Christmas!

We had such a busy Christmas weekend and week.

Saturday started the busyness with a friends wedding rehearsal and dinner. It was enjoyable and we had some good food. After the rehearsal, Marty and I visited a friends house for a bit then finished our Christmas shopping for the kids. Sunday Marty met up with the groom and other groomsmen at 11:00. I, on the other hand, picked up the kids from my moms, took them to Courtney's, in Albion, and had to make it back downtown Kalamazoo by 3:30 for the wedding. I made it on time, with a little extra time to stop and get a coffee. It was a beautiful wedding and Christmas theme.

I started Christmas Eve very early because I had to work. There was a mad dash to get those last minute gifts delivered. After work I got the last minute home made presents finished and Mackenzie and I got Santas cookies made. Christmas Eve night we always go to dads, have dinner and presents. There was some good company. Carols brother Doug, Leslie and Doug's son Jimmy were all there. We were spoiled and the kids even more so.

Christmas morning we got up (not earlier than usual). Marty's mom came over to open presents with the kids. There were so many presents under our tree. I don't think we've ever had so many. And of course most of them were for the kids. Christmas lunch was with my moms family. It was very uneventful and quite enjoyable. Christmas dinner we went to Doug and Leslie's. that was a great dinner and very relaxing.

Wednesday was another work day. We went to dads after dinner to drop the kids off. They watched them so I could work Thursday morning. Aunt Jo also made it to town so we did presents with her. We got a Belgian waffle maker and an assortment of syrups. Once we go grocery shopping I will be picking up ingredients to make waffles.

Friday we had a family dinner at dads since Aunt Jo was here. And of course Christmas with the rest of the family. That night I also began getting really sick.

Saturday was a day of work and sleep the entire time I was home. Hopefully this goes away very soon because our Christmas still isn't over.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and as we did last year, we're spending it at home. We're getting really bad for you, good food for our dinner and celebrating with the kids. At midnight we're celebrating just Marty and me.

New Year's Day we are having dinner and Christmas at Marty's moms house. As long as the weather is decent. Last year we had a big winter storm and it took us an hour to get home when it usually takes 25 minutes.

I hope you had a merry Christmas and have a great new year!!!

Cameron's hip update

Monday Cameron had his 6 month X-ray on his hips. Going in I knew we would either get really good news that he would be good and be done with his brace, or he would still need it and be put in it full time instead of just at night.

Well, he had his X-rays and we got good news!!! He's out of his brace! We got back in 6 months for a recheck. They want to keep a close watch on him now to make sure he continues to develop normally since it was caught late. If everything is still good, he goes in yearly.

That was some great news to get at Christmas time. Last year we were told we could take his helmet off for pictures so I was really hoping we wouldn't be told that we could take his brace off for pictures. I'm one happy mom over here!

Christmas Festivities

There are so many things coming up for us in the next few days. A wedding and all of the normal Christmas things we do.

Monday we took the kids to see Santa. He was at the mall but Mackenzie called it the North Pole, so I went with it. They have a new Santa this year. However, I think he may be better than the other one. Cameron and I got there early so we went by Santa to get him acclimated. There was no one waiting so Santa talked to him, and played around with him. Cameron even got to ring the sleigh bells! He is such a good Santa!

We've been making Christmas cookies and gifts for going on 3 weeks and we're finally almost finished. There will be a run down of the gifts we made after Christmas, I don't want to ruin the surprise from someone reading the blog :)

I plan on making an over night crock pot meal for breakfast Christmas morning. I've never made on but it looks really good and sounds pretty easy to put together.

We have a few gifts under the tree sent from out of state. Aunt Melody and Uncle Curtis sent each kid a gift bag full of presents. Mackenzie's bag talks if you get too close. "No peeking! You'll ruin the surprise!" It's a big hit with these 2 kids here!

Mackenzie's last dance class is tomorrow until January. And I have to finish my Christmas shopping for the kids this weekend. Saturday I have to work, take the kids to my moms and meet Marty at a rehearsal dinner for this wedding he's in. Sunday we're picking up the kids from my moms, taking them to Courtney's and going to the wedding. Monday I have to work again. Pick the kids up from dads once Courtney gets there, finish making gifts with the kids then go back to dads for the Christmas Eve party. Tuesday is Christmas!!!! We're having Christmas at home, going to try to make it to church, be at my moms at 1, then go to Doug's for dinner. Ill be ready for a long day of doing nothing after Christmas. However, I work everyday of the week after Christmas.

Busy, busy, busy.

Christmas Lights!

We don't put lights outside our house because Marty doesn't like to get on ladders. So, tonight Marty and I decided after dinner to take the kids out and look at Christmas lights. We've never done this before and I wasn't sure how it would go. The kids love Christmas lights but I wasn't sure how long their attention span would be.

We put the kids in pj's and loaded them in the car with nice warm blankets. all comfy, no shoes or coats :) We drove around Otsego and found some pretty cool houses. One, my coworker, had their lights synced to music. It was had to hear but it was still cool. After Otsego we got cookies and hot chocolate from McDonalds. Once we had our dessert we went through Plainwell. They had a few decent houses. Overall, there wasn't anything really spectacular, but we had some good quality time as a family and that's the best part of any activity!