Holidays

Holidays 2018 started in NC. The boys and I flew down to NC a few days before Mark (because we technically have to work until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving!) It was a great flight, they are so much easier at this age, and we had so much fun a few days alone without daddy. We got to see Great Grandma, help Grame and Jimpa babysit Henry, Heidi and Elise, play outside in the unusually warm weather and of course, lots of snuggling and matching :)

Next generation of Henry/Dean (Elise and Benny)

Shortly thereafter Mark arrived, as did my cousins and my aunt and uncle Marta and John, along with my Grandfather, Thomas. We had a full house of laughter, fun, too much food and lots of love. My mother's aunt and cousins joined us on Thanksgiving and the kids made sure everyone was having a great time! We also went to Pullen Park (my favorite) and Dean got to ride his first Merry Go Round!

When we got back from NC Christmas activities commenced! Decorating the Christmas tree, putting out decorations, sledding, skating, Breakfast with Santa at the YMCA, baking, decorating cookies, cousins, daycare Christmas party, and of course-matching PJS! Dean also got a nasty ingrown toe nail that needed anti-biotics, which we realized is the first time either of our kids has been on anti-biotics!

Christmas Eve we got to start some new traditions for just our family. We had a lazy day, wore our Christmas PJS, listened to Christmas SIA tunes, I made a fancy dinner, we went for a Holiday lights drive and we got to open up a present! It was really nice being home on Christmas and getting to see the excitement of the kids as they ran upstairs and opened all their presents! We were thankful to inherit a load of Paw Patrol toys that was the bulk of their gifts. Even still, Rudolph may have been a favorite for both boys. That and the Pink Dinosaur slippers.

Mark suprised me with the 2nd Diamond he's ever bought

Later that day we went to the Aronson's house for their annual Christmas extravaganza. There was caroling, Santa Clause (thanks to my nieces boyfriend!), presents, Ham, wine and a big sleepover!

Immediately after Christmas 10 out of the 15 of us shared the stomach bug, but most of us got well enough by New Years for us to host our 2nd annual New Years Bash. Lots of good food, drinks, fun and family!

The new year has started out pretty good so far. I tried to do the Whole 30 because I have this face rash (that I now think is a stress rash) because no dr or anything else I've tried has worked! 12 days in I felt sick, dizzy, didn't want to eat and unhappy. So I gave it up and am happily eating my normal diet again. Benny and Dean both have little colds but it's their first colds of the season so I can't complain! We also have had 30 degree weather and no snow, so it is an unusual January. Here's to a new year full of possibility fun and of course, family and friends.