Santa pic courtesy of Southwest Airlines! How great that we got our pictures at the airport for free :o).
The kids were counting down the days and were so very excited for our trip. They had some fun classroom parties on Friday and we pulled Reggie out of school a bit early to go to the airport. Ainsley had been complaining of a sore throat the day before, but seemed to be o.k. until we got to the airport, complaining of a stomach ache and her throat. Ryan bought some Ibuprofin (since it was all packed) and she seemed to be o.k. There was a bit of turbulence on the plane and both the kids were complaining of their ears hurting, which has never happened. As soon as we landed we rushed to grab our bags and meet Aunt Pam. Ainsley had to go to the bathroom and they were in there forever. When they came out, Ryan said she tried to throw up! GREAT! So, I called Aunt Pam to see if she had a barf bag in her car and she said she’d work on that. Ryan headed out to the car, while I got the bags. Just as they could see the car, Ainsley said she had to throw up. She held it back and as Ryan was telling Aunt Pam to get the bag, she turned around with it and Ainsley threw up. I’m sure she was so happy to see us! She wasn’t feeling all that well either and I’m sure that didn’t help. We got loaded up and headed to the lake, Ainsley throwing up most of the way. She was also starting to get warm and her fever was at least 103 in the middle of the night. I called her doctor and she said strep was going around, so we took her in and sure enough she was VERY positive. Unfortunately, the earliest appt. was at 4, so she was miserable all day, but thankfully, it was strep and not the flu because she was better the next day! She did miss cookie day and the Children’s Museum (Grandpa and Wade took the kids while we were busy in the kitchen). We baked and baked….ginger snaps, butter cookies, shortbread, almond cookies, etc. It was a long day of baking and tasting. I’m glad we only do it once a year because I would have problems fitting into my clothes!
Monday, we went to get Santa pictures and eat at the Spaghetti Factory. We have to hit our favorites when we visit :o). Ryan worked the first week, so we hung out with grandma, grandpa and the Rinehardt’s and didn’t do too much. The medication was bothering Ainsley’s stomach, so she wasn’t her usual self. We did visit the Warm Beach Christmas Lights. Lots and lots of lights, decorations, festivities and fresh, warm donuts. It was fun, but cold. Spencer was absolutely fascinated by the train and the girls got up on stage and sang and dance in a little show.
The next day, we had a sleepover at Liha and Wade’s, although I’m not sure that anyone slept much. Seemed like someone was up all the time. It would have been fun to have one of those delayed cameras to see all the foot traffic and who went where in the middle of the night. The next day they went to a jump place, while I met up with Ryan to drop his rental car and check on the Kirkland house. They had a lot of outside play time in the yard and it was freezing. I guess when you are having fun, you don’t notice.
The second day that Ryan had the car my dad noticed that there was a dent along the entire front driver side door, along with a big black stripe. Someone had hit the car while it was parked at the Lynwood mall during the Christmas shopping craziness. How could someone hit and run and not even leave a note?? So Ryan filed an online police report, called his boss to let him know what had happened and dreaded explaining this to the rental car company and his own company as he declined all of the coverages when he rented the car. He returned the car and explained what had happened and it seemed everything would be taken care of. A half an hour after he left he received a call from the rental company explaining that the car had already been damaged prior to him renting it and not to worry as they weren’t going to report anything as it didn’t happen under his watch. Relieved, although frustrated that he had to worry about it all week, everything worked out. It’s a good lesson learned to always walk around the rental car before you drive off the lot.
Christmas Eve came quick and we went over to Kim and Shane’s for an awesome dinner and good company. It was good to see everyone and get caught up. The kids were with grandma all night and were happy to have Lemon Lush and then a second desert of ice cream, thanks to Aunt Kim! Ainsley got her DS from grandma and was very excited about that (now she can be just like her big brother!). I guess that’s what the holidays are all about :o).
Reggie hates his hair spiked and we bribed him to let us take a picture.
