The Stomach Virus That Stole Christmas

This Christmas had a few bumps in the road for us.  It was a difficult time for us since it was our first Christmas without Allen's Dad, Scottie.  Holidays are never quite the same once you lose someone who means so much.  But we were determined to make it a happy time and to count our blessings. 

Unfortunately, we were struck with a nasty stomach virus the week before Christmas.  It hit Garrett first, then Sydney, then me and then poor Allen on Christmas morning.  So it made it very hard to do all our traditions.  We managed to squeeze in sugar cookies and looking at Christmas lights in between someone being sick.  I'm not gonna lie, I had a full blown pitty party at 5:30 am Christmas morning when it was obvious the stomach bug had hit Allen.  I let it all out and then pulled myself together before the kids woke up. 

Allen somehow managed to open presents with us and then went back to bed, not to be seen again until the next day.  In spite of what I'm calling "Funkmaster 3000" {stomach virus}, the kids had a great Christmas morning.  They woke at 6:00 am ready to go and we were finished opening presents before the sun came up.  I will never complain about our kids being early risers though, because they go to bed early and sleep through the night!

We decided to take the plunge into the video game world and got the kids a Wii.  Sydney was beyond excited and Garrett had no idea what it was!  I was reluctant, but I must say, the Wii is a blast!  And we play it as a family so it's kinda the new game night.  I figure, as long as the kids still play the old fashioned way, what's wrong with a little Wii in our lives.

 

I bought the kids their favorite junk food breakfast for Christmas morning. 

We went to my Aunt's house the day after Christmas and look who showed up!

Santa made a special visit and brought all the kids a present.  This was too cool!

When did Sydney start looking so grown up??? And when did I, for that matter?!?!

With every bump in the road, I eventually learn, more and more, to appreciate what I have been blessed with.  Loving parents, loving in-laws, a husband who shares the same path as me, and my sweet babies.   

Happy Holidays

Yesterday I dressed the kids up in their Christmas outfits, grabbed props from the house and forced them out into the cold.  All in the name of getting a good Christmas picture.  I think it turned out pretty darn cute.  Although, trying to do it really fast and moving the kids to four different locations in the yard before they started complaining about how cold it was {sorry kids}, I now realize I didn't loop the Merry Christmas sign over the 3rd rung on the sled.  This is driving me crazy, but I'll just have to get over it.  I'm not putting us through that again.  I also waited too late in the day and there wasn't enough sunlight.

Here are some of the other pictures that turned out cute.

Sydney is so photogenic & waits patiently for her little brother to look at the camera and smile.  I may have to frame this one because it makes me laugh.

I'm trying very hard to keep this holiday season simple, fun and easy.  I will have my shopping finished tomorrow.  And hopefully will have all the presents wrapped and under the tree this weekend.  I want the next few weeks to be filled with meaningful family time.  Time spent watching our favorite Christmas movies over and over. {The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story & Christmas Vacation}.  Lots of outings looking at Christmas lights and listening to Christmas songs. Our tradition of making a gingerbread house and sugar cookies.  Doing Christmas crafts with the kids and drinking lots of hot chocolate. {my diet starts in January}  And of course, remembering and teaching our kids what this holiday is truly about. 

In my efforts to keep things simple, I've decided not to send out Christmas cards this year.  It is time consuming and can be costly.  All for something people throw away at the end of December.  So let this blog post be my virtual Christmas card to everyone. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!



A Very She & Him Christmas

Is it too early to start playing Christmas music?  Okay, maybe just a tad bit early.  I am anxiously awaiting the holidays so that I can play She & Him's Christmas album all day long.  How adorable is Zooey Deschanel?

Christmas Traditions

We have a lot of great traditions we do every year at Christmas.  I really love this time of year & I love making it fun for the kids.  Christmas is the only holiday that I really decorate the house too much. I love the way our living room looks this time of year.

We spend lots of nights snuggling on the couch having movie nights & drinking hot chocolate this time of year.  Of course, our favorite Christmas movies are "Christmas Vacation" & "A Christmas Story".  I also love "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas".  I need to get it on DVD so my kids can grow up watching it too!

Allen always makes the outside look fun & festive.  He's a little bit of a Clark Griswold!

This is what our entrance looked like last year.



We always go to our favorite pizza place, The Hideaway.  Then drive around looking at Christmas lights on the huge houses in Nichols Hills.  I like to look in the windows to see how the "other half" live. ;)  {from the car of course, not like in the bushes!}  We drive through our local park's light display about 5 times in December because it's so fun to the kids and it's close to home.  We also always drive by the awesome light display at Chesapeake Energy.

I always give the kid's a gift to open on Christmas Eve...and it's always new pajamas. 

I have this mailbox for a decoration and a few years ago I snuck a little surprise in there for Sydney.  So now it's a tradition that I randomly sneak little surprises in the mailbox for the kids.  They love running to the mailbox to see if there's anything in there.  And it's always a great bribe for good behavior..."if you don't straighten up I can guarantee there won't be any mailbox surprises for a few days." 

We always make a gingerbread house.

And my favorite, we always make Christmas sugar cookies.  It's a long & messy process, but so fun & worth it!  This year I got smart.  I've already mixed up the dough & put it in the freezer.  So when we're ready, we can make them on a moments notice. 

Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 c butter, softened
2 c sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
5 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter & sugar until smooth.  Beat in eggs & vanilla.  Stir in flour, baking powder & salt.  Mix everything well & cover.  Chill dough for at least one hour or overnight.

Pre-heat oven to 400.  I take out half the dough and put the rest back in the refrigerator.  I find it works best to break it into two parts because after a while, the dough gets too warm & is harder to work with.  Roll out half the dough on a floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.  Cut into shapes with cookie cutters.  Place cookies 1 inch apart on un-greased cookie sheet.  Bake 6 to 8 minutes.  Let cool completely.

For the icing, I just make it up as I go.  But it goes a little something like this:

1 stick butter, softened
Add powdered sugar & mix until you get the consistency & sweetness you like.  If you like it thin, add a splash of milk.

Then to make fun colored icing, place some icing in three different bowls.  Leave one white, add green food coloring to one and red food coloring to the other.  Ice the cookies when cooled completely & top with Christmas sprinkles.

P.S. ~ Santa loves these cookies!

And lastly, we always listen to Elvis on Christmas morning while we open presents. 

When I was a kid, my Dad played this album every Christmas morning while we opened presents & I have carried on that tradition since Sydney's first Christmas.  Our favorite song is "Santa Claus Is Back In Town".

~ MERRY CHRISTMAS! ~