'Tis The Season

We had a jam-packed weekend, enjoying the start of the Christmas season!

Thanksgiving was not at all what we expected, but I realize it could have been much worse. Thankfully, my dad did not have a stroke and they discovered his clogged arteries in time.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Eve, and I think we started a new tradition. I had the kids bathed and in their pajamas by the time Grant got home from work. We changed into our pajamas, and enjoyed a dinner of appetizers and leftover birthday cake, while watching Thanksgiving shows. It was a great start to the holiday season.

Thanksgiving started off well, but Grant ended up spending hours in the ER with my dad, while the kids and I sat at home, worrying. We missed dinner with Grant's family, and dinner with my entire family was canceled. My sister was hosting dinner for her in-laws, and didn't want us to miss dinner, so they waited to eat until we could join them.

I didn't have much of an appetite after the scare we'd had, and our stress level was high. The mood was light when we started dinner, as my sister threw rolls to each person at the table, but Grant and my brother-in-law got into a very heated discussion about football. That light mood quickly ended. New rule: No football talk is allowed at family dinners, especially when one person is a Patriots fan and the other a Steelers fan!

Dylan devoured his Thanksgiving dinner, while Lexie enjoyed a buttered roll. That's my girl!




After dinner, my nephew and my sister started a food fight. Their fancy bar was quickly covered in broccoli, celery, and carrots. Never a dull moment!




We had to stop at Grant's Nannie's house for dessert, so we could see his family. On the way over, Lexie threw up all over herself. Thank goodness for the blanket covering her lap, that caught the mess! Eating doritos and ice cream, chugging an apple juice, and then racing around the house=an upset stomach and a big mess. That's the first time I've had to deal with that. We finished the drive with our heads hanging out the windows. Doritos are now completely ruined for me...I will never forget that smell!

The kids had fun visiting with out of town relatives, posing for pictures, and playing superheroes.







We headed home, feeling completely drained. We didn't have much of a Thanksgiving, but my dad was okay, and that's what mattered the most!

We spent the day with my parents on Friday, since we didn't get to spend time with them on Thanksgiving. My dad has to take it easy until he has surgery to clear his arteries, and isn't able to do much. After my mom and I braved a shopping trip to Walmart, we had a quiet after-Thanksgiving dinner, eating all the food my mom had cooked for Thanksgiving.

On Saturday, we spent the afternoon decorating the house for Christmas. We finished decorating indoors, but still have to decorate outside.

That night, we went to a Christmas parade, and it was FREEZING. We met some friends there, and Dylan and Lexie were happy to have company during the parade.






They were so excited to see Santa arrive on a fire truck!




They climbed the spaceship in the park, while waiting for Santa to light up the town.




Lexie and Jack were so excited to see Santa climb off the truck!



It was a cold, but fun night!




Yesterday afternoon, we visited Grant's family, and watched the football game. The kids played happily for a bit, before things got tense.







Luckily, the Steelers pulled off a win in overtime! Phew!



We came home, and set up the tree. Tonight, we're going to decorate it! The holiday season is in full swing!