Week in Review ~ 12/17

It was a busy week, but thankfully that made it go somewhat quickly.  Sunday morning I woke up feeling terrible.  When the weather changed from hot to cold the week before, my sinuses went crazy.  Even though I was feeling my worst, we went to church.  I sat in Sunday School and got hotter and hotter, making me feel even worse.  I finally went and sat in the car, so we didn't stay for preaching.  We all took afternoon naps, and I woke up with a terrible headache.  We were supposed to go to my parents' for dinner, and when I told them I wasn't feeling well, they said they would come to us.  Avery was beside herself waiting for them to get here and then put on quite the show.  When they left, Ned took her to his parents' to see his aunt who was here for the night.

I felt better during the week but was still stopped up.  I seem to skip colds and go right to sinus infections.  I'm trying to avoid taking something OTC and trying to stay out of the doctor's office.  Ned did go to the doctor and got an antibiotic for a sinus infection.  We continued the Claritin for Avery's cough, but with all that was going around the sitter's, I was really afraid it was more than allergies.  In the past 2 weeks, the kids have had bronchitis, walking pneumonia, RSV, and ear infections.  Luckily, by the end of the week the cough had disappeared.  She's still in a funny mode, which I'm hoping is coming from cutting molars.

We were busy in the afternoons, which I'm not a fan of.  I had an eye doctor appointment Monday, but it was moved to Tuesday.  Wednesday, we dropped my car off in hopes of them finally fixing the tire noise, picked up a loaner, and went and looked at carpet and tile.  It was dinnertime before we got home, and even Avery was asking to go home.  I had my Christmas party for school Thursday afternoon, so I quickly picked up Avery and took her to Lolli and Poppa's.  Ned had his Christmas party for the fire department, so when my dinner was done, we stayed until Poppa got home from getting a haircut.

School got out early Friday so I went and ran errands and priced Avery's furniture for her big girl room.  Avery had her Christmas party at Jennifer's, so I went back for that.  She wasn't interested at all in leaving my lap to get anywhere close to Santa, but we stayed and watched her buddies that visited with him.  The kids exchanged gifts, and they gave the parents the hand print ornaments they made for us.  We got home in time to change clothes and wait for Ned to get us to go eat Mexican.  We rode and looked at some Christmas lights until Avery requested to go home.  Lately when she's tired, she wants to be home.

I set out for Raleigh Saturday morning to visit Courtney and meet baby Davis.  We had a good visit, with Davis waking up in time for me to hold him.  My plan all along had been to go to the mall when I left.  I've done all my shopping online and locally, so I haven't had to go to a mall.  I thought it would be nice to go since there was nothing I had to have.  I should have rethought my timing.  Parking was crazy, and I was quickly ready to give up but did find a space.  The line was long at Panera and it was crowded.  The mall was crazy.  People were everywhere and they seemed to be lacking holiday cheer.  I couldn't find the ornament I needed for Avery and left with just a candle.  Getting out of the parking lot was also an adventure.  I stopped at another Hallmark before coming home.  Avery and Ned had a fun day eating Bo Rounds and visiting the fire trucks while I was gone.  I got in a little time with Avery before Mimi arrived to watch her while we went to Kristin and Tori's birthday party.  I was pretty tired by that point and was thrilled when Brandon and Brittany arrived.  Brittany saw no need to stand in the cold and eat oysters either, so we spent our night talking on the couch.  I pulled Ned home about 9:30 p.m. which sounds pathetic but I was pooped.

My holiday spirit improved immensely when I started my two-week break on Friday.  I'm looking forward to time home and getting ready for Christmas.  I plan to be a better photographer and blogger this week as well.

Week in Review ~ 12/10

First of all, I know it's not still autumn.  I went to upload my cute header with Avery's three Santa photos, and Blogger said I had reached my upload total.  But, I can upload regular pictures.  It seems to be the size of what I'm doing maybe (?)  but any help would be appreciated before I pay or go back to a regular header.

Now back to the week.  Sunday was our visit to the Legendary Santa.

