Christmas 2010

 We had a great Christmas.  We spent Christmas Eve with Lisa and her family.  Lisa put on an incredible feast.  My parents joined us for dinner and the traditional bingo night.  Kendall even joined in the fun this year and won a couple of boxes of Mac-n-cheese.  She could not have been happier.

Kami had found this little pet monkey and saved it for the girls.  They named the monkey "Boo-Boo".  I think I have my mom to thank for that name:)

Uncle Chip focusing intensely on opening his gift...

 My sister let me do the honors of picking out my parents gift this year.  It was a lot of fun.  However, my sister found this great pad of paper that said "Lab Notes" in honor of Rylee.  Sadly, I think we have been replaced by a black lab.  My mom refers to Rylee as "our sister".  UGH!!!

Here are the girls rockin' their froggy jammies.  These were one of Sid's favorites.  The minute she opened them, she stripped all of her clothes off and wanted the jammies on.  Smart Girl!

Handsome men!  Dylan played Santa this year and passed out all of the presents. 

Sid showing her look of the day.  The girls were so much fun this year.  They had such a great time opening up their gifts.  When we got home and unpacked it was like Christmas all over again!

Hallie, snuggling up to her new jammies.  It seemed that we all got a pair this year.  Again, good thinking:)

Aunt Stephie finally got some snuggle time with Sid!

It was a great Christmas.  Good food, good roads, time with family and lots of incredible gifts.  We could not ask for more!!!

The odd one out.

Last night, I was the odd one out in my house.  This never felt so good.  Kevin, Kendall and Sidney were all very sick last night.  Kendall had it the worst.  She got sick nearly every half hour from 5pm last night until 5am this morning.  Poor girl!  It hurt my heart to watch all of them.  Needless to say, I did not get a wink of sleep.  I informed Sidney this morning that I have not been this sleep deprived since she was born.  It is amazing what adrenaline will do!

The really sad part is that I had planned to take Kendall to see the Nutcracker Ballet today.  The neighbor girls were going with us.  In my delusional state, I still thought this was possible until my good friend Kristin brought me back to reality.  In the best interest of all, the Nutcracker would have to be postponed. 

Now all I had to do was deliver the bad news.  First, I called my neighbor.  She was very understanding.  She also shared that her daughters first year in preschool was a sickness nightmare.  My twisted mind found this somewhat reassuring as we have been plagued by illness the last couple of months.  Next, I had to tell Kendall.  She had just mustered enough energy to get "all dressed up".  Then I had to go tell her that we would not be able to go.  The bright side is that we have a plan to go with the neighbor girls to see a movie during the holiday.  I also told her that we could try to go next year.  Ridiculous as it may seem, I seriously felt near tears telling her (maybe it was the sleep deprivation?).  She just put her little arms around my neck and said, "It's okay mommy.  We can go when I start feeling better."  Wasn't I supposed to be consoling her?

So for now, I remain healthy.  However considering the proximity to all three sick people, it is very likely that I will end up with the flu.  My pessimistic side says,  "It is not a matter of IF as much as a matter of WHEN."  My optimistic side says, "I really hope that I can escape this one."  I make a terrible sick person!

Cookie Monsters

The girls had a sleepover last weekend.  They had such a good time, the next night both girls were happily in bed, asleep, by 6pm.  One of the highlights of the evening was cookie decorating.  Here is Kendall hard at work...She got a lot of practice and was more than ready to help me decorate our sugar cookies.

Sid showing off her cookies and her classic "Say Cheese" face.

Asher hamming it up for the camera.  Look at those gorgeous cookies, such precision! 

Then, the very best part...Enjoying the fruits of their labor!

The next morning, the boys were in a recital.  So all of the kids got dressed up and went to watch.  The girls all looked so adorable!  They are the sweetest things ever! 

Thank you so much to David and Rebecca for giving us a much needed night away and for showing the girls such a good time!

Making the most of "our" date.

I use the word "our" date very loosely here, as it ended up being a date with the girls as well.  Last night, Kevin and I had the luxury of enjoying an overnight date.  We reserved a room in downtown Boise and the whole bit.  I had heard from my friend Desiree that the hotel had an amazing pool outfitted to make any kid happy.  The girls were not due at the Nelson's until 5ish, so I called the hotel to see if we could check in early.  Sure enough they said, "Come on down.  Your room is ready."  Here are the girls checking out the view of downtown.  What good, upstanding parent wouldn't let their child stand in the window of the 9th floor?  At least I did not dangle them from the balcony (whoever gets that is truly revealing their interest for celebrity gossip).

Sidey was like a fish in the water.  She relaxed, squealed and genuinely enjoyed every minute of it. 

 Kendall told everyone that she "swam from one side of the pool to the other".  What she failed to mention was that she had THREE water noodles underneath her.  ONE noodle was simply not enough.  We definitely need to get this girl into swimming lessons!

After a few hours of playing in the pool, in the hot tub and gorging on peanut butter crackers, we dropped the girls off for their evening of fun with the Nelson kids.  As for the rest of "our" evening...it is not to be told here:)

Been out partying...

Party on Friday Night:

We had my work party on Friday night.  It was a good time.  Good food, dancing, drinks and a visit from Santa.  Sidney, who did not mind Santa last year, wanted nothing to do with the jolly old man this year.  Here is her reaction.  Note how hard she is clinging to me.

Even when Santa tried to hand her a present she would not have it.

However, when it came time to open the package, she was all over it!

Kendall on the other hand, who wanted NOTHING to do with Santa last year, thought he was pretty cool this year!

After Santa left the pary.  The kids did some dancing (sorry, no pics).  Sidney is going to be our break dancer.  She saw some of the boys spinning on their heads and proceeded to do the same.  It was pretty funny.

Party on Saturday night:

Last Saturday was Kevin's birthday.  We had the Nelson kids over and celebrated with cake and gifts.  This weekend, Kevin and I will go out and celebrate it again:)  Why not?!?! 

Kevin cranked up the WII while everyone was here.  All of the kids had a few turns skiing and hula hooping!

Party on Monday night:

The girls had a party at their school Monday night.  We had chili and cornbread.  There was a recital from some of the older kids.  Then Santa came!  It was pretty awesome, because the teachers had games and crafts set up in all of the rooms so we had stuff to do while waiting to talk to Santa.  Here is Sidney exploring in the pine cone bins.  Again, she was not real fond of Santa.  She did however want a candy cane.  I told her if she wanted one she would have to go and get it from him.  She walked up and took the candy cane from his hand (without making eye contact, of course).  Then she said, quickly and also without looking, "Thank you".  It sounded much like the growl that she used on Halloween to scare away the other kids.

Here is Miss Kendall sitting on Santa's lap.  She told him that she wanted a fishing pole for Christmas.  He told her that she needed to be very good and go to bed early on Christmas Eve.  On the way home she informed me that Santa parks on the roof and that because we do not have a chimney, he would have to make one to get into our house.  Interesting.  As soon as we got home that night, she ran to bed.  I thought it was a bit strange.  The next morning she asked Kevin "Did he bring it?"  Kevin said, "Did WHO bring WHAT?"  Kendall said "Santa told me that if I went to bed early he would bring me a fishing pole". 

Now the dilemma that all parents must face. What WILL Santa bring? Poor Santa hadn't heard a thing about a fishing pole until just a couple of nights ago....

P.S.  As I was reading this blog to the girls, Kendall reminded me of Audrey's Birthday Party last Saturday.  Another party we attended.  Becky has posted some really cute pictures from the party!
http://audreybug.blogspot.com/2010/12/birthday-extravaganzawith-cherry-on-top.html