Weekending it

Oh it's the most busiest week of the year!!!

Merry Christmas week to you all! Phew, it's exhausting.

This past weekend we tried to squeeze in some Christmas cookie decorating, lights, and our early visit from Santa all while tending to continually sick babies. Ivy is still recovering from the cold that won't quit and Kip got sick Friday night with his first ever stomach bug. It was relatively short-lived and far less traumatic than my mind had imagined all these years but still not fun. Covid test included, fortunately negative. No one is sleeping well between sick beds and the parent shuffle all night long. And the weary world rejoices!

Kip has school up until Thursday with a Polar Express day tomorrow and his classroom holiday party on Thursday, which I'm helping with again. I've got to get teacher presents done, everyone packed and ready for five days in Kansas, and we've all got to somehow avoid the big C outbreak taking over NYC again. 

It's overwhelming, but, for now, let's share the festivities we tried to manage amid all of that. 

Last Thursday, Kip decorated the wagon after school and we took the kids for a walk around the neighborhood after dark to see the lights on the houses. More than half my photos turned out to be a blurry mess but I got a few okay shots. The kids had fun and it was relatively warm out so a comfortable stroll. 

On Saturday, we decorated Christmas cookies. Ivy didn't understand the assignment so just chomped down on a plain cookie while the rest of us frosted and sprinkled. 

 

 

Since Mandy is planning to be in Denver for Christmas, and Dan, the kids, and I are going to Kansas, we did our little early Christmas on Sunday morning. We told Kip that we talked to Santa about stopping by our house a little early since we wouldn't be able to bring big gifts back from Kansas. Kip asked for the Polar Express and we wanted him to be able to play with it this week. Of course, Santa, that jolly old man delivered. 

 

 

We also opened gifts from Marmee and Poppa and Mandy and Uncle Joey (Dan's boss). Dan and I saved our gifts for the kids to open on Christmas Eve or maybe when we get back from Kansas...depends on how behavior goes this week. They were spoiled, as usual, so holding some gifts back was a good idea.

Kip got his Lionel Polar Express toy train and Ivy got a scooter from Santa. They also got bath bombs, stuffed animals, Legos, a Tonie box, princess dress up, books, doll stuff, Hot Wheel stuff, monster truck stuff, other stuff. SO MUCH STUFF! Made for a fun afternoon.

Okay, now we just have to make it until actual Christmas.