We didn't have much going on during the week, or either I've just forgotten.  It was a LONG week to me.  Ned had a few meetings, I met with our cabinet man, and we had my car serviced because it picked up a funny noise when we had the tires rotated last time.

Ned kept Avery on Thursday and Friday in hopes of getting rid of her cough.  She wasn't contagious, I don't think, but she didn't need to be running around outside all day.  She went to work with him in the mornings and then they came home for naps.  They were very productive.

I picked Avery up at work Friday afternoon, and we ordered pizza for dinner.  I was a little nervous about trying to make it to the Christmas parade after dinner.  I knew we needed a spot where we could stay in the truck, and I figured we were too late to get one.  We braved it anyway and found a spot close to home.  Avery was excited just to see the cars going by on Main Street before it started.

Avery loved all the firetrucks and was especially excited about Santa on the ladder truck.  Ned had a house fire once we got back, and as my Facebook friends have seen, young boys went in my car while he was gone.  We live on a corner and have no driveway.  I usually park in front, but Ned had driven my car to be serviced and parked on the side.  I heard doors slamming and looked out the window, thinking it was Ned.  I saw the boys running off but didn't quite know what was going on.  When Ned came home the lights were on in the car and one of my consoles was open.  They took my gas card for our local station (which needs a PIN to be used) so Ned called the police.  Three police cars came rolling up, and I was a bit embarrassed.  There were lots of issues after the parade, so I'm glad it was no worse.  I'm glad I didn't have my school bag in there, because I'm sure they would have grabbed the bag just to see if there was anything good.  And, I'm glad Ned's the one who didn't lock it!

Ned hunted early Saturday morning, and when he returned, I went and ran errands and bought groceries.  It was a big trip so it was nice not to have my helper.  After nap, we went to Mason's fun Thomas the Train birthday party.  Avery loves a birthday party, and usually I try not to tell her until we're on our way.  I had been telling her about the party all week, so there was a party in her bed before a nap ever took place.

Here's the birthday boy!

Avery had a great time, and we came home to eat taco soup and tell Ned about the party.

Construction ~ Week 25

This week shutters were finished!

The upstairs heating/air unit was put in.

Drywall was delivered and laid out in each room.

The next two things have been done for awhile, but I hadn't taken any pictures.  This is some of the massive duct work upstairs.

Recessed lighting is in place.

We are trying really hard to finish up our cabinet selection, and it very well may kill me.  This week I also have to choose carpet and tile, a fireplace insert, meet with our contractor, and figure out a mantle.  When I'm ready to pull my hair out, I try to imagine the holidays next year when we're all settled in.

Arriving in Your Mailbox

Merry Christmas blog friends!

Week in Review ~ 12/3

Here are a few quick highlights from our week.

We went to church Sunday morning and our class was putting up the tree in the fellowship hall.  I left before it was done to keep the nursery during preaching.  We were late getting out of church and even later getting home because we tried to get some lunch.  It took Avery a long time to get to sleep, which seems to be the norm if we stay late at church.

I had my 24 week check-up on Wednesday.

By Thursday I was getting concerned with Avery's cough and congestion, so I took her in after school.  Her right ear was infected and there was fluid on her left.  No surprises there.  We're doing one more round of antibiotics and then we're off to the ENT again.  Our pediatrician said that the cough should clear as her ears did.  Coughs for Avery are so frustrating to me since there is nothing over-the-counter to give.  We do the Vicks plugs and also bought a humidifier to help.

We thought our Christmas parade was Friday night but found out it had been moved.  Sam's bedding arrived and my FIL saw it on our porch and took it to Ned at work, so Avery and I went by to pick that up.  We went to dinner at Applebee's and then rode to look at some Christmas lights.

Ned hunted Saturday morning and Avery and I hung around the house in hopes of getting her cough better.  Ned got home before lunch so we ate together.  It took Avery so long to fall asleep again.  I did most of her Christmas shopping online and then went to a Pampered Chef party.  I tend to get in trouble at those because everything looks so useful.  I do have a lot of their products from having a few catalog shows, and they do hold up well.  It was good to get out, socialize, and eat some good food.  One recipe, Clubhouse Chicken Squares, were so tasty that I picked up the ingredients when I went to get groceries after the party.  Walmart was a zoo and I was later getting home than I expected.  Avery had taken a very long nap for Ned and was happy to see me.  She's also happy to help unpack groceries, and as usual, we found several items in her kitchen instead of mine.

