1st Advent 2009

The Sunday after Christmas was 1st Advent. It was the first evening that my mom was here. Not a better way welcome her.
Because of us being sick and then with Thanksgiving we hadn't made the wreath yet. So Jared and Beate quickly whipped it together.

I got the treat and hot chocolate put together. We put on Beate's music, that we listen to each 1st Advent and just had a nice peaceful evening.

Christmas Decorating

Since we all were sick while my mom was here we just did things at home. But this was just how she wanted it. One of the first things we did was set up some of the Christmas decorations.
Anne got to set up the nativity. Of course, now they think it is a toy.

Then we set Gma's tree. All 3 girls were fascinated and involved.

Anne and Alicia even got to help put on the lights.

Next come the bows on the lights. Here is Anne's version of a bow. Alicia's were just as creative.

And the best part is the ornaments.

It looks very interesting. There is a section where all the ornaments are in one spot and others that are bare. But they are so proud of themselves.

Katie loved the lights. She couldn't figure them out. Now that the tree is up it really feels like Christmas.

Grandma Came

We spent the past week with my mom (and even got an extra day, because of a lost passport). It was supposed to be a surprise, but my Grandma let it slip. She wasn't told it was a surprise. So we had 2 weeks to prep our kids for it. It made a real difference. There was no shyness at all. Alicia immediately gave her a hug and started talking to her when she saw her at the train station.
Of course she didn't come empty-handed. She brought Christmas gifts, my old yearbook (finally) and other things...see next picture.
I had asked my mom to bring some more barrettes for the girls' hair and she brought so many wonderful things. This was actually her gift for Jared, because he loves to do Anne and Alicia's hair. He even likes the headbands on babies (as long as they aren't huge, I agree there). He pouts each Sunday that I do the girls hair before he can.

My sisters and friends all put these flowers together. They are so pretty. And there are headbands for Katie.

Anne and Alicia love the flowers and bows so much. It has been hard to keep them out of the box.

Even Grandpa got all decked out. He is such a good sport. He had them on for hours, I think secretly he must have like it.

Swine Flu

This is what the swine flu looks like at our house. Alicia was the first to have symptoms, on Wednesday. And it has just passed through all of us in one form or another. Anne, Alicia, and Jared are on the recovering end of it. But Katie and Ray are the sickest right now. All Beate and I have had is a cough and headache. But I am so exhausted from lack of sleep, and the emotional and physical stress of taking care of sick people. I am not very good at it.

Alicia is such a daddy's girl.

Alicia had laid out her pillow and blanket on the floor of her room with stuffed animals and everything. I found her just laying there.

Funnies

For Thanksgiving we had a missionary couple over at our house, Elder and Sister Harris. They brought a dessert with cool-whip. When it was time for dessert I gave the cool-whip to Alicia and asked her to take to the family room. This is how the conversation went:

Mom: Alicia, can you take this into the family room?
Alicia: Yeah, big-Harris ones.

Thanksgiving

This was one of the most low-key Thanksgiving we have ever had. The reason is that we were all suffering from the swine flu. But we had a good time anyway. Some of the guests still came.
I made this sign with the girls a couples weeks before Thanksgiving. They loved it and were so proud of it.

I nominated myself to do the decorations...I love decorating. It was going to be a bit more than what you see here, but with everyone getting sick, my mind just couldn't do it.

We had enough food to feed twice the amount of people we had there.

The pies were wonderful. Each year I forget how much I love pumpkin pie. Beate made apple, pumpkin and peach. She worked so hard on all the food. And it was wonderful.

Here are the sickos. I guess there has to be something unexpected each holiday.

I have so much to be thankful for...my little family especially. I learn so much from my kids each day. My husband, is the most patient, giving and loving man in the world. I don't deserve him. Something I am very grateful for is how much my Heavenly Father loves me. It has been so evident to me lately, in the small things in my life. I am so blessed.

Alicia's Weekend

Anne went to a wedding with Gpa and Gma this weekend, so Alicia had a special weekend with mommy and daddy.
She got to vacuum all by herself.

"Clean" Gpa's immaculatly clean windows with a wet, dirty sponge. He will be soo "happy". She was so proud of herself.

And drive Bert and Ernie around town. She also got a new carseat and lots and lots of fries. Plus going Visiting Teaching with mom...what more could one girl ask for?