Unexpected Blessing

Today is one of those days that takes a 180-degree turn at the drop of a hat. Dan left for Alabama for a five-day trip with his brother at 4:30 a.m. to go golfing, so it's my turn to be a single parent. I was all ready to walk out the door this morning with the kids on time, which never happens. My last task was to wake Bailey up and get her dressed. I walked into her room to an overwhelming smell that all parents can distinguish. The poor girl had gotten sick repeatedly overnight and never even cried or tried to alert us to the fact. It was all over her crib, her books, her stuffed animals, and caked in her hair. That's when I knew my day was not going to go as planned.

Since I'm by myself and didn't want to take Bailey out of the house, that meant that all three of us were staying home. It took me 45 minutes to clean that disaster up!! Amazingly, Bailey has done fairly well today and even has eaten and kept it all down. She's just very tired. I'm hoping that Jacob and I can ward this off, especially me, because if I'm sick it will be interesting on how these kids will get taken care of!!

Although poor Bailey isn't well, this day has been actually nice. I've been feeling really sad lately that these kids are growing up and I'm spending my days at work. I love my job and need to work, but it doesn't mean that I don't miss time with the kids. I think that my time with them over Christmas break and my actual break from life while on my vacation has really made me reevaluate my priorities in life. I've gotten to spend bonus time with the kids today that I normally wouldn't have had. We've eaten at our leisure and not in a rush, we've watched lots of children's TV, read books, raced cars down a race track, played Candyland (with Jessie and Buzz of course!), and the day is still young. I also get them ALL weekend to myself, so I'm feeling pretty lucky right now. I just can't bear the thought of the fact that one day they will be teenagers and not want anything to do with me and will eventually begin lives outside of this house.

So who would have ever thought a sick day would be an unexpected blessing?!!

Jacob Day

I took the day off of work in early December to spend with Jacob. I really think that he likes these days. He kept saying "just you and me mommy" throughout the day. We spent the morning at the Children's Museum and then went to McDonald's for lunch and then he spent some time in the indoor playground for the first time. It was a little nerve-wracking for mommy not being able to see him, but he had a good time!

The incredible Christmas village display

Water play

His favorite, the red delivery truck

Making pizzas

Train track

Tractor

Climbing structure

Floor piano

Virtual drum station

Stage

Image projectory

Our Christmas and New Year's

We had a great Christmas and had lots of quality family time between Christmas and New Year's. One of the perks of working for ISU is getting seven work days off. I usually fill my time off with house projects, but his year I made it a point to just relax. Dan and I had an impromptu day date on the 23rd and went out to lunch and went bowling. It was fun and felt like old times!

We spent Christmas Eve at home while the snow piled up outside. Due to the weather our church cancelled its services, so we got in the car and drove around and looked at Christmas lights. Dan had a little fun driving in our four-wheel drive on the empty streets :) Before bedtime, Jacob and Bailey spread out reindeer food and left cookies for Santa.

The kids slept in (til 7:30) Christmas morning and we went down to see what Santa brought them. We then ate breakfast and opened presents. Since it was just us for the day, I planned on spreading the gift opening all day, but Jacob was not in agreement with that idea! Bailey, however, got tired of opening gifts and gave up when she had four to go! She kept pushing them away and in her little girl voice saying "no" and shaking her head. She finally decided to finish opening her gifts before lunch and the rest of the day was spent relaxing.

We kept the kids home from church the next day because both of them had gross colds and I didn't want to spread their germs onto others. We took them sledding but neither one was really into it this time around. Dan went back to work on Monday and I kept the kids home with me for the day. We were supposed to go visit family in Decatur, but their trip got cancelled due to the crazy snowstorm out east.

Jacob and I had a fun day on Wednesday and he went to his first dental appointment. It took him awhile to warm up, but he did fine once he discovered that he could move the controls of the chair. Such a boy!

We spent New Year's Eve morning with our friends from North Carolina who were in town for a visit along with our other friends in town who were part of our group before they moved. It was crazy because none of us had kids back then and now there are lots!

The rest of our weekend was pretty normal. I absolutely loved the down time and getting to spend so much time with the kids. We don't get to do that often, so it was a real treat. I also think that I am the most relaxed I've been in probably three years or so. I leave for the cruise with my sister this Sunday and I am so glad I am heading into the trip already relaxed and with some good family time spent over break.

Here are lots of pictures!!

Jacob and Bailey in front of the tree


Spreading reindeer food

Leaving cookies for Santa

Posing together

Santa came!!

Coming down the stairs Christmas morning

Look! Santa ate the cookies!

Looking at what Santa brought

Jacob's stocking

Bailey's stocking

Picture in their pjs

Bailey's new doll

Jacob's race track

Jacob's new blanket I made him

Bailey's new blanket I made her

Bailey's new Dora Backback

Bailey playing with her new doll

Jacob posing in front of the tree

Our gifts from the kids (made at daycare)

Daddy and Jacob "in the zone" watching Toy Story 3

Jacob loved the Santa hat

Jacob's first dentist appointment

Christmas with my side of the family

We celebrated Christmas with my side of the family the weekend before Christmas. It always goes by too fast and I wish that we could just relax and visit more. We made a traditional Christmas dinner and even made a ham (well it was pre-sliced and pre-cooked, so I don't know if that counts!). My grandparents looked and seemed great and I was so happy that they were able to come up and spend the day with us! Sharla brought her boyfriend down for us to meet him and we thought he was great. You'll see in the pictures that Bailey took to him easily, which is a good sign :)

Here are some pictures of our day.

Mesnard Christmas 2010