Christmas morning was early, as usual. The kids crawled in bed with grandma and grandpa every morning between 5:30 and 6:30, but I think deep down they enjoyed it. I’m sure they had some sleep to catch up on when we left. Ryan and I were very well rested-thank you!!! The kids opened their presents and then we just chilled for a bit until the Rinehart’s came. Then, we had round two of presents. Had a little more chill time until all the relatives arrived. Ryan and Ainsley had fun trying out Just Dance For Kids on the Wii. It was busy and loud, with lots of kids, but wine always helps keep the adults happy :o). All the girls were hanging out together and it was pretty cute, until Maggie said there was something on the bathroom floor. Cadia had thrown up all over and had caught the stomach flu that Aunt Jana and Charlie had. This cut the party short for them and it was a bummer they had to go. My cousin Mike flew in from Florida and missed all the fun, but we got to hang out and it was fun to finally meet Daffney and their son Shawn.
You know you're a mom when you cry over a new washer/dryer! Enjoy them...
Cute picture, but terrible shirts!
So fun cleaning up puke!
We did all kinds of rainy day activities, due to the fact that it rained 8 inches the last week we were there….we could actually see the lake water rising! We decorated and ate cookies, built foam Christmas houses, Wii dancing and Reggie and grandma built a cardboard castle and an erector bicycle (this was a few hour project with Ryan and Grandma-not exactly for an 8 year old, even though that is what the box said).
Ryan went skiing with Anthony and Eric (a California friend who was also visiting family) and got rained on all day. It did not sounds like much fun. The kids spent a good part of the day with grandma Peggy. They went to Chuck E. Cheese, McDonald’s and then played at the Big Lake gym. They had a blast-Grandma Peggy needs to get a camera so we can see all the fun they had! While they were having all their fun, I was returning and shopping with dad.
The kids were counting down the days and were so very excited for our trip. They had some fun classroom parties on Friday and we pulled Reggie out of school a bit early to go to the airport. Ainsley had been complaining of a sore throat the day before, but seemed to be o.k. until we got to the airport, complaining of a stomach ache and her throat. Ryan bought some Ibuprofin (since it was all packed) and she seemed to be o.k. There was a bit of turbulence on the plane and both the kids were complaining of their ears hurting, which has never happened. As soon as we landed we rushed to grab our bags and meet Aunt Pam. Ainsley had to go to the bathroom and they were in there forever. When they came out, Ryan said she tried to throw up! GREAT! So, I called Aunt Pam to see if she had a barf bag in her car and she said she’d work on that. Ryan headed out to the car, while I got the bags. Just as they could see the car, Ainsley said she had to throw up. She held it back and as Ryan was telling Aunt Pam to get the bag, she turned around with it and Ainsley threw up. I’m sure she was so happy to see us! She wasn’t feeling all that well either and I’m sure that didn’t help. We got loaded up and headed to the lake, Ainsley throwing up most of the way. She was also starting to get warm and her fever was at least 103 in the middle of the night. I called her doctor and she said strep was going around, so we took her in and sure enough she was VERY positive. Unfortunately, the earliest appt. was at 4, so she was miserable all day, but thankfully, it was strep and not the flu because she was better the next day! She did miss cookie day and the Children’s Museum (Grandpa and Wade took the kids while we were busy in the kitchen). We baked and baked….ginger snaps, butter cookies, shortbread, almond cookies, etc. It was a long day of baking and tasting. I’m glad we only do it once a year because I would have problems fitting into my clothes!
Monday, we went to get Santa pictures and eat at the Spaghetti Factory. We have to hit our favorites when we visit :o). Ryan worked the first week, so we hung out with grandma, grandpa and the Rinehardt’s and didn’t do too much. The medication was bothering Ainsley’s stomach, so she wasn’t her usual self. We did visit the Warm Beach Christmas Lights. Lots and lots of lights, decorations, festivities and fresh, warm donuts. It was fun, but cold. Spencer was absolutely fascinated by the train and the girls got up on stage and sang and dance in a little show. 