House progress from the week is here.

Construction ~ Week 24

I had to laugh last week when I realized that baby Sam and the house were the same amount of weeks along :)

Here are a few highlights from the week:

They stuck some shutters on Friday afternoon without us realizing.  I was a happy girl seeing them yesterday afternoon.  No, they aren't done.

The inside of the house was insulated except in areas where it will be blown in.

The drywall was delayed because of rain but should be here at the beginning of the week.  Heating and air possibly finished with the exception of putting in the units, thermostats, etc.

I really feel the need for a wreath on the front door but Ned has discouraged that thought.  Next year!

Legendary Santa with a Side of Tears

We left bright and early this morning to visit the Legendary Santa in Richmond.  Lolli, Poppa, and Mimi tagged along so we had quite a car full.  We got there a little before 9:30, and the grandparents got in line while Ned and I changed Avery into her dress.  I was a little dismayed at the amount of cars in the parking lot and then the amount of people in line.  But, waiting is tradition with this Santa, and time always passes quickly when you people watch.  Avery requested we take her stroller and hardly made a peep for a long time as she sat and watched.
Last night, in preparation for the big day, we watched Avery's 2 Santa visits on DVD.  She could see how Santa looked, what the set-up was, and that she sat by herself with him.  She was ready...she was going to sit in his lap, tell him she wanted a Gator, and give him a kiss.  The enthusiasm continued as we waited in line.

They let groups in a few at a time to the actual Santa Land.  We caught the tail end of the line and got to see him coming down the chimney.  Santa takes breaks through the day to feed his reindeer and you hear the jingle bells before he appears.  See his feet dangling?

He talks to the crowd, talks about the reindeer and what he'll do Christmas night.  I was just on cloud nine because it's the same speech that I heard after he came down the chimney.  Sadly, we didn't catch this part on video.

Then Santa sits and makes himself pretty.  He combs his beard and hair and tells himself how great he looks.

Avery (and Mama) were in awe.

(This picture was very dark and has a lot of noise now that I brightened it.  Ned was a great photographer in the poor light.)

We noticed Avery starting to get a little upset before he came down the chimney, but she recovered.  We distracted her with iPhone apps when other kids cried so she wouldn't think you do that for Santa.  My dad and I hopped out of line to take pictures and video, and Avery was smiling and getting excited about Santa's boots.  I still had a feeling it may not be our most magical  moment.

I was right.  She talked to the Snow Queen and remained ready, until Daddy actually put her down.

Even Santa looks concerned.

I took the above pictures very quickly and did not make her sit for an eternity as it appears.  Ned went to get her and she did manage a teary smile and wave for Santa.  Then she fell apart again when she saw me. This is the picture that they took.

It's still a memory!  My photo with the Legendary Santa just before I turned two looks a lot like this.  We regrouped and got a family picture.  I'm never in pictures anymore because I shoot in Manual and no one knows how to.  Poppa did pretty well with the focus in this one.  We also got our new book about this Santa and our 75th anniversary ornament.

Our total time today was about 2 hours.  We had short wait last year but a fairly good wait the first year.  I went each year from birth to my senior year, Ned went, and my dad went.  Waiting in line doesn't matter when it's tradition.

Even though we were approaching lunch time, I honored my promise of lunch at Bass Pro Shops.  We found a full parking lot and long wait there too.  It's times like that when I start to feel my Kate Gosselin come out.  Everyone is hungry, we're approaching nap time, and I'm trying to maneuver through a store full of outdoor things and "outdoorsy" people (my husband and father included).  Our wait ended up being only 30 minutes compared to over an hour like they had said.  It was still 1:45 before we were leaving.  Avery very tired, took awhile to fall asleep, then had nap cut short by her cough.  She woke up in greats spirits though.  Not ready to go see Santa again but still talking about his chimney.

It was a special day and we're ready to do it again next year.  Avery thinks Sam will cry too.