Christmas Eve Morning with Nena and Papa

We woke up at my parents lakehouse this morning and celebrated Christmas with my parents and Wes and Suzanne. Poor Dallas was so sick this morning that he just wanted to lay in the other room and sleep and not even open gifts. He did let me carry him in the room we were opening presents and he opened his stocking a few gifts when he started throwing up again. My poor sweet Dallas. It's horrible to watch your child be so sick, and especially at Christmas time. I'm just hoping he feels better tomorrow on Christmas day.

Boston and Asher were enjoying all the fun. Boston got over the illness very quickly and bounced right back. He was looking at all the gifts trying to find his name. He got a keyboard, toy fishing stuff, truck, a gun that makes a airplane fly, a toy space gun and a Lincoln Logs Train set and lots more.

Asher wasn't as interested in opening in presents as he was playing with them, or the other boys bigger toys. He did enjoy pretending to talk on his play phone and playing with his new train.

Dallas also got toy fishing stuff, truck, a gun that makes a airplane fly, a toy space gun and a Lincoln Logs Train set but also got a drum set I'm sure he will be very excited to play when he's feeling better.

Uncle Hess and Aunt Suzanne also got the boys the movie Camp Rock, which Bostons is SUPER excited to watch. He's so into High School Musical. I can just see the boys pretending to be the Jonas Brothers with all their instruments. LOL

Sean was there to open the gifts but had to go to work the rest of the day. I packed everything up and the boys enjoyed playing outside in the beautiful weather for a while. Dallas managed to make it down to sit on the boat for a little bit, the only thing he really wanted to do.

Boston in amazement at all the gifts

Everyone opening gifts

This picture is so funny. I love Asher looking up at Sean opening his gifts, but I ESPECIALLY love Dallas face as he peers throw the mountain of toys stacked on him! And you probably can't tell from the pic but I got Sean this shirt last year at Christmas and it says "Regift Responsibly" and it looks like a recycling symbolYou can see from this picture just how sick he was
Excited isn't he?
Papa and Asher Dillard opening one of many gifts she's gotten this week
Lovin on her present

One sick house for Christmas!

OH WHAT A NIGHT! Mommy was working on Supernatural Energy today! Dallas began throwing up around 9pm and went on all night long. With that, Boston kept waking up and saying he wasn't feeling so good. But I really just thought he was a little jealous that Dallas was in our bed and he wasn't. But around 5am he started throwing up. When you have two kids throwing up it really does get a little crazy. The day seemed very daunting to me today with no sleep and two very sick kids and heading to the lakehouse to celebrate Christmas with my family. But somehow God got me through it. Believe it or not I wasn't tired at all. I put on movies and gave the boys trash cans and did my best to pack all the gifts and clothes and head out to the lake. Thank goodness it wasn't Asher sick, there's no way I could have done it all! With the boys equipped with a trash can we made our trek to the lakehouse, a 45 minute ride. Boston feel asleep and then woke up throwing up. I thought for sure Asher and I would get it now with the germs permeating around in the car. Then Dallas feel asleep and I wondered if he would be throwing up next. But we managed to make it there and Boston seemed to be feeling much better. They both layed around most of the day watching tv and not eating anything. Thank goodness I had finished wrapping all the gifts.

The boys seemed a little bit better so I loaded them up to take them to see the Mt Dora Christmas lights before dinner. They are really an awesome site. Suzanne road with me and then Wes, mom and Dad followed. Sean was driving out from work. Poor Dallas still wasn't feeling so good there, having an accident in his pants. That was about enough for me. I was so tired and exhausted taking care of them.

Boston, Asher and me (Dallas not wanting in the picture)
Asher loved all the lights saying, "OHH!"Mt Dora lights covering all the trees and moreWes with his Boston shirt. Boston loves seeing his name on things everywhere we go

Wes, Suzanne and Sean wanted all of us to play the Wii game but I feel asleep on the couch while they were setting it up. I was one tired mommy!

Today was a very busy day. I'm so behind with Boston's cast killing a whole week of Christmas planning and shopping. So today we started out at Bass Pro Shop for the kids to enjoy their Winter Wonderland. I was impressed with what all they have there. We got there a little early so Santa had not arrived yet, but this was good because it would have been more crowded and my kids would not have enjoyed seeing Santa anyhow. But they got to shoot guns, bow and arrows, see the trains running, check out all the fun decorations, see the reindeer. Not to mention all the fish and stuffed animals. It was an exciting place to hang out!

