In between days

Like I said in the last post, we had a few days in between Katelyn and Collin each being really sick over Christmas break.  I have great memories especially of the day after Christmas.  Katelyn was finally feeling better, the kids had a ton of new toys to play with, and I got to do one of my favorite things...organize and put things away.  I also finally got to use my kindle that afternoon while Katelyn napped and Collin played outside.  Collin got a bike, scooter, roller skates, rocket launcher thingy, and new bubbles so he was super busy in the front yard.

We also put together the roller coaster that day.  I sort of thought it would be something I would pull out occasionally when I really needed them to be entertained.  Yeah right.  Every time I pack it up (it stores really nicely inside itself), they ask me to set it back up within 10 minutes.  Thankfully it's really easy.  They LOVE it!  Thanks Auntie Joy!

Christmas

Better late than never...


I have to admit, we've had better Christmases.  This year, Katelyn started running a temperature of 103 a few days before.  I kept thinking surely it would break by Christmas Eve, but it didn't.  The pediatrician said it was a viral sore throat so in addition, there was nothing we could do about it but treat her symptoms.  She was on Advil around the clock, with that barely bringing it down to a low grade fever.  She was miserable.  My arm muscles were literally sore from carrying her around for days.  She started refusing the Advil after a while so that made it even more fun.  Needless to say, she didn't get to participate in Christmas Eve.  The only plus of that was that we had to do less driving around than we usually do and we both got some one on one time with each of them :)  


So Christmas Eve day, Collin and I headed down to Fayetteville while Katelyn and Daddy stayed home and snuggled with the new kindle.  That evening, we came back home so Daddy and Collin could go to Snellville to visit his side of the family.  Katelyn and I did more snuggling and I spent Christmas Eve watching Christmas Vacation.  Here a slideshow of that day (I forgot to give Mike the camera when they left, so I don't have any pictures from that night.)

Christmas morning, Collin woke up early and was of course super excited to see if Santa had come to visit.  We decided to let Katelyn keep sleeping and let him check it out solo.  We made him wait for stockings and wrapped presents though.  She finally woke up and was interested in her kitchen for a while.  We managed to keep her fever down on Christmas Day with more Advil and she was able to visit with Mike's family for a while.   Thankfully, that was her last day of fever (it was 103 or over for 4 days!).  Here is a slideshow of pictures from Christmas Day.

We were good for a few days and then Collin spiked a fever of 103 himself!  His also lasted 4 days or more.  He complained of a sore throat the whole time and had tummy issues as well (especially at night).  So, the Friday before New Years, he ended up having to miss our Christmas get together at my sister's house.  Katelyn and I headed to Dahlonega leaving him and Daddy home resting.  I forgot my camera that day too, but Uncle Jason got one of us to prove we were there!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families.  Hoping for a healthy New Year!

Preschool Christmas Program and Parties

This post is long overdue, but the day was way too fun and cute to skip over! 

Collin had a special part in the preschool Christmas program.

His class was angels, but he got to be one of the 3 wise men!

He was so so cute.

The angels.

The 3 wise men.

Getting ready to give their gifts.

Collin's turn.

Our little wise man.

 

 

 

 

Daddy and Nanna were able to come watch the program.  Collin was so excited to have such an audience!

Katelyn discovering us as we walked in the door to her classroom.

Really excited to see us (or Nanna I think).

Trying to figure out if she's allowed to get up from the table to tell us hello.

Getting a little help from Nanna to open her present.

Can't wait!

I had to post an old video on here, because I can't get it to upload to FB.  It seems Auntie Joy thought that one of these roller coasters would be a great Christmas gift for Katelyn.  So I wanted her to see just how great an idea it was!  This is a video of Katelyn back in August when we went to a jumpy place with Nanna, Kelli, and the kids.  She didn't even jump.  She must have gone on this thing 100 times.  She will be so excited!! 

Christmas Fun

We decided to do a gingerbread house for the first time this year.  We used a kit since it was the first time.  I've already decided that next year, we're making one from scratch.  Or from a box of gingerbread cookie mix I should say.  This one was simple to put together, but some of the candy that came with the kit wouldn't stick very well.   

Kate looks like she is saying "It's ok Daddy...it doesn't have to be perfect."

Supervising Daddy's work.

Time to add the candy!

Collin directing (what he does best)

Classic Kate

What a gingerbread house looks like when a 4 and 2 year old are in charge.

Giving Mommy love (or so I thought...)

Sneaking more treats!

I think she ate more than she added to the house.

What?

Proud of their finished product.

Just love them to pieces!

 

 

 

 We continued our holiday fun today as we headed to see Santa!  I had hoped to post a beautiful picture of my two sweet kids sitting in Santa's lap.  But after Kate kicked him in the shin a dozen times as I tried to sit her in his lap, I knew that wasn't going to happen.  But here's a cute pic of my sweet boy and Santa!

Good Deeds, Christmas Lights, and Little Girls

Our elf on the shelf (Elvie) came to visit again on the evening of Katelyn's birthday!  He's been very mischievous this year.  He's been flying around with birthday balloons, playing with the kids toys, hanging from block towers, and getting into the pantry.  He's even made a mess with marshmallows and hung candy canes on our Christmas tree.  Collin has been talking to the elf a lot more this year.  He has also given him toys to take back to the North Pole for other children on 3 different nights (without any prompting by me!).    I am so proud of him and his big heart :)  Today he received a thank you letter from Santa in return.  Here's one of the bags of toys he packed up for the elf.

 Katelyn being silly (and probably munching on some of those marshmallows that elf left lying around). 

 We decided to put Christmas lights outside this year!  Collin was a big help.

 Katelyn and I were better off just watching.

Katelyn has grown enough now that she can reach all of the doorknobs.  In the same week, she also learned how to lock and unlock the doors and manipulate the childproof knobs that were supposed to keep her in the bathroom with me while I take a shower.  So needless to say, I haven't had much luck keeping her in there with me.  She has a new found interest in just playing by herself in her room lately too.  So basically, I'm taking 5 second showers and getting ready while walking back and forth from my room to hers to check on her about a gazillion times.  She's really into "little girl stuff".  This is how her room looked this morning before we left for school.  (She does still love to make messes!)

 But my favorite part was how all of her babies and stuffed animals were lying around with bibs on!  So cute!