Eli had the whole week of Christmas off, which was wonderful. On Monday, we made "gingerbread" houses using graham crackers and candies. The kids loved it and thoroughly enjoyed gorging themselves with sweets (it's not often they have free access to bowls full of candy) as they decorated their houses. Maybe sometime I'll make real gingerbread for the houses, so we don't have to throw away as many graham crackers as we use because they are broken. So I say now when the holidays are comfortably behind me for eleven months. :)
On Tuesday, Eli's violin teacher took a bunch of her students to play Christmas songs in the lobby of a hospital nearby. We saw lots of hospital employees and visitors stop to listen as they were coming and going. It was a fun event and I'm grateful to Mrs. D for giving Eli the opportunity to use his talents to serve.
I was so glad the performance was on Tuesday morning, because Tuesday evening, the kids got sick. Eli started feeling ill around dinnertime and vomited in the sink. Later that night, Benjy got sick. It was a looong night as both boys were repeatedly sick and we had to do several bed changes. The next day (Wednesday) we stayed under quarantine and played at home. We tried to go to the park around midday just to get out of the house, but on the way there I started to feel sick so we turned around. Wednesday night was bad for Justin and I as we were feeling very unwell. Thursday was Christmas Eve, so luckily Justin didn't have to go to work. The day started off rough, but we were all feeling remarkably well by evening time and were able to join my family at my grandparents' house for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner and scripture reading. I didn't get any pictures this year since bringing the camera was about the last thing on my mind, but my mom and all my siblings were there and we had a fun time. The kids got to open their traditional Christmas Eve gift of pajamas.
Christmas morning, the kids woke up around 4:45. We tried to make them sleep in until 5:30, but everyone was too excited to wait that long. Santa brought the kids some cool stuff this year. The stocking smash-hit gift? Mini bubble light sabers.
The kids also got Razor scooters from Santa. I guess he was hip to the fact that they've been borrowing the neighbor kids'.
We also got a puppy for Christmas!!! Just kidding. The dog pictured is Rex, who belongs to some friends who went out of town for a few days. He was super into all the excitement of Christmas morning.
Some friends handed this horse down to us a few days before Christmas, which worked out perfectly.
Little Emme bear got a kitchen for Christmas.
Eli putting together his big Lego dragon from Santa.
We spent what felt like a long time opening and playing with gifts before we got ready to head down to see my mom (when you wake up at five, the day seems a lot longer- go figure). She recently moved to Colorado Springs, and this was our first time visiting her new house. We exchanged gifts with my siblings and just stayed and visited.
Carlos with the candy cane sleigh creation the boys gave him.
Christmas Day was a wonderful culmination of all the festivity and Christ spirit leading up to it. I'm grateful for this season and the grand "conspiracy of love" that it is. Goodbye Christmas for another year, until with joy we greet you once again.
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