Happy Birthday Alexis

It's official, she turned 7! I can't believe it. It seems like yesterday that we were coming home from the hospital and now she's turning 7, wow! We had a busy day on Sunday celebrating Alexis' birthday. I think she enjoyed herself and was excited with even more gifts to add to the Christmas day collection.

Her new bracelet

Box of art supplies

Cake time

A little help with the candles

Christmas 2010

Our Christmas was wonderful as always. We started the day by opening gifts at home, then off to Nana and Pop's and then later to Grandma and Granddad's. Santa was good to the kids and then of course the grandparents and aunts and uncles came through with even more! I'm trying to work on a per person limit for next year so we'll see! The best part was just hearing and seeing the kids reactions to everything, it's priceless. As I've said before, that's what makes my Christmas now-the joy on my kids faces!! Here are a few pictures from yesterday. Today we're celebrating Alexis' 7th birthday so more pictures to follow!

Santa has arrived


stockings


Alexis' reaction


Matt

The Aftermath...

Anxious

Here we are, 4 days until Christmas and I can hardly stand it. Something very funny happened when I became a mother. My Christmas excitement has taken to a whole new level. I think I may be just as excited for Christmas morning as they are. I love the joy and excitement in their faces and the complete innocence that they have as they feel the magic of Santa. I remember it as a child and I love seeing it through my children. I'm so glad that with being sick this year, I was able to still be in the spirit, something I was worried about as I laid in bed for 5 days! All the cookies are baked (I made more this year than any other year) and we are ready for the big guy to come sliding down the chimney! I'll post some Christmas morning pictures to share with you all. Until then...

Merry Christmas!!

Feeling Better

Wow, what a difference a week will make. I'm feeling much better thanks to some antibiotics and am looking forward to the weekend. Today after school will start the cookie baking marathon of the weekend. I've got a pile of recipes I'd like to make so we'll see how far I get. The kids have their church Christmas program on Sunday so they have a little practice for it tomorrow. Then on Sunday they're going on a train ride in Bellefonte with my parents and sisters. Should be a fun weekend overall. It blows my mind to think at this time next week it will be Christmas Eve! Where does the time go?? Enjoy your weekend.

The Verdict...

It's now day 5 and I am still sick. Betsy took me to my doctors office this morning who ordered a chest x ray and blood work and it came back that I have pneumonia! I've never had it before but I am anxious for Mike to get home with my new antibiotic to try and kick this for good!

Sick

Here I sit in the same spot as the last 3 days, my bed, and wonder what has attacked my body?! I haven't been this sick in any time frame that I can remember. Today I feel like I may be starting to turn a corner and I'm anxiously awaiting a phone call from my doctor's office saying that they'll phone me in a prescription. (I think I have a sinus infection now) I missed Matthew's school Christmas program which just broke my heart, especially since he was Wise Man #1 with a little speaking part! Mike taped it for me so I'm hoping to watch it later on today. Mike has been Mr Mom and my nurse these last 3 days...I'm so lucky! He's been great. He even had to take over a play date for me as the little boys father was having surgery-in case your asking yourself why we just didn't cancel=) He took the boys to McDonald's so they were pretty happy, much happier than they would've been with the mac and cheese I had planned to make them!

On a good note, Jane was released from 18 long days in the hospital. We're praying she continues to recover well and takes it slow. Glad you're home Grandma!!

That's about it on our front. Hopefully this is the last day I have to sit in this bed but then it's on to disinfecting everything so nobody else gets this nasty bug!

Hopefully you all are healthy and enjoying this most wonderful season!
xoxoxo

Happenings

I love this time of year. I love everything about it...the sights, the sounds, the smells, the joy. Last night Matt's preschool had an Advent Family Fun Night where we could have pizza and the kids could make crafts and play games. It makes me sad to think that it was our last one as he'll be in kindergarten next year. We enjoyed ourselves there and then a few of the Moms sent the kids home with Daddy and we went out for a bit. I really do have a great group of friends and I am so blessed. This morning I took the kids (while Mike is out hunting) to an event called the Elve's Gift Shop. It was our first year but I can see this becoming a yearly event for us. You can give the kids as much money as you want and all items are between $1-$4. Then you give them a list of people to buy for and the 'elves' (girl scouts) take the around to do their shopping while the adults enjoy some silent auctions, cookies and a few other 'grown up' vendors. They loved going shopping all by themselves and telling me what they got everyone. I am anxious to see what they got for Mike and I. We're going to finish the last minute decorating and watch a holiday cartoon.

We had a sad event this week as one of our cats, Java, went to Heaven. He got sick about 5 weeks ago and went downhill very fast. Alexis was most affected by it and many tears were shed but she's adjusting well to it.

We are still waiting for Grandma Jane to get home from the hospital. She's improving and doing better so it's looking like it will be sometime within the next couple of days. Betsy is up for the next week and has been taking good care of her in the hospital as well as helping with things at home. We sure do appreciate her being here!

Enjoy your weekend.