It's definitely one for the memory books. It'll be a "remember Christmas 2016 when..."
1. Libby's first run down the sledding hill she went into a tree
2. Friday night Emma woke up at 11pm with the Stomach flu--why does it always come at night?
3. Saturday night Reid got the stomach flu
4. Sunday there was an ice storm
5. The power went out for about an hour because of the ice storm
BUT, we still managed to have a good time and store some pretty happy memories. I'll let the videos and pictures tell the stories
First morning of Christmas break and the girls woke up to this:
[VIDEO]--I love Sally's face
Their invitations
Peaceful moments sipping my hot coffee by the tree, saying a few prayers. Being thankful for all 3 sisters playing together upstairs
Boom Booms on my fingers, please, Mom
Special memories stored away from this day. The girls (and parents) had a blast. Their dolls got their own seats as well as a cup and saucer. They got to order what they wished.
The best was when lunch was over and we said "your surprise isn't over, now you get to pick out an outfit for your doll." I wish I would have recorded it, Libby was SO grateful and couldn't wait to go pick out Josefina's Feliz Navidad dress! I loved how the whole time prior to them getting to pick out an outfit, not once did either girl ask for anything. Love giving surprises!
and then we stopped at a few stores to look for C-Mile 4.0's coming home outfit, but we ended up finding the ones we liked online. It was fun to not have a toddler or stroller in tow.
Real dads carry American Girl Doll Bags
and then we surprised the girls again with a jammie and Christmas Lights drive. We went to two hot spots near us that have a synchronized light show...Emma couldn't believe her eyes
[VIDEO]
and then Sally couldn't look away
aaaaand then it was the first official night of the Bigs getting to share a room. They could not wait. Starting at 3pm they kept asking how much longer until it was time for bed. Love their bond and close friendship. They're off to a great start falling asleep and following the rules!
Emma moves soon, but we have a few nights of a sitter, coming up and I don't want her to have to deal with that ;)
and then it was time to pack up and head to Nana and Grandpa's. Here's what happens when Daddy's in charge of breakfast...[VIDEO]
Sally's Christmas card and gift to us--love it!!
Our little artist
[VIDEO]
Griswolds--loaded and ready to head North
and then it was time to hit the slopes as soon as everyone arrived
watch out for that tree--LJ, such a trooper, she never cried and she continued to sled!
Matching hats!
in her prime
Go Gophers
Cousins!
Tough one
Cannon, teaching the girls how to make bracelets without a loom--they were in heaven. And Emma using Grandpa as a jungle gym
Time for B-I-N-G-O
[VIDEO]
Being cute...prepping for the flu
[VIDEO]
Helping Gramps call out the numbers
Popcorn helper!
She took a nap before her cousins arrived, so she enjoyed extra one on one attention and some extra time to master a puzzle!
Christmas Eve Sledding Party...Emma (and Mommy) getting some much needed fresh air!
Sledding crew!
[VIDEO]
Emma's first time!
[VIDEO]
On your marks...
[VIDEO]
[VIDEO]
Prayers before Christmas Eve Dinner
12 Days of Christmas [VIDEO]
Time for Gifts!
The box is always the best part
Prepping daddy for the flu...
Christmas Morning--Santa came!
Quick matchy match cousin picture before Marc and family headed out early to beat the worst of the ice storm
Christmas Miracle--Mommy got herself and the girls ready, solo, (Daddy had the flu) and out the door and on time for 9am Christmas Mass, without falling on the ice. We missed being all together at Mass, but thankful it doesn't happen on a regular basis or the fact that the stomach flu is the worst it got...it could be so much more...
It was fun to be able to sit next to Grandma and George at Mass
Merry Christmas from the C-Mile Sisters!
