December 30, 2012

December 30, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

How can I not try and write about Christmas... it was such a great week.

J was not supposed to be up there, but the picture was too sweet to pass up.

 Monday was Christmas Eve.  We tried to avoid going to any stores at all, but in the end we ran to a few for food items.  We gathered some food items that we were giving to a fellow in the ward and made sure that they got to the correct place.  It snowed quite a bit that day, and the boys had a great time playing in the snow.  It made for a very festive and cozy day. That evening we had tacos for dinner.  Our own little tradition.  Then we had our own little Nativity with the boys.  B-man played the piano for some of the songs that we sang, and RM was the only one that wanted to dress up with me.  I was Mary, and he was a shepherd.  J and B-man informed us that they were the sheep.  After reading the Christmas story and acting it out we then opened up some Christmas jammies from Grandma Dyer.  It was fun to video chat with family throughout the day and see what they were up to... The boys all got to take a bubble bath in our big bathtub.  J loved it so much that he can't understand why he doesn't get a bath in the big bathtub every night.  The boys all went to bed excited, but not too late.

B-man was so excited for his footed jammies.

Ready to go downstairs...

RM loves his new trains.

Trying to keep B-man company.

B-man not feeling good.

Christmas morning the boys woke up a little before seven.  We made sure that they all had their beds made and had brushed their hair and their teeth before they could line up on the stairs.  We took the required pictures, and then let the boys go.  I think they were all pretty happy about what Santa brought them.  B-man seemed the most subdued (which is unusual for him) and after an hour or so, I realized that he was running a fever.  He had what the rest of us had been fighting the last few weeks.  That made him very subdued.   We always open things very slowly, and since Santa brought him Heelies and a rip stick, neither of those work with a sore achy body.  After breakfast of orange rolls and hot chocolate we let him open up a book so that he could at least read and have something to do.  The rest of the day was so pleasant and relaxed.  M delivered many loaves of his great bread to families in the ward.  The little boys loved playing with their new trains, and B-man was happy on the couch.  He even fell asleep and slept for several hours while we were around and playing.  In the afternoon we realized we should probably open the rest of the presents.  We took our time about it and had a great afternoon.  The boys were so cute about everything.  We loved being able to video chat with lots of family from all over.   Sometime during the late afternoon we realized that RM's fever had also returned the poor fellow.  We didn't want to take our germs to Christmas dinner, so we let B-man and RM stay home and watch a movie while we went to our friends for dinner.  They live one block away, and we were in almost constant contact with B-man so we knew they were okay.  Dinner was wonderful, with some great conversation.  Then we came home to get people in bed.  RM had already fallen asleep on the floor actually.

The next day B-man and RM were still running a fever.  He stayed pretty happy reading all of his new books, and hanging out with the family.  It was a quiet day where everyone was happy to just play and enjoy their new things.  M started swimming at a gym close by.  I believe we also got more snow.  That night M had to work.

Thursday everyone seemed to be healthy, but we were not going to take any chances.  M went swimming on his way home from work that day.  He went to bed, and we had a good time just being together.   After dinner that night M had to go back to work again.

The boys wanted a "crazy" picture.

Friday I had decided that we were going to have some fun.  Everyone was fever free for more than a day, and we needed to get out of the house and have some fun.  M came home and went to bed.  Then after RM's nap we got ready for our "adventure."  That's what we call it for J.  J of course was very happy to help pack up some snacks for our adventure.  We have certain things that we save for when we are on adventures, like fruit snacks.  He packed up the bag and even threw in some extra water bottles for us.  Then we were off.  We headed first to the National Botanical Gardens.  They have some model trains going through beautiful displays.  Or at least that's what we have heard.  The line was too long and it was too close to closing so we missed that room.  But we did explore all of the other gardens and we were able to peak in and see quite a bit of it on our own.  We were okay about not waiting in the line.  We also managed to lose J several times, and finally buckled him into the stroller.  The place was packed, but there were some very beautiful plants there.  After the Botanical Gardens we packed up and headed to Cafe Rio for dinner.  The boys were all hungry and happy to eat.  I am so happy that Cafe Rio is now in our area.  Not super close yet, but it is doable with some planning.  After dinner we headed to the temple to see the Christmas lights.  The temple looked beautiful, and the little boys were just in awe.  They kept asking and wanting to go inside, and it's hard to explain to a three year old and two year old why they can't.  After the temple lights we then headed home.  B-man and J fell asleep on the way home, but RM was happy to be awake.  I introduced the boys to Jny Cash on the trip, and they all loved him.  How could they not.  J kept asking "Who sings this song?"  And when I would say "Jny Cash!"  He would say, "Me?!"  It was very cute.

B-man loved the tree in the background.  

Saturday was a quiet day again.  B-man played with his friends and not much was going on.  That night M and I got a babysitter and went to see "Les Miserables."  A family in our ward had given us tickets to see it in the theatre.  It was such a thoughtful gift!  We happened to be right behind some friends in line to get seated and had a great chat with them.  We both loved the movie, loved it a lot!  I planned ahead and was grateful for my tissues.  I am sure the sixteen year old boy next to me was very confused why I was using it so much.

Sunday was one of M' longest days.  He had the last of tithing settlement and didn't get home until very late.  We were all happy when he got home and we were able to eat dinner. 

We love you all!

The C Crew