Christmas 2014

Going in to Christmas our house had certainly had some eventful days health wise.  The last week of school, on Monday the 15th, Kai got off the bus just fine.  And then by dinner time he had spiked a fever of 103.4.  The next day I dropped Finn off at school and found out that we had confirmed cases of Influenza A in Finn's classroom and in a 2nd grade classroom across the hall from Kai.  So, I took Kai to the pediatrician for a flu test.  It was thankfully negative.  His fever had broken and after 24-hours fever free he went back to school with nothing more than a standard cough.  Thank goodness (because I still had those Christmas parties to run!).  In the midst of that week I had one of those complete mommy-fail moments and ended up with Bree in the ER just to make sure that she didn't have a serious injury.  She didn't--thank goodness again.  And then about midnight on Christmas Eve Bree woke up with her left eye nearly swollen shut.  In the morning, I rushed to get her to the pediatrician and she was diagnosed with pink eye and an ear infection.  Poor thing!  I was glad we got in before Christmas.

And I was glad that I had gotten our Christmas dinner in the crock pot that morning.  We had our ham, potatoes, rolls, and more that evening.  The kids actually ate some of it.  And Kai just loves pumpkin pie, so he enjoyed dessert as well. We read the Christmas story from the Bible and then the kids opened their Christmas Eve presents--jammies and a new ornament for their tree.  Kai got a personalized astronaut, Bree got a sock monkey, and Finn got a little boy holding an iPhone.  After leaving out cookies and milk everyone was ready to head to bed.  What a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Opening his jammies

His new ornament (sorry the lighting is off)

Milk and cookies for Santa and all ready for bed in their new jammies

  Christmas Day was a nice slow morning.  Our kids don't get up until 7am, not even on Christmas.  While we looked at stockings and slowly started opening gifts, I put some cinnamon rolls in the oven.

Opening Bree's present from Santa--a stroller for her dolls

Looking at the book his Great Grandma sent him.  He is wearing his Lego headlamp he got in his stocking.

Kai got a GeoSafari talking globe

Bree decided her stroller wasn't just for dolls.  She kept saying "ride!"

What a beautiful Christmas scene!

Kai got a rock collection and Finn got Domino Rally.

The boys were super excited for me to open their present.  They got me socks!

Bree got a magnetic drawing pad, which has been a huge hit.  She loves to draw and color.  (She's wearing two of my new socks in this picture.)

Finn getting ready to open a present from his teachers at school.

Bree opening another gift

This Kinetic sand has been a big hit with Finn and Bree, too.

Bree didn't need anything else.....she just kept drawing!

Finn's gift from his preschool teachers

Kai opening his gift from Santa

A book about Rocks and Minerals from Santa to go with the rock collection.  Kai says he is going to be a geologist.

Kai got a crystal growing kit

Bree got these stacking bowls that she had played with at Grammy and Papa's.  She really likes them.

 It took us several hours to open all of our Christmas gifts.  And then we got our traditional Chinese take out for lunch that afternoon.  It was a beautiful Christmas with lots of family time.  Just the way we like it!