The end of another year

I am pretty sure it was just a few weeks ago that I was sitting here writing about the end of last year...wow.  New Year's Eve does not mean to me what it used to mean.  It used to be about the excitement of another new year.  Now, it simply marks the lightning speed passage of time as my children grow up so very quickly.  The times I have enjoyed the most these past two weeks have been the times we've all been together just relaxing with a movie or TV show, and usually with Thomas snuggled up on my lap.  Even at his age, he still loves to do so, and I don't mind one bit.  I've never let those moments go by without being so grateful and having a full heart.

With Mom's illness it's been another tough year, and yet I felt it was a pretty good year.  It's been stressful at times, but I acknowledge that is probably just the way life is going to be from here on out.  I need to learn to control my stress, and I know that I've already learned to be very grateful for the small moments of peace and to cherish them.  I've been blessed with the most amazing husband ever and I couldn't do what I do without him.  I'm so grateful for the two weeks of school break this year and all of the down time it has brought.  Knowing the activities that the kids want to do next year I am pretty sure this could be the end of that much extended down time, and I've tried to soak up every minute.

We are going to ring in the new year here tonight with the five of us since we aren't traveling to my in-laws.  Catherine is feeling better today, and we are cautiously optimistic that we might all be able to make the trip tomorrow, but we'll see how things go.  I am so grateful for all of my family and friends, and wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

A different plan

Our plans to travel tomorrow have been scratched.  While medicine is doing a fabulous job of keeping Catherine's fever down, when the meds wear off it starts to go back up.  And this folks, is why the schools actually have a policy that your child must be fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT medications before they are to return to school.  I had encouraged Andrew to go ahead and take the boys to his parents, but he really wanted to be with me on New Year's Eve...and I am not going to complain about that.  The current plan is that on Thursday, whomever can make the trip will do so then.  Fingers crossed Catherine will wake up fever free tomorrow and remain that way...but I'm not overly optimistic.  Andrew's parents told us not to worry about coming and just come some weekend...but we pointed out to them that would be March!  Hopefully this bug leaves Catherine, and stays away from everyone else!

The beginning of week 2 of break

Life has been interesting around here.  Our credit card was hacked last week and that is extremely stressful.  The tough part is that we have no idea how it happened, but I do know that I did not spend $4000 for ac/heating work at companies I've never heard of before!

Catherine is on day 2 of running a fever.  Yesterday it was well controlled with ibuprofen, but today we are not having the same luck.  I am becoming concerned about our chances for making it to Andrew's parents on Wednesday...we'll just have to see.  We are also crossing our fingers that no one else gets it.

I am ready to put away Christmas and get back to "normal", but Andrew will hear nothing of the sort, so I guess I will wait until the weekend.  He prefers that we wait until January 6 and I understand the significance of the date, but this weekend seems much more realistic!

I am grateful for another week off school!

A completely, absolutely unscheduled day

There is nothing on our calendar today.  These days are very rare, and the fact that we didn't have to skip an event in order to make it happen is even more rare.  Robert has planted himself in front of the TV for an NCIS marathon, and Catherine and Thomas have hunkered down for day of video gaming.  I have informed Andrew that I might NOT get out of my pajamas today...and we are all totally okay with this.  The kids did get a new board game that we might try out at some point, and I have LOADS of laundry to do, but overall it is just going to be a day to just be...and I am so grateful!

Another fabulous Christmas

Yesterday was really absolutely wonderful.  The kids were THRILLED with their gifts, especially their "big" gift of each getting a 3DS.  Thomas received several Lego sets, Robert received lots of clothes and books, and Catherine was kind of a mix of everything.  We had a very laid back morning and enjoyed our time together.  My sister was kind enough to host us for the afternoon at her house, and we actually got along really well.  Mom was having a tough day and that left G.G. to focus on her so it was just Katie and I getting things ready.  My uncle, two aunts, a cousin/husband/three kids, and a couple of family friends joined us for dinner and visiting in the evening.  By the time we got home last night it was just enough for a quick chat with Nonie & Pappy and then off to bed.  It was truly a spectacular day!

Christmas Eve dinner

Our tradition on Christmas Eve, when there wasn't a large family celebration, was to order Chinese food.  This tradition goes back to my childhood, and Andrew was happy to adopt it when we got married.  This year was a little different though.  At my grandmother's celebration over the weekend, we had years ago gone away from having a traditional Christmas meal.  There were years it was "finger foods" although this year there was BBQ pulled pork, potatoes, and mac & cheese.  My sister decided that she didn't want to go all out with a big meal either, so today's meal with my mom's large extended family will be appetizers and desserts (definitely a fun way to spend the day!), which meant we would have to wait until next week with my in-laws for a big traditional meal.  However, I had purchased a ham at the grocery last week because they had such good prices, and Andrew decided that we would go ahead and have a nice meal just the five of us after church last night.  We even used the china plates, cloth napkins, and crystal wine glasses.

We spent the evening building a fire in the fireplace, and then we all sat down together to watch Charlie Brown.  It is the one night of the year that the kids are anxious to get to bed, and I can't blame them.  Christmas morning (and Santa) can't come until we've slept!

Such sad news

I was in the middle of church when I got word that my friend Haley's step-dad passed away yesterday of a sudden heart attack.  Haley is much younger than me and Dan was only 48.  In many ways he was more of a father to her than her biological father, and this man was also friends with my aunt and uncle.  We are so heartbroken for the family.  Please send up some prayers for them!