December.. we did everything but sleep!

January 02, 2013

December.. we did everything but sleep!

In the world of insurance you are used to things being busy in December (the dreadful 1/1's). It's just unfortunate that things kick up an extra notch at home as well. From singing in church to breakfast, lunch and dinner with Santa, moving the lazy elf (he will have his own blog), playgroup and preschool parties and a little sickness. I am ready to crash by New Years. This year was a real doozie!

So the blog doesn't end with me sounding like a Scrooge, I will give the bad news at the beginning. It's a good thing we overloaded and took so many pictures pre-Christmas because we didn't get hardly any on Christmas. Annie woke up from her nap on Christmas eve with a 103 fever. We spent a few hours Christmas Eve night at the Doc in a Box and Pharmacy thanks to a virus (probably flu) and an ear infection. Also, Ben's very sweet but very sick and very tired Grandpa died on Christmas Eve. He was so ready to go home so it was a wonderful Christmas for him. Even though it was expected as he had been in hospice for a week it was still a sad day for our family. Christmas was tough because everyone wanted to be so happy but there was a bit of a dark cloud with Grandpa missing. On top of all of that we could not keep Annie's fever down. She was screaming and clingy all day long. We did our normal of waking up Christmas morning at my parents then traveling to Ben's at lunch. I didn't even open all our presents at The Comerford's before leaving. Annie was just inconsolable and felt terrible. Honestly most in the room felt terrible. I know I felt tired from lack of sleep. I was frustrated at Annie being sick (not at her just a the situation), I was bummed that I couldn't take my hands and mind off of Annie's fever to experience all the joy Amelia was feeling, I was sad for the men and wife sitting in the room with me that was having their first Christmas without a man they'd known all their lives. There was just a faint gloom hovering. And the material person in me was quite ticked, if I'm honest, that all my efforts were going to pot because of all of it. This my friends is why we all need to focus on the "reason for the season"! Because the joy of the birth of our Lord and Savior is NEVER lost! There was SO much to celebrate, but I had a pity party. I was tired and I'm ok with it.

Now that that is all over, let's get to some JOY! Because folks, this December was filled with joy!

We scheduled our appointment with Santa the Sunday after Thanksgiving to beat the crowds. Success!

Amelia made her list

Annie didn't mind Santa at all this year as long as her sister was on his lap as well. If sister moved she screamed and was outta there!

Amelia rode on the parade float this year for her school. It was fun at first, but she was worn out by about the time we reached the town square. It's tough having such a big audience :)

Since Daddy used our truck and trailer for the float, Annie rode too. She slept the entire way in her carseat in the extended cab

The first week of December we had to make a road trip to Childrens Healthcare. Annie had 2 UTI's pretty close together so we had to have a renal ultrasound an dye test. Thankfully, everything is functioning properly. Just a few fluke UTI's

The tests were pretty miserable but we made it through

While we were in outpatient care, Amelia and Nana were at Lenox Mall riding Macy's Pink Pig

I don't know if it is the precious pudgy cheeks or the nose, but I think these two look alike! :)

Amelia did not remember her pink tree but she had a blast decorating it all by herself.

On the evening of Dec 9th Amelia sang in big church for the first time with her choir.

Gingerbread Houses were made with our cousins

Amelia had a special Big Sister afternoon seeing The Nutcracker with Mommy. It was such a great production and Amelia enjoyed it so much. She liked watching the big girls in her ballet school dance in beautiful costumes

Annie had her first Gus's breakfast experience

We spend the night at Reynolds Plantation with Nana and Pa and had breakfast with Santa

Annie played in the sand for the first time

Reynolds is slowing passing right by St Simons as my most favorite place on earth

Amelia ice skated for the first time while we were there and she is hooked!

We made out a list for Santa

All per her request

And she dropped it in the mail

Amelia got to fish for the first time. She even liked the worms. YUCK!

Nana and Pa left with the girls around lunchtime on Saturday and we had Reynolds all to ourselves for the afternoon. We had a great lunch, I got a massage, Ben rented a dumb boy movie in the room and we napped! It was glorious!

We had a great dinner on the back patio watching the sunset over the lake. After dinner we took over the couch in the lobby and sat watching the fireplace with a little bourbon while live music played in the background. It was one of the best anniversaries we've ever had!