With the reindeer

Shooting the guns

Dallas shooting the bow and arrow

Watching the trains You can see the house behind them, Santa sits in front of it

After this we headed over to BJ's but passed by Krispie Kreme on the way in and I saw the "Hot n Now" sign was on and quickly turned in. How can i pass that up? I was going through the drive thru when the boys asked if we could go inside to watch them on the conveyor belt. So I paid for our doughnuts and we headed inside to eat them and watch the being made. I know they are horrible for you, but for me there's so many family memories going to Krispie Kreme in Tampa and Tennessee while visiting my grandparents. And whenever there's a family wedding and a Krispie Kreme nearby you will more than likely find my family there. No one lives near one, except us now, so it's always a special treat.

After we stuffed our faces we headed to BJ's and got the job done there. Back home for lunch and Asher's nap and back out to Target for some more gifts. The boys were so good with all the running around that I took them to the playground on the way home and I froze while they played their little hearts out. It was there that I was once again reminded that I really want another little one in our family. Boston and Dallas were running all around together and Asher needed someone. So I played with him. Of course, now just isn't a good time for a baby so hopefully sometime in the future there might be one more.

As I was about to crash from exhaustion I headed over to my friend Val's house to do her Christmas pictures for her family. Then home to wrap some gifts and edit her pictures when Dallas walked in saying he didn't feel so good and then the throwing up began!

House of Blues: Michael Andrew concert

I do mystery shopping every here and there, or whenever its something that sounds like fun for me. I was lucky enough to be offered to mystery shop House of Blues for the Michael Andrew and Swingerhead concert. They are a swing/ big band group that's awesome. We had such a great time! Free tickets and $50 to spend at the bar/food.

When we got home the dog was loving on my mom. She loves to jump up in your lap and sit like this. She thinks she's one big baby!

Sunday School Teacher gifts

I made some Rice Krispie Chrismas treats for all the boys Sunday School teachers, which ends up being a lot of people since we have 3 boys and they have 2 teachers each hour. But we are so thankful for all they do for our kids in Sunday School and the things they teach them. I only wish we could afford to do more! I made some Gingerbread men covered in chocolate and Christmas trees and Candy Canes and I attached our Christmas card to them. (I still haven't even sent out the Christmas Cards this year!)

MGM lights

After the Whitman Christmas party we were crazy enough to go to MGM to see the Christmas lights...well I know I was the one pushing for this fun event. We parked at Disney's Boardwalk and took the boat over, saves $15 in parking fees. But today this wasn't such a smart decision with the massive crowds. The lights were amazing. If you have never seen them it's quite the sight. They cover all the buildings and then they dance to music. The boys really enjoy it. We have gone each year since Boston was born. This was probably the warmest year I've ever seen them.

Whitman Christmas Party

We had the Whitman family Christmas party at cousin Laurie's house today. The boys love getting to see their cousin Ellie. She's really the only cousin they have close that they get to see much of. And Ellie LOVES Asher. They say she prays all on her own each night for him.

Here's some pics of Ellie and Asher while playing outside:

My friend Jessica bought me this Williams and Sonoma ice cream mold last year and I finally found time (or MADE time) to make them. They were oh so easy to do and very yummy tasting. They were made with brownies and strawberry ice cream.

I also made a twist on Christmas cookies and made these fun Rice Krispie treats decorated with colored candy molds melted. Last year I made stockings made from fruity pebbles. They were oh so delicious! But these were just as good. The boys loved the spinning tops, just some of the fun little gifts they got at the party. The adults all brought a $5-10 gift and we did the Elephant gift exchange. Sean was very proud to come away with the reindeer that poops out little chocolate covered raisins. And the boys were so excited with the movies Grandma Dorothy bought them: Dallas got the "Bee Movie" and Boston got "Star Wars the Clone Wars." Asher got a cute little light up learning toy.

Dinner with friends

We had dinner at the Hage's new house tonight and had a lot of fun. The boys loved the movie room and we brought our Wall E movie in and got to watch it in the amazing room. It was just like being at the movie theatre...that would be a dangerous thing for us to have! Of course the boys had fun playing with different toys and Tiffanie made an amazing BBQ pizza I can't wait to make myself! Always fun to hang out with friends and their kids!

Boston Christmas Party

I volunteered today at Boston's school for their Christmas Kindergarten rotation. They do a different craft in each kindergarten room. I stay behind in his classroom and help out with the craft as the kids rotate in. I love volunteering up there because I feel like I know much more about what is going on and its a lot of fun. Of course the smile from Boston when he sees that I'm there is worth it all. I stayed around for a while afterward to help out with the Christmas party. Boston also got his cast signed by all his classmates. Mrs Ramdehal made a big deal out of it. She held up the red sharpie marker and said it was a magical marker and Boston got to pick who got to sign in it in what order. Boy was he excited about that! It was such a fun time!!

Dallas Christmas PJ Party

They had pajama party at school today for Christmas. Dallas wore his pajamas and brought a blanket and pillow with him. They had a gift exchange and Dallas brought Hugo a $10 gift and Jason gave Dallas a gift. He had lots of food and fun!