X-mas, X-mas, X-mas and more X-mas

Note: I started this blog days ago...it should have been followed by a Happy B-day blog to G-ma Sue on Thurs., but I am late on both accounts. Happy late B-Day G-Ma!

Is it possible to have too much Christmas? Yes.

That's not to say we didn't have a great holiday and really, really, truly appreciate all the generosity. It's just to say - man, our kids don't need another present...ever. I am officially putting a moratorium on Legos. We can no longer even walk into Kellan's room. They are taking over the house. Dexter has no choice But to love Legos.

All of the below almost didn't happen, cause it never fails someone gets sick right before we travel. I don't think Kellan has even been so sick the five days before X-mas - high, high fever, vomit, double ear infection, strep throat, bronchial infection. Poor kid was just so worried he wouldn't feel better in time to go and we had our doubts. After a couple of days of antibiotics he rebounded.

The holiday started early when G-Ma Chloe was in town and had X-mas with us over Zoe's b-day. Then we started 5 straight days of X-mas in CO with the Munhollands on X-mas Eve, X-mas day with just us and Santa, and flew out to CA X-mas night. We had a beautiful place in Newport Coast (thanks Papa Jim & G-ma Lawna) and the weather, other than one day, was gorgeous. The next two days we celebrated with the CA Munhollands: G-Ma Sue, Cam, Tiff and the girls on Saturday then all over again on Sunday with Papa Jim and G-Ma Lawna and the Brady's. Thanks to Cam and Tiff for lots of hosting and everyone for all the great food!!!

View from our place in NB

X-mas at Cam & Tiff's w/G-ma Sue

Cam & Tiff bought lots of fun things for us to do, remote control trucks, dart guns, and razors (which I needed a less on, luckily the kids and I didn't hurt ourselves but Jim managed to bloody his knee up)

The girls baking

X-mas at Cam and Tiff's with Papa Jim, G-ma Lawna and the Brady's

In the midst of it all we got to see Auntie Karen, Dougie Weaver, Devin, Dexter's new pal TK and Helenmarie. The kids enjoyed more gifts of course. The boys are just about 7 weeks apart. It will be fun to watch them grow up (unfortunately not together :( ) You'll get a glimpse of their first play date in the video.

It had been much too long to be away from "home", a year in January since we had last visited and the longest I have ever gone without seeing my little friend Kare.

We spent two days at Disneyland. We knew it was going to be crazy, but also knew we couldn't go to CA without going to Disneyland since it had been so long. Don't go to Disneyland at Christmas unless you want to be really close to other people and stand in long lines. I don't even think Zoe and Kellan will ask to go again at X-mas.

Dexter's first ride

View from our D-Land Hotel room

In Huntington Beach with the Watts girls

Thanks everyone again for everything!!!

TK & Dexter playing and Zoe at her happiest

Zoe's 4th Birthday & Grandma Chloe Visits

It was Zoe's birthday last Thursady, Dec. 10th. Grandma Chloe was in town to help celebrate. Thanks to everyone in WA for letting this trip happen. We wanted her to visit as much as she wanted to come. Zoe's been having a tough time lately, we are hoping this year is a turning point.

Zoe over the years...

Kellan is anxious to be off school. The day finally came today that I couldn't help him with his Math homework, it was bound to happen, but 1st grade? I'm in trouble. Jim stepped up and helped him. Tomorrow is Kellan's last day of school...for five weeks. Jim is ecstatic to have all three kids home fulltime.

We will be spending Christmas Day to New Years Day in CA. It will be a year in January since our last visit and we are all very excited to go.

Dexter continues to sleep and eat tons. He remains the happiest little guy. Somedays he sleeps too much for me, won't nap and then the second he sees me walk in the door gets so excited and then immediately goes to sleep. He'll then sleep from 5:30 pm - 9:00 am, waking up maybe once or twice to eat.

Jim spends most days cooking, doing dishes, grocery shopping, running the kids back and forth to school, spending hours getting Zoe to do one thing or another and carrying Dexter around. He's in much need of a vacation. I'm still getting used to Dexter not waking up at night and tend to wake up every few hours. I almost felt like I was used to not sleeping, but finally think it's catching up with me.

Retraction from last blog

Yes, I do know Jim is 38 and not 37...though I read the title a few times and never realized the mistake. Not much going on here. We took the kids to see Disney on Ice Friday night. It was a late night, it didn't start until 7:30. Dexter was awake the entire time. He was great, probably better than the other two, though at times that's not saying much. All three of them slept until 8 am on Sunday, Jim and I didn't know what to do...

There has only been one topic of conversation lately - Zoe's birthday. We cannot wait until it is over (X-mas too for that matter).

We had more snow this weekend. I can't believe it is not even winter yet. I have a feeling it will be a long one. That's all for now...

Thanksgiving, Dexter's 4 mo & Jim's 37th b-day

We didn't do too much this long Thanksgiving weekend (other than X-mas decorating). The kids could barely stand waiting one day to decorate. We got their tree up on Sat and then did the "family" tree on Sunday. We had a delicious feast on Thursday after Jim slaved all day in the kitchen and then we went to Uncle Tom's on Friday for more turkey. Dexter even had his first meal on Friday (his 4 mo birthday). An ounce of rice cereal which he devoured. We continued to feed him two meals a day the rest of the weekend. He slept thru the night a few times last week to go back to waking up every three hours this weekend. Jim "celebrated" his 37th birthday today. Poor guy, his birthday was even less exciting with Zoe's birthday craziness, having a four month old and X-mas around the corner. One day I will make it up to him.

Dexter had his four month and Zoe had her four year appointment today. Zoe is getting bigger and bigger, not a petite little thing that's for sure. Dexter on the other hand is long and skinny. As most everyone knows, Dexter loves to spit up...constantly. His fist never leaves his mouth which doesn't help his gag reflex. He smiles nevertheless. The doctor has no concern and says he'll grow out of it in the next couple of months. We looked back and found out both Kellan and Zoe were also on the small size for a long time. I'm hoping he's bigger than both of them some day.

Zoe:

Ht. 41.5 in. (75%)

Wt. 38 # (75%)

Dexter:

Ht. 25.5 in. (55%)
Wt. 12.3 # (7%)

HC: 25%

The weekend before last I took the kids for their first outing with just me - a welcome parade for Santa at the mall. I anticipated the mall being packed so I got everyone up and out of the house by 8:30, we were there thirty minutes early - so much for hundreds of people, more like sixty. Plus I didn't realize how cold it would be so we were all freezing, even Zoe. Hands down the worst "parade" we've ever been to. At least the kids saw Santa and that made up for it, oddly enough he drove in on a fire truck. The kids also got to meet a local celebrity (see video). Kellan of course was his typical enthusiastic self, Zoe, not so much.