NOT ALLOWED!

Mom's and Dad's should not be allowed to have the stomach bug at the same time!

Most of the month of December we have spent sick. This is par for the course and happens every Winter. Head colds, coughing children all through the night, ear infections, lots of visits to the doctor to help Abby with her asthma, a roto-virus, another head cold, and sinus infection.

The worst was a week before Christmas. We'd just had 2 snow days so I really needed to get out and finish my Christmas shopping. Dan started with the stomach bug first and was sick all through the night. I felt fine that morning, got the kids off to school and was down in Rockville with Clara when it hit me. I picked up Abby early from preK and made it home just in time to realize that the school nurse had called twice about Tess. Dan picked up Tess and dealt with her first bout of fluids coming out both ends. Dan and I took care of sick Tess amidst our visits to the bathroom. MISERABLE.

Clara wouldn't go to anyone but me and just fussed unless I was right next to her. I spent the majority of the evening on the hall floor next to the bathroom allowing Clara to climb on me. MISERABLE.

Mom's shouldn't get sick. Mom's and Dad's should never be sick with a stomach bug at the exact same time. Luckily that bug only lasted about 48 hours. I think we have filled our quota of sickness for the Winter season, one can only hope!

Christmas

Christmas EVE: 

Bonnie and James hosted Christmas Eve this year. We ate and then Bonnie and kids acted out what happened in the America's when Jesus was born and then the kids and I did Bethlehem. The kids had a lot of fun playing with each other. Grandma planned a couple fun games for the kids to play with prizes. We headed home by 7 to get kids to bed and start on our crazy night with Hollie and Cris. Hollie and Cris totally got into the treasure hunts with us. It was really fun being up late with them. Dan and I got to bed by about midnight, which is record time for us. (We had been up night after night with sick kids and were exhausted...especially Dan who was sick still, I was high on Christmas excitement.)

(Benjamin was Nephi,  Samuel was Samuel the Laminite, Lydia was a Lamanite, and C.C. was the angel.)

Christmas Morning:

The kids woke up at 7 and we had our obligatory glass of OJ. Abby had a hard time finishing hers. I made her! It brought back great memories of my mom making me, oh how fun it is to be a Mom with Christmas traditions!

I really tried to capture the kids excitement on camera this year but I couldn't be everywhere at once so here's what I got...

Abby ran in yelling to Jake that he got it!!! His electric dirt bike!

Tess--SOoo excited to have Saige!

Abby with Kit.

The girls and their Americal Girl Dolls. Santa's good!

Xan loves balls. All things ball! Wise Santa brought him hundreds!

Clara got a bowling game from Santa (not pictured) but loved her new phone!

We spent a good 45 minutes just loving on Santa's gifts and stockings.

Tess's face was like this the entire day! She held Saige while opening gifts, going on treasure hunts ect.

Jake drew Tess's name for Christmas. He and I had fun wrapping glasses for her doll in three different size boxes. The glasses started in the box above. Jake got the biggest kick out of it...

Tess has pink glasses too!!

Abby opening our new fun game, Spot It. She is wearing the Columbia jacket my parents sent. We all got awesome jackets with our name and the Breinholt "crest" on them. Love them!

Xan loves kitty's. He got a moving, green eyed kitty. Hugged it and kissed it.

The kids had treasure hunts and string each. We let them go to it. I was so impressed with Hollie and Cris and all their treasure hunts. It was a fun morning for everyone I think. Grandma and Grandpa came over just in time to watch all the fun. 

Grandma and Grandpa Larry gave Clara a cabbage patch doll...looks just like she did only a few months ago when she was a chunk.  Grandma made the girls adorable doll cloths. So cute. Grandpa Larry got Jake an electric trainset. He LOVES it. It'll be fun to add to it as we can.

Jacob and Dan have worked each night for about 2 weeks on these beds for Tess and Abby's. It was great bonding time and fun for Jake to be in on it. The girls love their beds. Abby's is pink with KIT written on it with my silhouette machine. Tess's is white with Saige written on it. I will post a picture of just the beds later. Clara uses the doll beds more than the dolls! Good thing Dan was counting on that and built them so sturdy.

Abby followed string to this next gift. I got it a a garage sale for $25 back in August. SCORE!

Before sending Grandma and Grandpa on their treasure hunts...

The girls accompanied them on their hunt because it led them to the gift that Grandpa Larry made, a dresser for their doll cloths. I made a "grandma craft" with my silhouette machine and Larry got a blade for his new saw.

While all the hunting happened these two played.

And now the bike... Dan brought it out and chased Buddy. It was hilarious!

Can you see Buddy hiding under the deck!

Dan taught Jake quickly what to do and then he was off. LOVING every moment!

Tess cracked me up in her "get-up". Love our number one family cheerleader. 

Jake spent the afternoon giving his sisters rides, chasing the dog, and smiling!

We took a break from treasure hunts to make breakfast at about 1030am.
Grandma, Grandpa Larry, Hollie, Cris and Xan left early afternoon to beat traffic.
I didn't finish my treasure hunt, gift opening until about 7pm.
Tess told me that night, "Mom, I just can't thank everyone enough for what I got!"
It was a great day!

(Note to self: add pics of train, doll beds, and jackets later. )

Abby's Christmas Program

Dan, Clara and I were Abby's cheerleaders at her Christmas program. She was chosen to be Mary, she was thrilled. It always surprises me to see how shy Abby gets when she is at preschool. She talks and plays with others but she is so quiet...that never happens at home! They sang songs and then went through the story of Jesus's birth. I love DCP. I love their christian views. I love that these women are not afraid to share their beliefs or love of our Savior with any child not matter their nationality. After the program Abby made a gingerbread house out of graham crackers. 

 

Abby decided to eat the entire cup of icing instead of decorating her house with it.
Love my sweet girl!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We got our first snowfall of the season. It was a beautiful and perfect day yesterday. Church was cancelled, Dan made home-made bread, Christmas music was on all day and then we watch the Christmas Devotional.
School was cancelled today due to the ice layer on top of the 5 inches of snow and we are expecting another 5 inches tomorrow. The kids spent a solid 3 hours out in the snow today. Love our backyard and our neighbors!

I snuck into the front room to capture this picture. Abby was so excited about the snow coming down she pulled up a chair and sat contently watching for a good 15 minutes.

Since we had the time, we straightened Tess's hair to see what it would look like. She's a doll, straight and curly!

When it first started to come down. 

We had a great time sledding with our neighbors down their hill. 

 The snow was so soft, the powder sprayed their faces as they went zoom'n down the hill.

Dan took Clara down once. Once was all she could handle. 

 I love that Abby's arms are outstretched to comfort her traumatized sister! 

Buddy was zoom'n. Loved his first snowfall! 

 Dan put the snow shovel attachment on the John Deere and took care of our driveway and our neighbors.  He loved it!

Day 3 of snow and NO SCHOOL!