Ahh...December

I love this time of the year. I really do. I don't love that we seem to spend 90% of our time sick this time of the year, but aside from that, I really love it. I love having the Christmas lights being the only lights on in the house. I love the cozy feel of the house. I love having everybody home (even when they're arguing...). I love the excitement in our house. I love spending the entire day baking (did that Saturday). It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

We have spent the last week+ sick. We were able to enjoy my birthday with a trip to KC to the Cheesecake Factory, so that was fantastic. That night I slept on the air mattress with the twins while Hannah slept with her dad. It's a good thing it worked out that way, because Addie woke up with fever at around midnight. It was just the beginning. The following morning Gary informed us that he had had a sore throat for a few days. Within a short amount of time, we were all complaining of sore throats, runny noses and coughs. All the girls in the house went to the dr last Wednesday. Ironically, while I was concerned about the girls' ears (Addie's having tubes put in January 6 - did I mention that earlier?), it was my ear that had the infection. At that point they were all just fighting viral stuff. They stayed home all week. They are going back this morning to get checked out again.

I spent all day Saturday in the kitchen. Addie spent all morning sitting on the counter next to me helping me make sugar cookie dough, peppermint bark, caramel puffcorn and cinnamon rolls. She's quite the little helper. At one point while she was sitting on the counter and I was at the kitchen sink, she told me, "Come here, Mama. There's something I HAVE to do right now." I wasn't sure what she meant, but when I got there she wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a big smooch. If that's not a taste of heaven, I don't know what is. We spent some time having a family Wii Fit Plus competition then delivered cinnamon rolls and looked at Christmas lights. It was great! FYI, our little town has the best Christmas lights I've seen this year!

We're looking forward to this week. They have school today and tomorrow (hopefully we'll get there later today) and then will be off until January 5. We've got plans to make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve before we go to church. We'll also put together a breakfast casserole so we can throw it in the oven Christmas morning. I bet you'll never guess the big Christmas supper request at our house. The girls want homemade pizza. Sounds like the beginning of a tradition to me...

Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk...

I finally got to go to a KU basketball game! :) It was a real treat for almost all of us. I think I saw a hint of physical pain in Gary's face at various points while we were perched in awe at Allen Filedhouse. Hannah told me on the way to school yesterday that she was more excited about going last night than she has ever been about anything ever before. That's pretty impressive, because that child gets excited over EVERYTHING. Her sisters were slightly more reserved about their excitement because they have, after all, been to a KU football game. They were playing it cool. We met Gary in Lawrence at 4:45, went to eat, parked (less than a block away, no less) and walked into Jayhawk heaven. It was great. The girls were in absolute awe, and I have to admit that I had goosebumps during the Rock Chalk chant. I did feel sorry for the opposing team when KU was on a 34-0 run on them. I apparently wasn't alone because when Alcorn State finally made a shot (their FG % was down to 14 at that point) the entire place erupted in cheers. That might've been the only time Gary clapped... Anyway, it was a great time and one we'll never forget. Sometimes it's those little spur of the moment fun times that mean more than the well-planned activities. It was the evening I needed! :)

December Already???

I'm ready for Christmas. Well, I'm ready mentally, but not physically. I have a few - very few - presents bought, none wrapped and few good ideas, but I am ready for the good times. I fully intend to enjoy the next few weeks if it kills me.

The last month has been pretty crappy, to be blunt. The Monday before the girls' birthday Addie came down with a stomach bug that hung on for 5 days. She then successfully shared it with Hannah and Hope which derailed the whole birthday party for a week. Hope then immediately brought home a cold of some sort that has slowly made its way through the entire household resulting in sinus and ear infections for everybody. We have all been on antibiotics now, so hopefully we'll rid ourselves of this lovely invader. On the plus side, most of us (everybody but Gary who ended up staying home with a sore throat, going to the doctor and being just generally miserable) had a fun Thanksgiving. We spent it at Meme & Papa's house (as well as Donna & Jim's) and were blessed to have good weather and lots of fun. Saturday night the twins & I went to Ernesto's with Donna's family (minus Jonathan who also picked up the beloved VC bug). Hope was an absolute crazy person on the way there. At one point she told Kerri, "Nanner, nanner, fur on fire..." On our way home she was, again, Little Miss Witty. I commented on how dark it was outside and Hope, just to be disagreeable, said it was light. Kerri said, "Alright, Miss Smartypants, do you know how to spell light, then?" Hope replied, "S-U-N-N-Y. Sunny." She had us laughing most of the way there and back. I have a feeling she's going to be our quick-witted one...