Cup of Christmas Tea
I could eat her up!
just as we finished dinner the power went out. It added for some excitement. We sat around and played "I'm going to the North Pole and I'm going to bring..." and then we took turns playing Sally's new game Simon. Emma enjoyed trying to blow out the candles and then thankfully the power came back on in time for bath and bed
[VIDEO]
Monday morning we loaded up and headed back. Thankfully the roads were only iffy 10 miles from Alex and then the rest of the way home was smooth sailing, except for Chatty/Demanding Kathy...aka Emma. I recorded a little clip
We were home in time for naps and then we got to organize and do laundry and start some NESTING...getting Sally's clothes moved over to her new room and organize all of their extras. Makes mommy feel good, that's for sure.
Daddy put together Emma's gift from Santa!
[VIDEO]
Thank you Godparents for our new after dinner routine of Jesus Calling for kids...Emma reciting it over and over after we read it.
and that's a wrap! Thankful for Nana and Grandpa for all of the delicious food, generous gifts, endless loads of laundry, the extra special touches and their endless hospitality. It can't be easy having us all there and throwing in the stomach flu! We appreciate you. Thank you!
and now we're home bound until C-Mile 4.0 arrives. But first the Moran Christmas will be celebrated here!
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with many blessings. Happy Birthday Jesus!!
A while back we surprised Daddy with an early Christmas present, an Eagle ornament for the tree. He has his American Flag, his Cardinal, Vikings and Gophers and he was missing his last "Favorite"
Sally waiting to see it
How precious is she? Working on her Godmother's Birthday card. She was mimicking her sisters, asking how to spell and would pretend to write it after I said it, shake her head yes and say ok, next?
I forget when this was, but one of the newer snowfalls, they played for a good hour!
Playing football with Daddy
Oooooooh this girl, the trouble she's going to get in to when Baby arrives and I'm nursing 24/7...she whips that chair around the kitchen like she owns the place, to get to all the things she must have now, like ice or water. Lucky for me she doesn't know she was to hold the lock button for 5 seconds to unlock...
More awesome skating without the holder!
The excitement each night of who earned the Advent Chocolate. There's no more rotation now that Emma's in the mix. Based on behavior from that day and there have been times when someone has gotten it two days in a row!
Mommy (and the girls) got our baby fix earlier this week when we got to hang with Emersyn and Hundson! mmmmmmmm I'm ready for the peaceful snuggles. 4.0, please please please be an awesome newborn who loves to snuggle
One of the favorite Rusty the Elf finds is when he has a note for the girls to have mom check her email. They each get a personalized message from Santa. One needs to listen to their parents right away, one needs to try hard to have good manners at the dinner table and one needs to control her temper, can you guess which is which?
A rare occasion, I was able to find a babysitter in the afternoon to come hang with Emma and Libby so I could volunteer for Sally's class Christmas party. She knows all the planning involved in order for Mommy to help at school without her sisters, so she asks for once a year. So glad I was able. Fishing for Candy Canes. How many can you catch and release in one minute?
Quality time is what she craves, so glad I was able to give it to her
We're 33 weeks!! Check out our Baby Pool on the side of the blog, if you're not on mobile version. Otherwise click here...if it doesn't go right to our game page, search Cmile4.0 (no spaces). Take a guess! Boy or girl, birthdate and size! No offense taken if you pick a late birthday or a big baby!
and then it was Libby's turn! She was able to have both parents' undivided attention. Thank you Anna for hanging with Emma!! Libby's sweet little program, she sang her heart out. Love her
A while back Rusty was in a kleenex box, the girls asked if they could hold him (since they wouldn't be touching him!) and read him a book.
More stubbornness. On this particular morning it took an hour and 40 minutes to get her to eat some breakfast...because she only wanted it her way...remember, tight ship. This mama doesn't back down very easily. She hasn't pushed it since!
Goooooooooood job Daddy...as he was out finishing up shoveling/Snow-blowing the new fallen snow!
A few weeks ago with our weekly Thursday tea times, A cup of Christmas Tea
aaaaaaaand that's a wrap for now. I'm signing off until after Christmas. Remember to slow down and soak it all up.
**Know that you weren't left off any mailing list. We didn't send out Christmas cards this year since we'll send out Baby Announcements in February.** Sooooo thankful for a February baby. I need some time to be a bum in January so that we can fully soak up alllllll of the newborness in February!
