Christmas Vacation 2022!!

While most of our vacation was so fun and magical, the second half didn't go as planned. We were able to spend time with John's family for several days and then a couple days with my mom.....but the day after Christmas, Johnny and I both woke up with fevers, aches, chills and sore throats. So, we missed out on seeing my dad and that side of the family. John was able to get Johnny into urgent care and was told it was just a virus, so I didn't even make an appointment. After discussing all our options, we decided just to head back home a few days early and battle the virus from there. (Since we weren't going to be able to see anyone anyway....because by the time we would be fever free 24 hours, it would be time for us to come home anyway.) It was really sad and there were lots of tears, but on the 27th we headed home (with Charlie now coughing too...). Mellany stayed with my mom because mom was planning to come back out to IN with us for New Year's anyway; so this was a great opportunity for them to spend some special time together (and Mellany got to hang out with the Jones cousins one more time!) 

My dad and Teresa are coming out a bit later this month so we really don't have to wait long to see them, though we are still missing the rest of the family. 

Thankfully the virus never got a hold of John, but it did get Mellany and she ended up at Urgent Care after getting back home....she had quite the sore throat. Charlie's cough was gone just as soon as it came. 

A few days after New Years and we were thankfully all back to normal! This vacation is definitely one to remember!

The first part of our trip with the Barrett/McNeely crew! 

Mellany is loving having another girl on this side of the family. Quinn is just the cutest! 

Mel had a lot of find making John carry her koala....she would randomly hide it somewhere on him. :) John was obviously thrilled! 

With the downtime, I was able to finish some bookmarks I started working on earlier in the month with my friends. 

The kids loved decorating gingerbread houses....

So many snuggles!!

Santa dropped off Christmas Eve boxes again this year!

The dads were living their best life on Christmas Eve...

We ordered some fun shirts instead of pajamas this year and they were so funny! 

The kids each got a "Comfy" in their santa box and loved them! 

Reindeer food!!! (It was BITTER cold for Christmas this year)

Santa came!!!!! iPads were the request this year and Santa delivered!!!!

Christmas day we headed to Gammy's!!! 

Gammy always has a game planned...

After Christmas day, we got sick and then decided to head home. Once Gammy and Mellany got back in town, I still wasn't feeling super great but the rest of the crew headed to the movies to see Puss N Boots. 

And we actually made it to midnight on New Years Eve!!!! The kids thought it was so fun to watch the ball drop! Winston wasn't a huge fan of the hat...

Mom went back home on New Year's Day and in those few days between New Years and school starting back up, there were lots of snuggles and relaxation.....and of course light saber battles. :) 

It wasn't how we planned or wanted it to go, but we still made some fun memories for sure. Here's to an amazing 2023!!! 

 

Christmas Festivities!

This time of year is so magical! We've had such a great holiday season that I'm going to be really sad to see it come to an end.....

Mellany got to walk in the Lafayette Christmas Parade with her dance team. The boys and I had to stay behind because I had pulled a muscle in my back but John and Mellany had a great time! 

Even though it's hard to be outside much, our neighbor Maddie still loves to come in and play...even if it's just the boys. :) (John even joined in on the fun this time)

After two years of not having the school Christmas music program, it is back!!! Both boys got to be in it and we soooo enjoyed it! The boys did an amazing job!

I took this selfie with Mellany at the program and it really made me realize just how grown up she is getting. She really looks like a young lady. 

Our Christmas adventure with the Okos crew was to Fair Oaks Farms this year! They have a walk through light show that we took part in and a definite favorite were the tractors. 

Another favorite was the ice slide....even I went down it! 

My phone got snatched after church and I found several selfies from these two cuties!

Our little family had our Christmas this past weekend where we exchange presents and our stockings come early. Charlie got a DJ turn table (kid version) and stuffed snake, Johnny got a lego set and nintendo game and Mellany got a hoverboard cart and stuffed koala. We kept things minimal and everyone was completely happy! 

Later that night, we went to see our bestie Charlotte perform in "A Charlie Brown Christmas". She was Peppermint Patty and was phenomenal! We are so proud of her! (Mellanys 5th grade got to go a few days early to see it, so she got to see it twice.) 

Thanksgiving!

 Thanksgiving week started out a bit rough....Charlie started a fever on Sunday afternoon and by Monday afternoon we decided to take him to urgent care. Sure enough he was positive for the flu and had an ear infection....nothing says Happy Holidays like a sickness! Our crew is notorious for getting sick right before a holiday. Thankfully we were still able to leave on Tuesday ....his fever had broke and he had been on his meds for 24 hours by the time we made it to KC. So glad he was able to feel better because we had a great time back home for a few days. It was a busy several days, but we all loved every minute! 

On Thanksgiving Day, we got some snuggles from Quinn! 

Black Friday shopping with the Jones girls and Gammy....it's not a trip to KC without eating at Corner Cafe! 

The boys really enjoyed wrestling with Uncle Brad this trip....Brad coaches girls wrestling at a High School in Kansas City so they got to learn some pretty fun moves too!

The weather was so amazing while we were in KC that we were even able to shoot while at my dad's. The boys were in heaven! Johnny loved being able to shoot a few different guns while Charlie enjoyed just watching this time. 

I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, but that's ok.....I was truly "in the moment"!! Now we really can't wait for Christmas! Only 24 days!