready to start school on Monday. I'm sure we're not the only ones, but life is so full right now--piano lessons, art lessons, writing class, doctor appointments (Patience's back, Patience's tooth, Eli's allergy shots, I need to set up eye dr appointments for me & the girls, and a teeth cleaning for me--aughhh!), Maddie's going to start guitar lessons with my dad.....I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I've been exercising regularly and reading my Bible, and those seem to be the things that go first when life gets crazy. I don't want that to happen.
Maddie starts Math-U-See on Monday. She's a little nervous to switch curriculums, but I think it will be good for her. I'm also waiting for Queen's Language Lessons to come in for the girls. I hope they like it.
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Okay 3 more pictures from 2009--first, the fabulous scarf that Maddie knitted for Patience--I'm so proud of my girl!
2nd, the gingerbread house that the kids put together. My friend, Carolyn, gave us the kit--we had never made one before!
And 3rd, our crazy kitten in a box playing with a broom
Happy New Year! I hope that 2010 is a fantastic year for you and your family!
I think my sister and I had those same looks the year we got a VCR! haha
ReplyDeleteI love the cat in the box, too! Happy New Year!