Last year, Tim and I decided that we wanted to make our own traditions for Christmas morning and have our kids always wake up at our house. So, we spent Christmas Eve taking goodies to friends, and then headed to our church for their annual late candle lighting service. It was the first we have ever been to it and I would have liked to get pictures, but it was just far too busy. It would have been a lot more enjoyable if Tyler hadn't vomited all over the sanctuary...and then, because Tim was holding him at the time, he thought it best to try to get Tyler out of the pew as fast as possible instead of just letting the vomit go all in one place...so I ended up cleaning up a mess from the sanctuary to the foyer to outside...fun times. We came home, cleaned Tyler up real good and put him in bed hoping that it was just a one time thing. He didn't have a fever or anything and other than just having sick looking eyes that day, had been fine. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. We were planning on having an enjoyable and lazy Christmas morning just as a family and then heading to my parents house for the afternoon and for dinner. We were also anticipating (at least I was) meeting my new niece who was born earlier this month. I didn't want to expose her to Tyler's sickness, if that was what it was. Tyler ended up throwing up 3 times throughout the night and had a few bouts of just crying and some diarrhea. But in the morning, he really did seem like he was feeling much better and it had been several hours since he had thrown up, so we did get to go to my parents house after all. But first, here are some pictures of our Christmas at our house.
We got Tyler a basketball hoop that extends from 3ft to 6ft. He L-O-V-E-S it!! It is now the first thing he asks for every morning and is the last thing he plays with every night before bed. He likes to "shooooot" and "core!!" (score). This is his first view of it after getting out of bed.
and he knew just what to do!
in heaven...he's got his ball, his bear, his binkie, and his new tiger from Mr. Jay and Mrs. Nancy sitting in his sister's new sled :)
Megan was her normal happy, smiley self on Christmas...just seemed cuter :)
I love this little pj's on her!
Megan gave Tyler some new animal magnets. He really wasn't too into the paper or anything. He actually didn't seem to care much about opening presents at all after his basketball hoop. Pretty much nothing else mattered at that point. :)
Megan, however, was VERY interested in opening presents.
She made me wish we had actually gotten her something more than just 1 thing to open. Last year, we didn't bother with Tyler because we knew he wouldn't care...and we were right. We thought the same with Megan since she is so young. But, she would have loved to play with the paper and bows.
so cute....
Megan got this toy in her stocking...its something you can suction to a tray and it spins and plays music. She loves it! But it is oh so obnoxious!
Tyler looking in his stocking :)
We really did have a great Christmas. It is so easy sometimes to get caught up in your own life and in self pity. But as I held Tyler as he slept Christmas Eve, I couldn't help but think of those who had no child to hold. Seems like 2010 held a lot of sorrow to those around me. People losing their siblings, their spouses, their children...people experiencing loss and heartache deeper than can even be fathomed...people with new cancer diagnoses not knowing whether they will ever see another Christmas...the list goes on...and for a time there on Christmas Eve, I sat in my own tears crying about how awful everything was going to be because Tyler was vomiting...How selfish am I?? Seems like every time I go to the grocery store or really anywhere with the kids, there is always someone that comments something along the lines of "you sure are blessed..." Lord, please take these selfish blinders off my eyes and help me to see the world as you see it. Humble me. Challenge me. Grow me. Help me focus on the truth. Help me to be thankful. Help me to count my many blessings.
My sweet little niece, Cherith
Enjoying some Christmas feasting
The "kids" table
sorry, its dark...
Megan had just puked on Emily, which was quite funny because of Emily's reaction
My boys
can't have all these boys without some wrestling!
aww, how sweet
