Christmas 2012

This year we spent a week in Texas for Christmas. Before we left, we celebrated our little family Christmas in our home. We also did present opening at Abby's house before Christmas. We left Texas on the 26th and were home to celebrate New Years here. We had a great trip, although all four of us and our Texas family were sick over vacation. The kids were sick before we left, Jered got sick on the drive, and I got sick there in Texas. It was a really bad cold or the flu of some type. This is the first day I've felt "normal" for about 2 weeks. In Texas we were able to see all of my aunts and uncles, 3 of my cousins, our immediate family, and spend time with GG in the alzheimer's unit at the nursing home. She did not remember our names, but seemed happy to see us. We sang Christmas carols to her Christmas morning and Jered read her the Christmas story from the Bible. Christmas Eve we spend with our extended family at Aunt Dorothy's house, eating tamales, opening presents, and singing together. Christmas day my mom made a great meal after we went to see GG. It was a good last Christmas in the home I grew up in. We toured my parents' new home that is being built and will be finished sometime in February. It is beautiful, and so spacious. Throughout the week, Jered and I got to go out to some of our favorite haunts from when we were dating, and we saw The Hobbit twice in the theater.

The last week since we got home has been a blur since I was still sick, but we had some fun family time watching movies and playing Will's new Wii games. Over the last two days I've spent time cleaning out the children's toys; making room for the new ones, and cleaning out the babyish ones they don't play with anymore. Today I went through the drawers and closets finding any baby things we have left to give away. I also took down the baby gates. I can't believe Emma is older than Will was when we moved into this house. It's flying by. New Year's Day we watched movies, played board games, and enjoyed some yummy treats. Jered went back to work today and we miss him! Back to school work and cleaning for us, and thankfully back to feeling healthier. Will has independent study projects to complete, but doesn't go back to school until the 15th, so hopefully can do some more fun things before term starts again. Emma has been doing wonderfully with potty training. She stays completely dry most days. Some days she still has an accident or two, but she's so much younger than Will was when he potty trained, we're in shock it has gone so easily and early. She loves pull ups and actually uses them how they are meant to be used - like underwear! We had to use them with Will as diapers because he was so big normal diapers didn't fit him, lol. Emma has also been praying before meals with Will and wants to have "Emma's turn" to pray before bed. She says "Dear God, Mommy and Daddy and Will (babble babble)...princess and castles, sleepy good...Amen!" We're so proud of her, getting to be such a big girl. Next week when her stoplight alarm clock comes in we're going to try converting her crib to a toddler bed. She's not very good with colors yet, but we're sure going to be working on "red = stay in bed"!