Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve was quite a lazy day around here.  Bobby did go to the store for a few things, but other than that, we completely vegged out.  Before bed, we provided Santa with cookies and eggnog, I read Auntie Claus to the kids, and then Bobby read The Night Before Christmas.  While Bobby read, Britney mouthed the words and did an interpretive dance.  It was one of the funniest things EVER.  I wish I had videoed it.  YouTube gold right there!  Then we made hot chocolate, piled into the bed and watched Polar Express.  Well, Bobby and Dakota watched.  I felt horrible and crashed almost immediately.  Brit made a place in the floor and played DS.  Polar Express is not one of her favorite movies but she was nice enough to hang out with us.


Brit started waking people up at 6:00 this morning.  That's early, but I'll take it over the 4:00 they've poked me awake on Christmas morning before :)



Brit HUGGING her new laptop :)


Dakota showing off his new tablet

Brit made Dakota a coupon booklet good for things like days where he can talk about, play, watch, etc any Dr. Who and/or Minecraft related topic and she will listen, watch and play with him without complaint.  I don't expect these coupons to last long.



I got a turkey in the oven and took a shower.  I still feel sick, but better than I did last night.  Bobby went to bed since he had to work tonight.  Brit disappeared in her room for a really long time and thought she was asleep, but no...she was skyping with Chan.  She is SO freakin' happy about that laptop.  Way to go, Santa and Elisa :)

Dakota got the 7th season of Dr. Who so he watched a good chunk of those, played on the computer and lounged most of the day.  I made up some mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and brown and serve rolls.  I took a nap on the couch.  Bobby got up and we all ate and then I crashed in the bed again.  I'm telling you, I'm fighting something off.  Meh.  Anyway, the kids are happy and it was a quiet, all around nice Christmas.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Presents, Moe's, Fresh Market, The Galaxy of Lights and BAM

Keilee called Brit yesterday morning and invited her over for the day.  We had planned on Elisa coming over around 3:30 to do presents and go off on a secret mission.  Brit had a blast with Kei!  She came home giggly and exclaiming they had made crack!  Hahaha...of the candy variety :)  Elisa got here and soon Brit, then we opened presents.



Elisa loaded Dakota up with a huge assortment of Dr. Who items.  Talk about a happy kid!  Brit got make up and nail polish with pens so she can draw on her nails.  Pretty cool!  The rest of Brit's present will make an appearance tomorrow morning  ;)



Then we were off!  We headed to Huntsville and ate at Moe's.  Then we made a stop at Fresh Market and picked out candies and chocolate and coffee.  You know...all the main food groups :)


Then The Galaxy of Lights.  It's tradition around here to make a trip through the Botanical Gardens every Christmas.  However, we've NEVER gone this close to Christmas.  It was ridiculously crowded but we sang songs and laughed and had a great time :)  Elisa had never been before and I'm pretty sure she enjoyed it.




On our way back home, Dakota asked if we could go to Books A Million.  Earlier in the day, Bobby found Dakota's wallet and inside were two BAM gift cards and a Toys R Us gift card that were forgotten about!  Score!  So we made a stop at the house so Brit could pick up her money and were off to look around.  Dakota barely made it in the door and found the Minecraft and Dr Who displays.  He didn't get any farther in the store.  He picked out three Minecraft toys and bought those.  Brit still had a gift card too so she picked up Fiona and Cake figurines, a bracelet, a manga...and maybe something else. She was super happy about the manga.  It was one she had been reading free online and in mid read, they took it off the site.  Or the site completely was taken offline.  Something like that.  Anyway, she's a pretty darn happy kid too :)

We made it home and immediately made a pot of some of the new, fancy holiday blend coffee.  Yum!

Great day, yo!



Monday, December 23, 2013

Playing Catch Up

When I'm THIS far behind, it's difficult to catch up...but I'm going to try.  Let's see...

We had Thanksgiving at Dad's.  The only thing Rosie wanted me to bring was a green bean casserole.  I thought I'd try a new recipe so I searched online and decided on THIS one by Ree Drummond.  I was SO excited to make something new and it has tons of awesome reviews.  I woke up early and got to work and not that it's a difficult recipe, it is more work than I'm used to when throwing a green bean casserole together.  Well, it was good, but it wasn't as 'HOLY COW!  THIS IS AWESOME!' as I had hoped.  I mean, there's bacon in it.  That makes everything better.  Other than that slight disappointment, it was a wonderful day :)
 
 

Dakota woke up with a little cough.  The next night, I took the kids to the Christmas parade and by the time we left, his cough was so much worse and raspy and sounded like it hurt his throat.  You know that sound.  He coughed all night and by the next morning, that kid was SICK!  I took him to the doctor completely convinced he had a sinus infection.  I thought I could get him some antibiotics and he'd be feeling better in no time.  The doc checked him out and one look in his throat later, he asked me if I had looked in his throat.  No.  So I took a peak.  There were tiny blisters all over :(  That was a sure sign of...some word I can't pronounce...cold.  Viral.  Crap.  I hate when the kids are sick and there's nothing I can do to make them better.  We stocked up on orange juice and chicken noodle soup (just about the only thing he'll eat when he's sick) and just waited it out.  He was sick for over a week and a half :(

Christmas Parade



Brit landed the lead role in her church's Christmas play.  This was her first lead and she did an amazing job!  She was worried it wouldn't turn out well, but on the day of the performance, everyone nailed it :)  Emily and Chan were also in it and they did an awesome job as well.  Not that I'm surprised in the least.  These girls are so very talented.  Dad and Rosie came up to watch the play and support my girl.  I love that.  Really love that.






Brit had been fighting off getting sick and it was like as soon as the play was over, exhaustion set in.  She felt awful for a couple days too.  Coughing and achy.  More orange juice was administered.  Hopefully, this will be their only round with sickness this winter!

On the 21st, we went to Dad's to celebrate Christmas.  Dad made his authentic Italian roast beef sandwiches.  SO yummy!  Max made a freakin' ginormous fruit cake that was delicious.  I was in charge of...buying pre-made potato salad.  I don't think they liked my green bean casserole either!  Hahaha.  Oh well.  It was a wonderful day full of eating too much and taking a food induced nap.  The kids opened presents that they helped pick out and LOVE...seriously.  Brit got the coolest boots EVER.







Last night, the kids each opened a present early.  It was intended for Christmas eve, but last night worked out well.  They each got new pajamas, a movie, popcorn, hot chocolate and candy.  Fun night :)


This evening, we have a little surprise in store.  More on that later :)

Where we've been as a family