CHRISTMAS CATCHUP.

another year, another visit to santa.

 another year, another visit to the nutcracker ballet! this time we went with our friends, the dichsens.

christmas had the potential to really suck this year, but it really was fine. mom and red came to us this year, which was a huge help. we got to do our Christmas with them at our house, and they got to see hallie in henry in the church christmas program - it was such a great weekend.

 

 

 

and i was soooo glad that Christmas program was over. i was stressed beyond belief, but it turned out so cute. the kids in our church are hilarious, and there were some spectacular performances. king herod's death scene was pretty incredible. hallie was superb as a narrator and henry was a fabulous chicken.

 

we went to church on christmas eve and then to Lucille's for dinner and gifts. it was hard, but manageable, and i think there was only one, tiny breakdown. gifts at barb's afterward was harder, but i think it will get easier over time. just being together is so important.

 

christmas morning was spent at home with my little family. normal breakfast of biscuits and gravy, eggs and...was that it? barb and lucille stopped by to check out the loot and then we headed for st. Louis for christmas with the chronister fam.

 

this was the first year at phil and kath's and i have to say...i missed being at dad's! they were wonderful hosts, and it was nice to not have to drive as far, but it just isn't the same as doing it at the farm.

 

we had tickets to see the trans siberian orchestra while we were in st. louis, so dave and i had a nice date the day after christmas while dad watched the kiddos at bev's house.

 

then it was off to home, and we had the rest of the weekend to hang out and get the house cleaned up before work.

 

it was such a nice, long break.



BUT FIRST, THE QUICKEST OF CATCHUPS.

 dave played in an old man basketball tournament (can you spot him?).

 dave and luke (and hallie and eve) lead worship at church a few sundays ago.

 hallie and eli got to spend the day together. and henry.

 these three.

 henry got super sick.

 we took hallie to see franchesca batistelli (spelling, who cares?) and loved it.

 had a beautiful, magical christmas.

 these two.

 oooohhhhh....i am such a midget. i love these girls so much. and get to see them in a few weeks at SARAH'S WEDDING!!! 

 i took a snowy hike. i love where i live.

 these four.

 

the end.

HENRY IS SICK! AGAIN! PART 2. AND THE NUTCRACKER! AND SNOW!

well, well. we got over the barfs and now we've moved onto strep.

 

poor baby!

 

he had a burning hot fever last night, which meant a trip to the doctor this morning. i'm not one to take them in every time there's a fever, but this sickness crap has been going on far too long.

 

and it was strep and i feel terrible for him. poor buddy.

 

 

*****

 

i took hallie to see the nutcracker ballet yesterday. we had wonderful seats and had a beautiful time. she loved it once she figured out there was no talking. pretty funny.

 

***

 

we had some beautiful snow on friday night/saturday morning. hallie and dave bummed around in town together and i took my sick little boy (hey, i didn't know!) out in the snow to get worse.

 

mother of the year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

the end.

 

 

 

THESE TWO.

me - "oh hallie! you look so cute for your christmas program! let me take your picture! "

dave to hallie - "let's not smile."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 my family is weird.

 

and here's henry tell me that he's ready to go.

 

people, this is all i've got.

THE AMERICAN GIRL STORE.

i was going to get all clever with the title of this post: american girl hell, my personal hell, crowds, crowds and more crowds, etc.

but they wouldn't be true (except the last one). the trip was awesome. for realz.

barb gave the girlies a trip to chicago (on the train!) to visit the american girl store. thank goodness santa got the memo and brought hallie one of her very own.

 

so off we went, north bound out of springfield. the girls were extra cute (until they just weren't anymore).

they loved the train and it really was nice to sit back and not have to worry about anything. except keeping them contained. which was sort of an issue. at least in carseats they are strapped in.

 

 

 

 

we got there, checked into the hotel, walked a few blocks and entered the ag store. holy crapola, people. this store is ridiculous. and was also ridiculously crowded.

luckily (?), hallie is not a shopper. so she picked out what she wanted to buy (her own money) and was over it. until she saw that they had a hair salon. so we had to get her doll's hair done - which ended up being the best decision EVER - the hair STILL looks good.

 

 

we also came back to the ag store to eat supper at the cafe - which was surprisingly good. and they pull out all the stops for the girls and their dolls. it was really cute. cute, cute, cute. everything was so...cute. and very, very pink. shockingly pink, actually. and shockingly expensive. but worth it (right?!).

 

 

 

anyway.

back at the hotel was a freezing cold pool that barb took them to (score) and lots of threats to get them to sleep. the next day was shopping and killing time until our train.

which was delayed.

but it was fine. fine.

we made it home. and the girls loved it, and i secretly wanted to buy kit.

the end.

and now christmas and all of 2012 is finished.

the end.

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS. PART IV. THE GRAND FINALE.

mom's house.

so many presents.

over-stimulated kiddos.

sick hallie.

lamest new year's eve ever.

love my family so much.

another awesome christmas. i can't say enough- this has seriously been my favorite christmas season ever. everything just came together so easily - no fights (except hallie and max) and overall stress free.

hallie ended up getting really sick on sunday while we were still at my dad's. super high fevers - she was finally diagnosed with strep on friday, which is a really long time to be sick.

and then henry got it, so yay.

but we had such a good time anyway. the kids played and played and got a million presents. the adults talked and hung out and stayed up to watch the ball drop in ny and then off to bed! didn't even make it to midnight - good times.

it was a great christmas to end on and i am so thankful that i have such a wonderful, large, extended family to spend time with. it can get crazy, but i wouldn't change (almost) anything.

love to you all!

 

the end. of