A Rough December

Being sick stinks.  Being sick in December double stinks.
Out the window went a lot of our December traditions (and you know we like our traditions).  Light the World didn't go so well.  Our Countdown to Christmas scripture study didn't go so well.  Sigh.  Oh well.
Even though we didn't do as much service as we wanted to do, we gave others the opportunity to give us service.  Thanks to those who brought us meals.  Thanks to those who brought us various treats and gifts.  Thanks to my husband who did so much even when he wasn't feeling well.  Thanks to my dad who listened to me vent on the phone when I was having a hard time.  Thanks to my sister and niece who gave me a surprise visit, helped bring groceries in from my van, gave us homemade bread, and really lifted my spirits that day so I could face Christmas.  Thanks to all the choir members who assured me they were hitting the right notes when my hearing was totally messed up from an ear infection (and for singing so beautifully on Christmas Eve morning).  Thanks also to our choir pianist who played so wonderfully.  Thanks to friends who invited us over when we were feeling better (mostly... not contagious at least).  Thanks to Santa for his surprise visit to the kids one night.  Thanks to so many for prayers as well.
Sigh.  So now I'll tell about some of the things we did get done in December (not everything, especially since there were a couple weeks where I just didn't do anything but stare at the ceiling, sleep, and read books).

I went to watch the boys sing Christmas songs at school.

Jr. Jr. brought home a candy house on his last day of school before break.

One night, there was a knock on the door.  We could hear some bells outside and one of the kids looked out the window and said, "It's Santa."  Well, Santa came to see the kids.  Lucky was asleep on me on the couch so Jeremy picked him up so we could get a picture of him with Santa even if he was asleep.  Lucky woke up on Santa's lap and didn't freak at all.  Instead he climbed off Santa's lap and said he wanted a hug.  So he got a hug from Santa and of course didn't remember at all the next morning that it had happened.

My sister and niece brought over homemade bread and let me talk their ears off and gave me hugs.  I love family.

We finally got around to celebrating Lucky's birthday since several of us were sick on his actual birthday.

We also fit in our annual Polar Express party even though Jeremy wasn't up to wearing his whole conductor outfit.

Jeremy did make our Christmas tree in time for Christmas.

 Jr. made us breakfast one morning.

Jeremy made us breakfast before church on Christmas Eve.

We got to visit some friends on Christmas Eve.  They gave us a pie plate or... pi plate.

We had our big Christmas Eve dinner

and Christmas Eve program

with our stockings hung by the fire (thank you, The Piano Guys, for the fire)

and the kids got to open up pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa to wear (they all loved them).

We had a white Christmas (even though Nichole had given up hope of having a white Christmas- she was pleasantly surprised).

We celebrated a friend's birthday with pizza, an R2-D2 ice cream cake, edible crafts for the kids, and pie in the face.

Jeremy did make a porg balloon for our friend (if you don't know what that is, watch the newest Star Wars movie- "The Last Jedi").  It went over well.

So that's what we've been doing- most of it in the last week and a half.
The End.