New Year's Eve

We spent a low key New Year's Eve in Cole Camp in advance of celebrating our Christmas up there. It was so low key that not a single one of us made it to midnight.  Thankfully 2016 still arrived without our presence.  Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

Josh woke around 5 am thanks to his fever and had a dose of Tylenol.  Fortunately, by the time they both woke up a couple of hours later, he was feeling good enough to at least enjoy a little bit of Christmas morning.  They were so excited to go out and see if Santa had arrived.  From the back of the house, we heard the quote of the day from Josh, "Tape, I got tape."  Not only did Santa eat his cookies and give the carrots to the reindeer but he left a note that included one final Christmas surprise.  Like last year, he allowed Doodle to stay for the opening of presents and said that the kids could hug him before they went to bed.

Before we started on the presents under the tree, we started breakfast and I made a quick run to Walgreen's since we were out of the flavor of Tylenol that Josh tolerates.  When I got back, we ate a bit and then it was on to presents.  We all were obviously very good last year.  By the time that was over, Josh played a bit and used up the last of his reserves so he hightailed it to the couch.  Poor guy had two more days to endure but it was clear when he finally felt better the following Monday when he got up and asked Brad where his paper and tape were.    

Christmas Eve

Twas the night before Christmas Eve and Josh had basketball practice.  Before we left, he told me that he had a headache but he was running around the house and acting normal so I thought nothing of it.  Towards the end of practice, I could tell that he was running out of steam, which is totally out of character.  When he came over at the end, he told me he still had a headache and on the way to the car, I felt his head and he was hot.  Oops!  Hope we didn't pass anything along.  On Christmas Eve, he woke up feeling as bad and ran a high fever all day that was only kept at bay with Tylenol.  As a result, Christmas Eve was even more low key than usual and we did not get any sugar cookie cutouts done.  Emma did whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Based upon her success, I told her that she is now in charge of cookies.  Before Brad and Emma headed off to Christmas Eve service at Grace, Josh did feel okay enough for them to go out and spread their reindeer food.  I got Josh to bed and had a little quiet time before the rest of our crew returned.  Emma came in and got the cookies, carrots and note ready for a visit from Santa.  Then Josh woke up and was able to hear "Twas the Night Before Christmas" read by Emma before the kids headed off to and back to bed.  Although Emma proclaimed that she would never be able to get to sleep, she was out like a light within minutes.

Grace Christmas Program

The Grace Christmas program was on December 20th.  The girls were angels and the boys were shepherds.  They sang songs and each group had a line to say.  It was so sweet and they did a wonderful job singing.  Hoping we'll get a new music director that wants to keep the children's choir because Josh loves to sing possibly more than Emma.

Polar Express 2015

We hopped on the Polar Express again this year.  Beforehand, we went to see Mrs. Claus at the hotel.  She read some stories and gave out cookies.  Then it was time to change and head to the train depot.  As we were boarding the train, I said his name and the Bobo overheard.  He was put out with me and told me never to say his name around him again.  Poor guy spent the first half of the ride tied up in knots about the Bobo but once he came by, Josh laughed and laughed.  Can't believe this was our 4th year of this fun tradition. 

ECS Christmas Parties

Emma and Josh had so much fun at the sing-a-long and Christmas parties on the last day of school.  Josh made himself into a gift and put a to mommy card on it.  The gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving.  :)