Christmas 2014 Recap

Christmas this year was a wonderful blur.

The celebration started last Friday, when Josh and I walked out of work for the last time this year (glory, hallelujah) and continued the next night when the girls had a much-anticipated sleepover at Gramma and Papa's. Josh and I got some last-minute shopping done, went out for an actual sit-down dinner that didn't involve coloring crayons or play lands, and topped the evening off with our annual viewing of Bridget Jones' Diary and a dance to the piano version of "Christmastime Is Here".

The next evening, despite our better judgment, we took the girls for another annual tradition--the Festival of Lights in East Peoria. The girls had had a verrrrry late night at their sleepover, so we were already pushing their good graces by going at all--and then we got to the hill leading up to the festival park. And sat. And sat. And moved two feet, and sat some more. Just when I thought Josh's blood pressure might actually cause the vein in his forehead to explode, a car in the opposite lane motioned for him to roll down his window. The angel in the other lane quickly told us to drive to the top of the hill and turn around--there was no wait from the other direction. We sped away, and a few minutes later, we were in the park, oohing and ahhing at the displays.

On Monday, we took the girls to get their Christmas presents from my Aunt Naomi, who is one of my very favorite people on this whole earth. Because she couldn't be there to watch their experience, we videotaped as the girls learned their surprised, picked out their toys, and had them made. Elaina chose an Elsa bear, and Ellie chose a Pinkie Pie pony. It was a fun experience for them, and a good start to Christmas week.


On Tuesday, we had a creative day at home. We made "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers, the cheapest white frosting Kroger sells, and leftover parade candy. (This was a nice dual parenting effort--Josh's engineering effort to construct the houses, and my fine unwrapping and directing for the decorating.) In the afternoon, I ran some errands and Josh put on a movie for the girls. Unfortunately, one of my stops included one for tylenol and ibuprofen for Elaina, who had developed a fever. (True to form, she was quiet, quiet, and wanted to lay on laps. Not usual for our high energy, always on the go girl.) With a little medicine, she was doing well enough after dinner to work on our cookies for Santa. This was a lot of fun, because while I rolled dough and the girls decided on shapes, Josh played random songs on YouTube for our entertainment. Ellie's taste in music more closely mirrors my own, since she was rocking out to OutKast's HeyYa!, much to her daddy's disappointment.

When we put the girls to bed, we gave Elaina another dose of medicine and hoped for the best, since we were supposed to see both of my grandmas on Christmas Eve.

But it was not to be.

She woke up at 4:00, crying that she couldn't find Girrafia. Her temperature was 101. She took her medicine and went back to bed, and I knew then that our travel plans were cancelled. She couldn't travel sick. Aunt Naomi has a weakened immune system and has been instructed to stay away from anyone with a fever. Both grammas were getting over illness. And my Uncle Rod had a lung transplant at the beginning of this year, and his health is still quite fragile. Still, I cried the next morning when I called Mom and Dad to let them know we had to stay home. I hated that she was sick, and I hated that we had to miss seeing Dad's side of the family.

To make the best of the day, we let the girls exchange their gifts to each other, watched Christmas movies most of the morning, and went to my in-laws for some Christmas Eve snacks. When we came home, the girls set out their cookies and milk for Santa, and when they were asleep I finished wrapping gifts while Josh and I watched It's a Wonderful Life, another of my favorite traditions.

If you don't think this is funny, I'm not sure we can be friends

Christmas morning got off to a great start. Elaina woke up with no fever (yay!!), and she and Ellie were both quite thrilled to see what Santa had left for them. Santa was pretty good to Mrs. Claus as well, and we had a nice, relaxing morning at home. We went back to my in-laws in the afternoon for more gift exchanges and a wonderful meal of enchiladas, rice, beans, and homemade salsa.  We scooted out not long after dinner to unload the car and get ready for traveling the next day.

Santa brings the best books...

...and the best Pinkalicious puzzles

Ellie and Papa

Elaina with her new hair salon

The next morning, after a quick breakfast and caffeination, we loaded up the car and the girls and the dog and headed to the farm, to spend a little time with Gramma Copes and Aunt Naomi and Uncle Todd. Mom and Dad came down, too, much to the thrill of their granddaughters. We had lunch and exchanged gifts and enjoyed the beautiful if unseasonable 55 degree weather. After, we headed on to visit Gramma Beck, where Ellie enjoyed her first piece of cherry pie.

As I took this selfie, Gramma said she couldn't believe the old woman looking back at her. I wish she could see how beautiful I think 91 looks on her.

4 generations

Where's Elaina??

Gramma Dorothy's cherry pie must be savored

We spent the night at Mom and Dad's, which was a lot of fun because Rachel, Lips, and Nehemiah were there, too. He's getting such a little personality. When the girls were taking a bath, they kept hollering for him, and he'd come charging around the corner in his little footie jammies yelling, "Wayna!!! I comin'!!!" When the kids were in bed, I made peanut butter fudge and hung out with Mom and Rachel while Josh and Lips watched some sort of documentary (snooze).

Bedtime story with Gramma Joy

The next morning, we relaxed and when Jeremy and his family arrived, more Christmasing ensued. So much fun to see the cousins playing together. And it was extra nice to spend the day with Jeremy, since it was his birthday. After presents were exchanged, we had lunch and before too long the rest of the family headed back down to the farm while we headed home.

Elaina was sooo excited to get a "Teacher Set" for Christmas. Thanks, Auntie Rachel!

Daddy opening one of his obligatory Bears gifts

Jeremy and Nikki made this out of wood from Grampa's barn, which blew down in a terrible storm five years ago. The wood is over 150 years old.

We got home around 5:00, unpacked a bit, and collapsed.

It was a wonderful, full Christmastime.

And I am thankful we don't go back to work until Friday :)