We had a fantastic and relaxed Christmas this year. Since we are living in Indy now, it really cut down on all our traveling. We were able to spend time with extended family AND be at our house on Christmas morning. It also helped that some of the gatherings were spread out over about a week's time and not all piled up over 2 days. I am really hoping this schedule will catch on and continue in the following years, hint hint!
So to start, Millie's last day of school was on Wednesday the 21st so after Rick got home from work that evening, we headed south to Floyd Knobs for a few days. Thursday was exciting for all the kids. Reed was on the tractor by 9am helping my dad (GG) and Rick split wood. Reed was operating the wood splitter and it was taking everything he had to pull the lever but he stuck with it. Millie and Jacob joined in a few hours later and then I think Reed abandoned the work and ran around the field playing with them. The dog was enjoying it too so everyone had fun. Until, it seems, my dad and Rick were not really paying much attention to them and they ended up playing in the creek. It was about 40 degrees and they were soaked. By the time the adults in charge realized the kids were playing in the creek, they were almost done with the tree and they just left them play. When they came up to the house I was a little less than thrilled but we dried them all out and all was well.
Later that day Millie and my sister had BIG plans. Laura has been scheming to take Millie to get her ear's pierced since the day she was born. I held out and kept refusing but then they teamed up on me and so I said they could do it for Christmas. I'm not sure who was more excited, Millie or Laura. Millie did great by picking the most expensive pair of earrings and being super brave and not even crying when they did it. I was very proud of her! Afterward we went out to eat and that's when I started getting a scratchy throat and began to lose my voice. I knew this was not going to end well. We stopped at Kroger on the way home to stock up on Emergen-C, vitamins and anything else we could think of to help protect us all.
The next day my mom had us all to her house to celebrate Christmas. We had a nice meal and then the kids enjoyed letting T-Rex attack the Calico Critter settlement and reek havoc on their poor little furry selves.
On the 24th, we packed up and headed westward to Dale to spend the day with Rick's family. We all went to church that afternoon in Ferdinand then headed to Rick's grandma's house in Santa Claus for a yummy Christmas gathering. We had to skip out a little early in order for us to make it back to Indy in time to pick up Vince and Holly from the airport. We were all excited that they were flying in from Colorado to spend Christmas with us. By this time I had no voice and felt pretty crappy but I refused to let it stop me!
Christmas morning was extra fun because Vince and Holly were with us and the kids when we were opening gifts. I had a big breakfast planned but we kicked it to the curb because I didn't feel good and so we just had cinnamon rolls. It was nice having a few extra family members in the house Christmas morning!
Vince and Holly had to head south to see Rick's family but my mom and dad drove up that afternoon to spend a few days with us. By this time I was just a non breathing lump on the couch. Rick was great and did all the cooking that I had planned for the day. Mom and dad left the next day and I think dad was glad to go because I wasn't fun company, that's for sure! And we don't have cable so it was pretty boring unless you wanted to cook or play with the kids. So like I said, I think he was glad to go.
The next few days the kids played in the snow and enjoyed no school while I continued to be a lump on the couch. Rick worked but was in town so he was home every night which was a nice change for all of us. He has mostly been working out of town which is really annoying. That was not the plan when we moved up here this summer but you do what you have to do I guess.
Millie seems to really be enjoying the Kindle that Rick got me for Christmas. She has now finished 3 chapter books on it but I have yet to read anything on it. I had a stock pile of books from the library that I need to finish before I make the digital switch.
Fortunately I started feeling a little better to start cooking for the 30th when Rick's family was all coming to our house for our Christmas celebration. It was the first time I have ever hosted a holiday at my house and I think it went well. The appetizers we had may have been too big a hit because I don't think anyone was hungry for the main course but we managed anyway. Hannah made a delicious cheesecake, it was super yummy!
So that sums up our nice and non-hectic Christmas break. Rick is now officially stir crazy though and is getting ready to head to Lowes so we can start our wainscoting project. I guess my bumming lazy days on the couch are over.
