Christmas is over. Not that you would know that by visiting our house. I vowed every day last week to take down the tree and anything overtly Christmas-y, but it never happened. Yesterday, I went so far as to bring in a few plastic totes to pack the ornaments away, but I mostly just glared at them while I read a book, ate homemade potato soup and listened to Josh watch football. This Christmas break wasn’t anything like I expected and it isn’t helping me get the new year off to a great start. I’m a few days behind my self-imposed schedule, but determined to turn this thing around by mid-January. Here is a snapshot of what the last few weeks have looked like around the rock house.
The Saturday before Christmas, we celebrated with Josh’s extended family. We don’t exchange gifts, but the parents all bring one gift for the kids to open while we’re there. I’m sure I’ve said this a hundred times, but my girls don’t really play with toys and I hate wasting money on something they’ll only pay attention to for a few days. The other kids always get toys and my girls get a gift that I know they will love, but that they can’t exactly enjoy at that moment. I learned my lesson from years past and got them each doodle books and these Melissa & Doug face stickers and they were a HUGE hit! The stickers pads were way bigger than I expected and the girls have almost completely exhausted their supply. Ella & I ended the afternoon with a pedicure and an hour of peace and quiet. Merry Christmas to me.
On Sunday, our crafty little elf was hiding INSIDE the computer screen and our kids got a letter delivered from the North Pole. They were pretty giddy about both of those things!
Monday was our first official day at home together and we decided to get some movie time in with the grandparents. Sophie had never been to the theater, so we spent a fortune and did it up right! My parents met us and we saw Frozen, complete with popcorn, candy, arcade games and the photo booth. I tried really hard not to say no to anything that day and it didn’t disappoint. The movie was FANTASTIC and I kind of want to see it again. We met my sister and the brother-cousin for a yummy lunch at Panera after the movie and then all headed home for some snuggles with our sweet daddy.
Tuesday was Christmas Eve and we spent it with Josh’s parents for lunch. The kids always get circus tickets (which I really LOVE) and they got new Uggs, some board games and lots of clothes. Josh got a round of golf and I got this super-cute #selfie t-shirt. My MIL knows me well! We had a few hours to burn before candlelight communion, so we played Operation in our Christmas jammies. After communion, we made reindeer food with the neighbors and spread it in the yard between our houses before bedtime.
My girls slept late on Christmas, so I got to enjoy a pot of coffee and a Christmas move in the early morning glow of the Christmas tree. The girls had a fabulous morning and we spent the day at my parents’ house eating way too much food and playing way too hard. I lost my voice sometime after lunch and Josh kept saying it was a Festivus Miracle! Too bad, it was foreshadowing of things to come.
The day after Christmas I didn’t take a single photograph with my phone. The girls barely left their room all day and were content to play with their loot. Josh had to work, so I stayed on the couch, under a blanket and watched about 81 episodes of Gossip Girl. I exaggerate, but not much. I was starting to feel a little icky, but chalked it up to laziness.
On Friday, we went to by parents’ house late in the afternoon for some craft time and more presents. We had lots of snack foods and soup and the girls made some pretty cute ornaments in the sun room with my mom. By evening, I was asleep in their living room floor, in front of the fireplace, and it was becoming obvious that I was getting pretty sick.
Saturday morning, I got up super early to be the first in line at the walk-in clinic. I ended up having to stand in the rainy, cold for about thirty minutes to keep people from jumping in line?! My flu test was negative, but I had all of the symptoms, so the doctor was convinced the test was wrong. He gave me two shots and five prescriptions before sending me on my way. I spent yet another day piled under the quilt with Beemer and the girls watched movies on top of me in between my naps.
Sunday and Monday didn’t look much different. My parents took the girls to church so we could rest, but I wasn’t getting better. I did drive them to Wal-mart to spend their gift cards on Monday afternoon, but after an hour in real clothes, I couldn’t get back home fast enough. Josh & I finally finished the last season of Breaking Bad about 1 o’clock in the morning and HOLY GOODNESS, was it good. Did you watch BB? Did you hate/love Walt as much as I did? I might need to discuss.
On Tuesday, I got brave and was determined we would have a fun day. We got dressed up and met my parents at IHOP for breakfast since Josh was working. We devoured our pancakes and bacon and then headed to the mall to spend some of our Christmas cash. We were checking out at the very first store when I started to feel light-headed, so we packed it up and headed home. I was trying so hard to do fun things with the girls, but all I really wanted was Dr. Pepper, a heated blanket and Netflix. I went with Josh & the girls to my uncle’s to celebrate the New Year, but only lasted until 9:30. My dad ran me home and I was asleep well before midnight. Josh did wake me up to wish me a Happy New Year, but I was fast asleep again. My fever peaked at about 103* in the middle of the night and I joked with Josh that he should check my pulse when he woke up. I was convinced I wasn’t going to make it!
On Wednesday, I finally started feeling a little better. We spent the day on the couch watching football and enjoying the end of our holiday. I was still pretty sick, but my fever had broken and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. We were seriously suffering from some cabin fever by Thursday, but I was afraid to go anywhere since I kept getting sick. Instead, we relocated to my parents’ house and watched movies and hung out with them for most of the day. I only watched the (disappointing) second half of the Bama game and went to bed early.
Friday and Saturday were better. I made Josh take us to the Cracker Barrel on Friday night because the girls and I NEEDED to get out of the house. We were the only people there under 65 and we sat right by the fireplace. I loaded up on carbs and it was so good to have on real clothes! On Saturday afternoon, I took Ella to a Winter Wonderland birthday party for her friend, Paige and had actual conversations with adults other than my husband and my mom! I swear, I had forgotten how to function in the real world.
We made it to church on Sunday and the kids and I are back to work and school today. I’m still not quite myself, but it was good to put on make-up and get out of the house, even if meant I was working. My boss joked that she didn’t even know who I was this morning. I’m hoping in a few more days, my house will look a bit more like January and not so much like December. The girls toys are finally put away and I’m determined to get life back on track. I’m looking forward to a MUCH better month now that I’m feeling a little better and I hope that includes getting back to a regular posting schedule. Here’s to being organized and intentional in the new year!