The next day, we had a sleepover at Liha and Wade’s, although I’m not sure that anyone slept much. Seemed like someone was up all the time. It would have been fun to have one of those delayed cameras to see all the foot traffic and who went where in the middle of the night. The next day they went to a jump place, while I met up with Ryan to drop his rental car and check on the Kirkland house. They had a lot of outside play time in the yard and it was freezing. I guess when you are having fun, you don’t notice.The second day that Ryan had the car my dad noticed that there was a dent along the entire front driver side door, along with a big black stripe. Someone had hit the car while it was parked at the Lynwood mall during the Christmas shopping craziness. How could someone hit and run and not even leave a note?? So Ryan filed an online police report, called his boss to let him know what had happened and dreaded explaining this to the rental car company and his own company as he declined all of the coverages when he rented the car. He returned the car and explained what had happened and it seemed everything would be taken care of. A half an hour after he left he received a call from the rental company explaining that the car had already been damaged prior to him renting it and not to worry as they weren’t going to report anything as it didn’t happen under his watch. Relieved, although frustrated that he had to worry about it all week, everything worked out. It’s a good lesson learned to always walk around the rental car before you drive off the lot.
Christmas Eve came quick and we went over to Kim and Shane’s for an awesome dinner and good company. It was good to see everyone and get caught up. The kids were with grandma all night and were happy to have Lemon Lush and then a second desert of ice cream, thanks to Aunt Kim! Ainsley got her DS from grandma and was very excited about that (now she can be just like her big brother!). I guess that’s what the holidays are all about :o).
Reggie hates his hair spiked and we bribed him to let us take a picture.
Christmas morning was early, as usual. The kids crawled in bed with grandma and grandpa every morning between 5:30 and 6:30, but I think deep down they enjoyed it. I’m sure they had some sleep to catch up on when we left. Ryan and I were very well rested-thank you!!! The kids opened their presents and then we just chilled for a bit until the Rinehart’s came. Then, we had round two of presents. Had a little more chill time until all the relatives arrived. Ryan and Ainsley had fun trying out Just Dance For Kids on the Wii. It was busy and loud, with lots of kids, but wine always helps keep the adults happy :o). All the girls were hanging out together and it was pretty cute, until Maggie said there was something on the bathroom floor. Cadia had thrown up all over and had caught the stomach flu that Aunt Jana and Charlie had. This cut the party short for them and it was a bummer they had to go. My cousin Mike flew in from Florida and missed all the fun, but we got to hang out and it was fun to finally meet Daffney and their son Shawn. 
You know you're a mom when you cry over a new washer/dryer! Enjoy them...
Cute picture, but terrible shirts!
So fun cleaning up puke!
We did all kinds of rainy day activities, due to the fact that it rained 8 inches the last week we were there….we could actually see the lake water rising! We decorated and ate cookies, built foam Christmas houses, Wii dancing and Reggie and grandma built a cardboard castle and an erector bicycle (this was a few hour project with Ryan and Grandma-not exactly for an 8 year old, even though that is what the box said).
Ryan went skiing with Anthony and Eric (a California friend who was also visiting family) and got rained on all day. It did not sounds like much fun. The kids spent a good part of the day with grandma Peggy. They went to Chuck E. Cheese, McDonald’s and then played at the Big Lake gym. They had a blast-Grandma Peggy needs to get a camera so we can see all the fun they had! While they were having all their fun, I was returning and shopping with dad. It was another great trip with lots of fun memories, so thanks to my family for putting up with us!
Opening our goodies at home:
Reggie was very excited about his pop-up book.
Enjoying her hula hoop from Reggie.
Reggie was very excited about his pop-up book.
Enjoying her hula hoop from Reggie.
1 comment:
We had a wonderful time too even though we got 'skunked' by no snow! Yes, we have been sleeping later since you left in these wet, dark, cold, gray mornings. We will be glad when it lightens up a bit.
All in all you are missed and we feel very blessed to have had a wonderful Christmas with your/our family.
Love, Mom/Grandma Irene
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