Finally Feeling Festive

Don't be fooled by this picture.  We haven't been feeling this good all week. 

My girls, in front of their second Christmas tree together. 

The week following Thanksgiving 2012 will go down in history as the week of "The Plague."  Lulu came down with it first, then Bug and just when both girls were starting to feel better (aka run around like crazy donkeys again) Mama got sick.  Being sick sucks.  But being sick with toddlers running around the house, who are selfish by nature, and could care less if you're puking and running a fever, REALLY sucks!  Fortunately, we strategically moved to Richmond to be near Gigi and Babu for these exact situations.  And I'm very thankful that they took Bug for the weekend so I could rest with my snuggle-buddy Lulu and so Hailey could get some much needed attention and outside playtime.

 

 Between everyone's illnesses, we did manage to get some Christmas shopping done, put up our decorations, mail our Christmas cards and visit with some friends.  So the week wasn't a total washout.  But most of it is still a blur to me! 

 



Little Lulu was struck by "The Plague" on Thanksgiving. I will never look at turkey and stuffing the same way again...it's not pretty the second time around. 



This was Lulu's sick chair.  She sat in it all day, watching Dora and eating her "nacks!"  (Snacks)



Sweet Buggy was taken down a few days later. 

 

Poor girl was is sad shape.  I'm sure she's mentally scarred from all of the puking that's been going on around here.  She told me yesterday that "cuking" is "so yucky.  The yuckiest in the whole world!" 

 

"Yes honey.  Of course you can have a pony for Christmas."  - Mommy and Daddy.  That face made my heart break. 

 

 

Daddy, wheeling the "sickies" around the yard for some much needed fresh air. 

Playing in the sandbox. 

 

She loves her Christmas tree! 

Lainey loves Santa.  She will walk around the house and point to Santa and say "Ho, Ho Ho!"

Un-decorating the Christmas tree.

Smiling before preschool. 

No.  I haven't learned my lesson yet.  I'm a sucker for a huge bowl of peanut M&M's.  I must be able to eat them at all times.  Apparently, Lulu shares my love for them also. 

She loves dancing to "Away in the manger" on her Little People's Nativity set.  She pushes the button over and over again and starts bouncing up and down. 

Enjoying some Mommy-Lulu time while big sister was at school. 

Her "mommy face."  See below...

Lulu is fascinated by the tree.  She loves the Dora ornaments the best.  Shocker. 

Hailey, holding "Frosty Santa's" hand. 

How did people ever parent around the holidays without the "Elf on the Shelf?"  This little guy has helped me win many battles with my 3 year old.  All I have to say is, "The Elf is watching you.  He's going to tell Santa." And, BAM, she's in bed or BAM, her dinner is all gone.  Now they just need to come up with an Elf for every season of the year!



Our Christmas tree would be barren if it wasn't for Grandma Kinard.  She's been giving us ornaments for 10 years now and I can say that 95% or our tree is decorated by her! 
I love them, but Hailey prefers the box and Styrofoam best!

This is my favorite one out of the box that we got this year!  (Thank you!) 

During one of our "sick-free" days, we went over to Robert and Joshua's house for pizza and cookies.  Hailey loved making real homemade cookies with Robert and his Mommy.  I could see her little mind thinking, "where is the box that these came out of?" 

It inspired us to make Christmas cookies the next day. 

My taste-tester. 

Helping Daddy make dinner. 

 

Hailey was happy to spend the weekend at Gigi and Babu's.  She gets to have Frito's and dip before dinner!

 

And she had her own Christmas tree to decorate!  By the end of the weekend, that little tree had so many "ducks and raisins" on it that they had to prop it up with Encyclopedia's!!

 

Playing at the park with Gigi. 

 

As you can see from the pictures, she is the center of attention at Gigi and Babu's.  Needless to say, she cried when Gigi brought her home today. 

 

Lulu loved being an only child for the weekend!

Buggy, perfecting her gymnastics moves with her "Fantastic Gymnastics Dora" doll. 

I thought that I would have to buy two of these dolls because I was sure they would fight over it.  But, Lulu is terrified of it!

Now that she was all warmed up, it was time to go to gymnastics class. 

Lainey loves watching Hailey do her "tricks."

Hailey's preschool teacher, "Teacher Erin" was also her gymnastics teacher this week!

Bug has become quite the gymnast.  She even got moved up to the next level.  She'll be leaving the "Shining Stars" and moving on to the "Gym Stars!"

2024 Olympics, here we come!!



Watching all of that tumbling and jumping made Lulu work up and appetite!  She won't eat anything now without a fork! 

She has also started telling me when she needs her diaper changed.  She either finds me and then points to her changing table...

Or she finds me and tugs at the front of her diaper.  Let's just hope that this means she will be easy to potty train!!  Finger crossed. 

Thank goodness we're all starting to feel better and now we can really begin to enjoy this wonderful time of year!