Sunday, December 31, 2017

Christmas Weekend

Our Christmas weekend was wonderful, despite sick minis. We were able to run our last minute errands, spend time with family, fit in three Christmases (the fourth we didn't get to because of fevers and coughs), and all around enjoy every minute of our four day weekend.


This is a pretty accurate depiction of Christmas break thus far: lounging on the couch watching movies (Christmas and the Classics have been our themes), getting up long enough to play a bit, then back to the couch for another movie. Some of the movies we've enjoyed over break (so far): The Sound of Music, Christmas In Connecticut, Breakfast At Tiffany's, It's A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Elf, It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and Born In China. While I don't typically condone TV viewing like this, I at least make sure they're watching must see movies. Plus, most of the kids have been or are still sick, so there's been a lot of laying around.


Of course, everyone was feeling good to start out our four day Christmas weekend. So naturally, we began with drinks and dinner at El Rodeo. Cheers to the holiday season! 

We experienced some Christmas magic at dinner. When we asked for our check, we saw that it was taking a while. Our waiter returned and informed us that a couple of ladies in a large holiday party had spotted us having dinner and paid for our entire meal! As a family of five, that bill was not cheap. We were absolutely shocked and disappointed they had already left so we couldn't thank them. Instead, Hubs walked through the restaurant, picked out a family eating dinner who had young children with them and paid for their meal. I hope they were as shocked as we were and paid it forward.


We slept in a bit Saturday morning after a late night of shopping and wrapping gifts. Then we were back out for our last few errands of the Christmas season. We were all Christmas song-ed out, so we switched it up. I had a middle school flashback when this song came on. I was more pleased than I should have been that I remembered every single word.



Tasty Taco's for lunch with a show, as the middle and youngest mini demonstrated "how parents kiss."


Saturday evening was our first Christmas at my parent's house. 

Tie boys.





The youngest mini kept us entertained with her piano playing and singing.


 We promptly hung my new artwork on our dining room wall.


Sunday morning started with a sick mini, playing, and me at the Children's Museum. It was supposed to be a family volunteer day, but the sick mini threw us all off. Later in the day we had Christmas at my Aunt's house.

 Coffee to keep me going. I was shocked by how slow the mall was on Christmas Eve! I truly believed it was going to be packed. Instead the mall was dead!

 She's decided she loves my Vega protein bars and stole/ate them all.

The cat got a check up from the two littlest minis. He was a bit grumpy about the whole thing, but let them. Silly cat.





This little one was soooooo excited for Christmas festivities. She was a bit crazy during the family gathering.


The oldest lounged and rested. 

 My Aunt got the kids these sticky toys that were the hit of the night!



The little man.


We did our annual looking at Christmas lights drive after our family Christmas, then set out Santa's cookies and the reindeer's carrots (along with hot chocolate because it was my year to eat the Santa treats. For the record, I did not eat all of those cookies myself). The kids fell into bed with combined excitement and exhaustion. Then Hubs and I and friends of our's got to work wrapping presents, having drinks, and catching up. This has become our Christmas Eve tradition (read about it here) and I couldn't love it more.


 You've been using children's medicine cups wrong. Perfect shot glass I tell ya.


Santa presents in the front, unwrapped. This year mom and dad worked with Santa on their big gift for this year.



We were shopping at MHM Friday evening when the youngest stopped dead in her tracks outside of the store Justice. She looked me dead in the eyes and said, "did you know this is a store JUST FOR GIRLS?? It's just a me store." She then stared into the window. I asked if she wanted to go in. As soon as the words left my mouth, she ran into the store and started squealing. "Look at this! And this! Oh mom! Look!" she exclaimed as she ran from one glittery, sequined thing to the next. Of course she instantly spotted this pink poop pillow. I had to drag her out of the store so the boys could buy it for her for Christmas.


Harrison was shocked to open his Fingerlings playset.


One of the coolest stocking stuffers were these Elf Funko Pops. I laughed when Elizabeth saw this and said "wow! We have a Jess!" Yes, my five and a half year old just referenced New Girl.


The boys got Olaf and Chewbacca onesies! They loved them!

Two tired parents running on about four hours of sleep. It should be of no surprise that I wound up taking two naps Christmas Day. 



In other girly news, Elizabeth got REAL make up for Christmas. The girl is in glittery eye shadow and red lipstick heaven.



Max got a record player and his favorite Beatles record. I enjoyed his present just as much as he did.


A good majority of the day was spent putting new Lego sets together.

 Christmas breakfast: Butterbraid, pomegranate seeds, and tea.

 On the couch with the new blanket, a book, and a snuggly cat.

 The aftermath. 

 Christmas dinner: lasagna, salad, and garlic bread.


After dinner Grandma and Grandpa Sheaffer came over with more presents and a quick visit.




Monday overnight was rough: the oldest hardly slept due to his cough and the youngest came down with the stomach flu. We were supposed to have our fourth Christmas that evening at my grandparent's house, but instead had a day with naps, Tylenol, Kleenex's, and a few tears. 



I had a few hours with the middle mini when the other two went to bed at 5 p.m. He told me he liked it when it was like he was an only child!


This was ALL recycling!

Naturally, ending our weekend/starting the week on the couch with sick kids.

After reviewing past Christmases, it seems our theme is to get sick for Christmas and all of Christmas break. One of these years we won't be sick and miss Christmases. However, despite the illness, we did have a fantastic Christmas 2017!