We had a fun-filled holiday weekend!  On Friday afternoon we went to a kid party at Michelle’s house.  She had snacks and played the classic holiday TV shows and we envisioned kids in PJs, cuddled under blankets with snacks and shows.  Instead we got 7 kids in various forms of dressed and undressed, running wildly through the house, making brief pit-stops for food and TV before off and running again.  It was great!  Everyone came home feeling festive and exhausted!  On the drive home Lex proposed we go out to dinner.  Alan was working late and I had no dinner plans, so I made them promise to behave and they did!!  We had a nice dinner at Panera (surprise!) and a nice, easy bedtime at home.  It was great!

Eve played for awhile and then settled herself down with several plates of snacks. These little chairs are very popular with the little kids.

I didn't get many pics of them running around, but here is a nice one of them watching TV for a few minutes. This is actually just half of them, the others were still going.

Saturday we scurried and cleaned and prepared for our annual cookie party.  This year involved four families with seven kids.  Very little baking actually took place, but everyone baked beforehand and there was no shortage of cookies.  Everyone (except me!) did an awesome job decorating the countless cookies that were prebaked and ready for “the kids to decorate.”  :)  The kids, and everyone else, had a blast.  At one point Lex, who was working quietly with Julie to decorate cookies, stood up and announced loudly to me that he is decorating cookies, putting sprinkles on them, and then eating them.  Oh joy!  Once again everyone was throughly exhausted by the end of the night and we had more easy bedtimes.

The decorating begins

Eve and Molly on Jim's lap

This is just about the whole crowd, minus a few grownups.

Blue drool? Time to remove her from the cookie table!

Caitlin - Isn't she adorable?!

Cookies! These were just the gingerbread cookies that were being decorated. I didn't get a final photo of ALL the cookies.

Molly - so sweet!

Molly really wanted a goodbye hug. Eve was a bit reserved, but after Molly followed her around for several minutes saying "Molly hug. Molly hug Eve," Eve finally gave in and submitted to hugs :)

The hug lasted for awhile! Molly hugged Eve right over into Julie's lap and they just stayed there while we all chatted. They are so cute!

Alan did a good job entertaining the kids with games in the living room. I think he had the older kids all playing poker :)

On Sunday, Alan and I took advantage of our local babysitter, home from college for Christmas, and we went out to dinner and some final Christmas shopping.  We came home to a happy babysitter and two sleeping kids.  That was nice.  A few hours later we awoke to a crying baby (toddler, really) who had just thrown up all over her bed.  Sigh.  She did a great job of staying in bed (usually she gets out of bed and leaves a trail across her room and into our) but I’ve begged and pleaded with her to stay in bed and call me.  She did a very good job of that, unfortunately this time she must have been laying near the side of the bed because it was all down the edge and pooling on the floor.  Oh well.  We knew when we installed those white carpets that they wouldn’t last long!  Fortunately the sickness didn’t seem to last long either.  She slept in a bit this morning and seems to be at about 90% now.  UNFortunately, Lex took a very long nap this afternoon and woke up feverish.  He went back to bed a few hours later, on his own request (unheard of!!!!) and I’m hoping and praying for a vomit-free night!  I’m also hoping this all slides past and they are both feeling top notch for Christmas!!!

Now off to do some Santa work and then bed.  Sweet, sweet bed, how I miss thee.

All dolled up for date night. Eve put on her pretty Christmas dress from Grammy Lynn and Lex... well, Lex stayed in the PJs he wore all day (even to school!) I reminded myself its the company that counts, not the clothes :)

We had a very special, parent-child date night tonight.  Lex and I went for haircuts, dinner, and Christmas shopping while Alan took Eve out to dinner.  Alan was excited to take her out for Indian food (I hate Indian food!) but I think they may have ended up at Chilis.  Eve’s most exciting moment, according to her, was when the cake came while they were in the bathroom.  (I presume it came to the table, not the bathroom).  She was very excited about and told me the story several times.

Lex and I had a great night.  Haircuts for both of us and he was awesome!  He sat in the chair for a new lady and even let her use the clippers.  Then he explored the place, quietly and calmly, while I got my hair cut.  He was even saying hello to random people and chatting it up with the stylist.  :)  So cute!!  Then we went to the toystore where I was able to sneak a few little things for him into my purchase.  He was absorbed with the cool train table.  Then to dinner and the bookstore, where we discovered TONS of TOYS!!  He was thrilled!  But tired, and ended up sitting quietly reading books while I browsed.  It was such a sweet night and he was sooo happy to be on a date with mommy that he was on his best behavior.  I loved it!!