Week 93

Dec 15-21

It is finally almost Christmas which means I finally get a few days off of work! :) I feel like I have been working nonstop lately. Even when I get 3 days off in a row it just doesn't seem like a significant break. I don't know if it is because Ed and I rarely have a day off together so it doesn't seem like it counts. It has been busy, busy, busy the past few weeks and I am grateful for some days off and for family to come visit!!!

The week before Christmas my sister Caroline and my mom drove down from South Carolina. I didn't even really see them the first two days they were here because I had to work. It was nice for Ed though because they watched Jack and he got to get some much needed time for school work.

Jack had a blast! My mom wanted to have a Christmas with her so she could be with him when he opened the presents she got him. We made it a true Christmas by cooking a turkey and a full dinner of mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, "crackies" (aka crescent rolls), and green bean casserole. It was so good!! Ed is really mastering the infrared oilless fryer. That thing is AMAZING!

It was kind of neat to spread Christmas presents over three different days because Jack got to get new toys, play with them, get more toys, play with them, and so on. Rather than get a gazillion toys all in one day and being overwhelmed. He loved opening presents. He got plenty of goodies including a Thomas "choo-choo" that follows a conductor light wherever you shine it. It is pretty neat! He also got a big ride-on fire truck that he loves!

We had a very nice visit! It seemed like they were only here for a couple of hours though and before I knew it we were by ourselves again. Jack really loved spending time with his Mimi and Aunt Caroline and I could tell that he missed all of the attention.

Other things that week...here are some random shots of Jack in the tub. He LOVES to play in the bathtub every night before bed. I took these because I realized he is getting so big! He enjoys getting on his stomach and "swimming" in the water. He takes up most of the tub now! I can't believe it!

Here are two random pictures of Jack in our yard with some of the decorations we have. It is going to be sad to take down all the Christmas decorations and especially the outside lights that we worked so hard on. This was our first year putting up lights outside and I think we did a great job. I will miss our bright little house!

Earlier this week before my mom and sister came to visit Jack got to see the antique fire truck from Ed's station all decked out in lights with Santa on top! Ed made sure to tell me where to park so that they would drive past us. Jack and I waited patiently and when the truck came around the corner he was in awe. He was looking at the truck so intensely Ed startled him when he walked up and tried to hold him. At first Jack didn't recognize him! When he realized it was his Daddy and that he was giving him a "Can-cane" he was happy. I only got one picture and it ended up being blurry because my camera wasn't set right and I was in a big hurry since they had to keep going down the street, but here you go. This doesn't give the whole moment any justice. Ed was in his firefighter gear and he said it was the most awesome thing he has ever done. Little kids looked at him like he was a hero and he said it was the best feeling ever!

Jack and I got home before Ed since he finished the route with the truck. The whole ride home I heard Jack in the back of the car saying, "hohoho...Da-da...woowoowoo(siren)...lights...hoho" chatting on and on about what he had seen. Then I heard "CRUNCH!" and realized he was not only eating, but biting his candy cane. I listened carefully to make sure he didn't choke and by the time we got home (5 minutes down the street) he had consumed half of the entire thing. Here are some pictures I snapped when we got home.

He was a very excited little boy that night! :) It was a great week for us!