Christmas / a new van / New Years
This year was crazy to say the least.
It started out with a wonderful mommy group Christmas on the 18th of December. We swapped names and every child received a gift. Santa even showed up. :) We got the new babies and put them in huge stockings and took their picture... so cute!
We enjoyed so much great food and good conversation! The kids played wonderfully together also. It was a great day!
December 19th we stopped in to visit with Brian's grandma and gave her a first visit with Easton. Then after our tea and cookies it was off to Christmas with Brian's dad. Again more good food and conversation, and presents. Hadley loved "helping" Easton open his gifts.
December 22nd I was hit with what felt like the plague. I ached all over. I was DOWN on the couch for two days. It probably would have been three or more but starting on the 24th the rest of my family became ill with fevers, coughing, runny noses, vomiting and the like. So... being the mom, I had to bounce back.
We were SUPER fortunate to have Julie with us starting the 24th and leaving on the 26th. I am not sure how we would have managed without her.
I tried my best to make it feel like Christmas by making a turkey for dinner but really everyone was just weak. So weak in fact that we only opened stockings and then we actually didn't even open gifts until 6 p.m. (We only opened them at this time to say that we opened them on Christmas day. Afterwards everyone just went to bed.
December 26th was supposed to be Christmas with Brian's mom but we were too sick. December 27th we had bought tickets to the catered Verkley dinner and we were all still just too sick to travel. We were sad to not be able to catch up with everyone and to meet Kennedy (the newest Verkley), but it was the best decision for our family. December 28th was my dad's Christmas and again, we just couldn't do it. Hadley had a fever of 104, Easton was not 100% and Brian was just really not up for driving.
December 30th we made the trek to Listowel as we had put in an order for a new Dodge Grand Caravan and we needed to sign paperwork and pay for it before year end.
We picked it up and drove straight to Brian's moms and thought we would do Christmas with her while we were in town.
After opening gifts and having dinner we tried to pack up and head out but our our family was just not up for the drive back.
December 31st we put on our game face, got up and going by 9 a.m. and headed home as our friends were counting on us to host New Years.
I hadn't really cleaned or anything as I was too busy taking care of my family so when I got home I did a SUPER clean. I went with "good enough" this time. I didn't love that but it had to do.
We played games all night which was a great low key thing to do when you are not feeling 100%.
There were 9 adults and 6 kids at one point.
Shawn, Delena and their son Todd. Shawn. Ryan, Jenny and their two boys Owen and Spencer. Then Shawn and Delena's friends dropped in with their little boy but they left before midnight.
Plus Brian, Hadley, Easton and I.
Our friends stayed until about 4 p.m. the next day. I was just about ready to crash when we had a wonderfully unexpected visit from Brian's cousin Adam and his girlfriend Krista. They were heading to Kingston. Unfortunately they saw our house at it's worst as it was definitely in party condition but we were glad to see them!
They were kind enough to bring a gift for Easton. Un-necessary but very sweet!
January 2nd we headed back to Listowel to have Christmas with my mom and the extended family on that side. It was great to catch up with everyone and meet my cousin's new baby girl (Londyn) for the first time. Jason (my brother in law) received a 26 pound turkey from work and we all enjoyed this HUGE bird!
We just have one Christmas left to reschedule. My dad's is coming up.
It feels so weird to celebrate Christmas after New Years. Brian is still not 100% but it is January and we seriously have to deliver our gifts as we have to get the tree down soon. I have a feeling January is going to fly by!