Christmas Eve 2017

Well, sadly we were all still rather sick on Christmas eve. The children were basically over the flu, but had terrible coughs. Marc and I both have colds so we were just hanging in there.  Fortunately, our Christmas Eve traditions are firmly in place and move along with or without us being 100%.

We went to Mass Sunday morning and Marc and Tucker altar served.

We heard firetruck Santa coming down the street and ran out to greet him.  Sadly, for the first time in years- he didn't come!  He came to the stop sign down the street and turned the other way!  We were disappointed.

 BB and Poppy arrived and lifted our spirits. Then it was time for Secret Santa.  Each year the children draw names and buy one sibling a gift with their own money.  They really get into this and think about all year what they will get their secret partner.   Marky had Charlie this year-

Julia had Tucker-

He got a glow-in-the-dark Newton's Cradle, which is exactly what he wanted!  He played with it ALL NIGHT.

Tucker had Julia and got her a horse calendar (which she loved) and a remote-controlled fish for our fish tank.  :)  Ha!

Charlie had Marky and bought him many nerf ball bullets and cartridges.

Then we had our annual Christmas Eve steak dinner with my Nanny's salad-

After dinner and dessert we had our annual singing.  Every year we have the children preform the 12 days of Christmas song and a few others.  Tucker still gets to sing "5 golden rings"- Charlie was too shy.

After singing we drove around and looked at Christmas lights while listening to Christmas carols.  Then we came home and Daddy read the Christmas story-

Then it was hugs and bedtime-

After the children were in bed we tacked wrapping all the gifts- even the family gifts that came from Amazon.  :)  And we had to search all over the house to find where we had hidden them.  :)  Thank goodness for BB and Poppy- they wrapped so much! After all the wrapping we watched "Christmas Vacation" and then hit the sack.  Another wonderful Christmas Eve in the books!

 

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug.....

Well it's been quite a week.  Monday morning while the boys were at speech therapy my car wouldn't start.  Daddy had to come (from the gym) and charge the battery and take it to get a new one.  Fortunately Tucker was there to watch and learn how to use jumper cables.  He found it fascinating.  :)

At the Posadas the Sisters gave the children two free goldfish.  To say they were excited is just not saying it.  They were thrilled- ecstatic!  So Monday after the car drama we went to PetSmart and got $70 worth of gear for our new "free" fish.  :)

We got their little home all set up in Julia's room and were all so happy to watch our new fish.  Tucker named the bright one "Sunray" and Charlie named the little one "Penny".  :)

On Tuesday morning we woke up and both fish had died.  It was so sad.  

On Monday  Marky was diagnosed with the flu.  Tuesday morning both boys woke up with the flu.  It was awful- nobody could move.  The flu is so much worse than a cold.

Tucker seemed to have it the worst.  Here he is getting germs in Mommy's bed, but it's the only place he wanted to be.

By Wednesday the boys seemed to be getting a little better, but Julia got it.  We had been in our house without moving for days and nerves were on edge, so last night we took a quick little jaunt through the drive-thru lights to lift everyone's spirits.  And it certainly did that- the lights dance to the music and they loved it.

So here we are Thursday, all four children with the flu- now Julia has it the worst.  I have been washing all the sheets, comforters, pillow cases, throw pillows, and blankets in the house.   If it sits still I have put Lysol on it.  :)   Tucker is crafting again, which is a good sign that he's recovering.  :)

We're watching lovely Christmas shows including the Christmas Story with George C. Scott (Marc's favorite version)-

And "A Star Shall Rise" with Raymond Burr-

We also love "A Child's Christmas in Wales"-

Michael the Visitor by Tolstoy-

Martin the Cobbler by Tolstoy-

The First Christmas-

The Chimes by Dickens-

P.S. If you would like to see these awesome Claymation shows you can get them on one dvd HERE.

But even in a week when the car breaks down, the fish die and everyone gets the flu I can't help but count my blessings- I'm drinking from my saucer,  'cause my cup has overflowed.