Christmas 2014

Christmas is simply magical when you can appreciate it through the eyes of your own children. The sweetness of Adeline's first Christmas and the fact that Cooper definitely understands it all now, really made this year special. Here is what Cooper said he wanted from Santa this year. (password: Cooper)  I am not sure if he is implying that Santa should take his sister?? ;) 

I love traditions. I love the way they make you feel connected to family and friends. Chris's mom, Jeanne, has maintained a sweet tradition that I am so happy to be a part of. Every year she has let her kids select a Hallmark ornament. So for every year of their lives each of her three kids has a Hallmark ornament. Jeanne included me in this tradition once I joined the family. She has also made  sure to buy us ornaments to celebrate big life events like a new home or getting married. Every year when we pull out the Christmas decorations, Chris carefully unboxes each ornament and lines them up in chronological order. His collection and then mine, in two straight lines. He accounts for all the years from 1982 to the present before he places them on the tree. Its quite adorable. I have watched him do this every single year since we bought our first house in 2007.

Now, she has continued this tradition with our kids, her grand babies. In years to come, I know I will find Cooper and Chris right there together lining up their ornaments'. Here is Cooper receiving his latest ornament from Nana (she sent it over from Spokane, so Chris filled in as the gift deliverer). 

 Here is what our celebration looked like this year.  

Chris and Cooper putting our tree together. I never thought that my children would think that a Christmas tree comes from a box, but alas, we have caved to the ease of an artificial (pre-lit!) evergreen. 

Cooper and Chloe helped Chris hang the outside Christmas lights. For about three seconds. 

We hosted our PEPS Christmas party. There was a little craft for the kids, a gift exchange for the moms and a book exchange for the toddlers. 

Just a little glimpse at what the house looked like mid-party :)

Our newest addition to the PEPS group, Grace (November 2014).

Conner (May 2014) and Adeline (July 2014)

I caught one of Cooper's sweet moments on camera. 

Opening up their new books!

Sugar cookies with my boy

Immediately after this celebration, both kids got sick for two weeks. We ventured out to look at Christmas lights. Cooper loved it! He wanted to get out and touch them. It was a dumping buckets, but I got out with him so he could see the singing reindeer up close. (on the left, in the photo) This was one of those houses that has the lights synched up to Christmas music. They were pretty cool. The home owners were also collecting food for the local food bank from all the people coming to check out their house. In return, they gave a great show, hot cocoa and a sweet treat. :) Great idea, I say.  

Everyone was well enough to travel East to visit the grandparents for Christmas. We did have to switch up plans a bit to avoid exposing baby Ben (just two months old) to the snotty noses and hacking coughs. Here is what our Christmas looked like in Spokane. 

Addie J's first unicorn. Passing on my passion for the mythical creature to my girl ;)

My dad got both of the boys cowboy outfits. You can take the cowboy out of Montana...

When Grandma puts on the headband...

And click here to watch a little video of all the clips over the holiday. 

The sickness that just wouldn't quit

I knew that being a mom would be hard. I have heard that said, and I say it myself all the time. But Lordy...have I had a time this last week or so! I experienced my first pukey kid and double ear infection (both from the same child). Also, Adeline had her first visit to the ER.

Mom badges have been earned in abundance.

Here is how the sickness from hell all shook out. 

Chris was still on his way back from Canada when I decided that Cooper was sick with more than just a cold and that a trip to Urgent Care was in our future. I am so grateful for neighbors I can count on to watch my kids when I need them. Scarlet and her daughter, Summer, came over within minutes to care for Adeline while I took care of Cooper. I received this photo from Scarlet while Cooper and I were waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

 After two hours of waiting with a very cranky two year old, the doctor confirmed Cooper was in fact suffering from a double ear infection. (Insert incredible Mom guilt for making him cry in his room as he yelled, "Rock me, Mama!" I did not know he had a double ear infection, and I had to hold his sister because she was a mucus filled mess, and Chris was out of town. I still can't shake the guilt...) 

A few days after our trip to Urgent Care, I brought Adeline into our doctor's office because she just would not stop wheezing and coughing. The doctor promptly sent us to the Emergency Room for a breathing treatment and an Xray. Her Xray confirmed that she did not have pneumonia. They sent us home because there was nothing they could do for her. The gave us instructions to continue to clear out her nose and provide a cold air humidifier- both of which we had been doing for days. 9 days later she is still congested. Still not sleeping well. Still not nursing well. It has been a long haul.

On top of this virus from hell, Chris is changing jobs. This is a decision we have carefully considered and we are very excited about what is to come. The timing of this change, however, has made it a little stressful in our house lately. Did I mention Christmas is in a few days?? Somehow I was slightly ahead of the game before this virus took us down, but now I feel like I am so behind! 

We are all suffering from cabin fever. We are ready for a break. 

Our sickness in pictures. 

Mucus that just won't quit.

Crying that just won't quit.

It has been tough, but I realize it could be much worse. This too shall pass. My kids will be fine in a few days. In the meantime Chris and I will just keep on keepin on.