Dec. 2012

Our first year with elf on a shelf. Kids named her Izzy Jewel. I guess she would have 3 names if Kylie could talk, ha.  I decided to use the elf and teach about grace and Jesus. My kids know Santa is not real, but they choose to believe, and we are fine with that.  We had a good time with Izzy and the kids really enjoyed it. Even the hubby got into it, giving me ideas to try.  Keira would leave her letters and Izzy would respond and sometimes she left letters talking about how Jesus gives us grace even though we mess up all the time. 

First of December we had a birthday party at church for Jesus. I had done this at my house a couple years ago, but decided it was too much distraction with toys and such, so we had it at church. Our church family collected supplies to ship to 3 military guys who are overseas.  We try and have the kids do a service project and teach them about giving, rather than always receiving. I think all the kids had a good time!

Yes, this little monkey loved the tree and hitting the ornaments. Thankfully, we have non-breakable ones.

December 16 we celebrated Christmas with my mom and stepdad and my brother and his family. Kylie and I stayed home from church, as she had a cold. By that evening, Brandon and I took her to the ER. Her eyes kept getting worse as the day went on, and sure enough, pink eye. We started her meds and her eyes cleared up in a couple days.  We had a rough week before Christmas. Kylie sick and then by Tuesday evening, the hubby began feeling bad and wed morning he was sick. But, he had to take another family member to ER for something else early wed morning. .  He finally was able to go to bed by the afternoon. 

Thursday he went to clinic and it was something viral.  Thursday afternoon, I missed Brock's little program at preschool due to Kylie still battling a cold and me not feeling great. Friday morning, I made it to Keira's class party and then by that evening, I was running a fever. So, my sickness began.  I missed Christmas with my family Sunday and Christmas Eve, I went to dr as I noticed I know had pink eye. So, I missed going to my dad and step-moms house that morning and then we all stayed home the rest of Christmas.  The past 3 years at Christmas have been somewhat rough. In 2012, Keira went to hospital on Christmas Day and ended up with a 3 night stay. 2011 we all were grieving over the passing of my father in law on Dec. 1 and then sickness this year. I think we jokingly mentioned next year, just leaving town and go somewhere warm :)