Holiday Recap

Ah - yet again - another post long overdue.  Hopefully now that we are all back in our "normal" routines, the posts should be more frequent (aka, shorter). 

Overall, our holiday was great - still not without sick kids and a lot of running around - but, great nonetheless.

 In keeping with traditions, the holiday season started with brunch with Santa at the Point Club.  This was my first outing post surgery, so it felt great to get out! 

However, in NOT keeping with traditions...this year?  Avery sat on Santa's lap!  This is huge, people.  Clearly, she has finally realized that this guy is the one who will bring her presents, so it would be to her advantage to sit on his lap and to tell him what she wants. 

Al?  Not so much...

When not running away from or talking to Santa, the club had a station set up where they could decorate cookies and make wreaths...

A few days after that, also keeping with tradition, Grammy and I took Avery to Tea at a mansion nearby

 Still liking Santa...

A few days after that, Avery had her Christmas play at school. They did the Little Drummer Boy - as you can see, Avery was an angel.  Although, I'm not sure the other parents thought she was such an angel when she a) reminded another angel that she needed to be holding her hands in the prayer position by looking at her and whispering her name loud enough for everyone to hear and then showing her what she was supposed to be doing and then b) doing the same thing to another classmate who was one of the lambs and was supposed to be "keeping time" by pawing at the ground.  He forgot to do that, so Avery (in front of everyone) quickly reminded him in the same fashion she reminded the angel.  That's my girl!  The apple doesn't fall from the tree.  Further supporting that apple theory - she was the only one who actually sang the entire Little Drummer boy song.  The song was playing on a CD as the kids reenacted the scene, so I don't think that it was really part of the plan for any of them to sing along, but Avery did - loud and proud!  It was pretty cute. 

A few days later, Opa and Grandma came into town.  As with every Opa/Grandma visit, the kids were bouncing off the walls as soon as they walked through the door..."Opa!  Watch this!"  " Grandma!  Look at this!"  It is always quite a welcome...

That night, Alex didn't sleep at all and was clearly not feeling well, so I took him to the doctor on Friday morning - yep!  Double Ear Infection.  Sick Kid #1.  At least we caught it and were able to give him antibiotics in time for Christmas...

 The next couple of days were spent wrapping gifts and getting the house ready for Christmas.  We had dinner at Josh's parents' house on Christmas Eve.  Here they are prior to going over there (aren't Alex's pants cute?  If you will notice, there are little bears (with red scarves around their necks) on them.  Although, there was an ongoing battle over whether they were cats, bears, dogs, etc., but whatever.  They were pretty cute)...

Then, that night,  we had to set out carrots and water (8 glasses to be exact) and a bell (wrapped) for the reindeer and of course, cookies and milk for Santa...

Christmas morning was great.  First of all, the kids were up late the night before, but both managed to wake up at 6 am and then...wait for it...fall back asleep until 8 AM!  Josh and I were up before they were!  I figure, this is probably the last year that this will happen.  Avery has now completely caught on to the entire present opening phenomenon.  And, Alex isn't far behind I'm sure.  I don't have many picture of the present opening, as most of it was a video.  In general, Avery would exclaim, "Just what I wanted!!!!!" after nearly every present that she opened (regardless of whether she had really asked for it or not) and Alex was perfectly content playing with the first present that he opened (a garbage truck) for a good 30 mins...until he realized that there were a lot more and then it was, "Can I open more?" after each gift.  We'll work on his manners next year...

 Christmas night, we hosted dinner.  It was a bit of a challenge while on crutches, but Mom and Dad were a huge help - thank god they were there!  McDonald's would have been on the menu had they not have been!

The day after Christmas, we relaxed and recuperated - I think that we all needed it!  The following day, we ventured out and went to Newport.  As it turns out, walking around town is one of those things that you kind of take for granted and something that you can't do very easily while on crutches!  So, we actually had to rent a wheel chair for me!  I don't have a picture of this, but will send one along once I get it from my parents.  My father was having all sorts of fun pushing me around on this thing.  I nearly flew out of it a number of times upon hitting various holes or lifts in the road.  Anyway...while there, we saw this giant gingerbread house that was made of all real candy, frosting, etc., which was pretty cool.   The kids were clearly done with pictures at this point...

 And, now, onto Sick Kid #2!  We got home from Newport and Avery was complaining about her stomach hurting, so just as I went over to comfort her on the couch, she decided to share this with me by throwing up the pasta that she had had for lunch ALL OVER ME. I'm not kidding- I was seriously covered in puke.  And, so was the carpeting that we had just had professionally cleaned 2 weeks earlier.  And, so was my boot - the boot that I have to wear for 6 weeks and that covers my foot that can't get wet.  So, my dad being the lucky guy who he is was given the job of blow drying said boot after it was all washed off.  Thanks, Pops!  Mom got the job of giving Avery a bath who was a) totally freaking out about puking and b) was also covered in puke, so I think that my Dad got the better end of the deal.

Avery recovered after about 24 hours and we all managed to avoid getting whatever she had, which was pretty unbelievable, as we all shared a water bottle earlier that day.  Opa and Grandma stayed home with her the following day, as I had to go to work.  And, they left to go home the following morning.  It was a great trip with them - the kids love having them around, as do Josh and I. 

Last weekend, in order to do something just a bit different on New Year's Eve night, we made a bunch of appetizers and had a "picnic" in the living room while watching the movie, Cars.  The kids thought it was all sorts of fun being able to sit on the ground and eat.  Although, Alex paid attention to the movie for all of 10 mins and soon after that, Avery started complaining that we always watch boy shows and why weren't we watching a girls show?  Can't win. 

There you have it - a recap of the Holland holiday season!  Here's hoping 2012 will be a puke-free, ear infection-free and crutch-free year!