Christmas break was the worst of times and the best of times. It was great in so many ways but it was the worst because most everyone got sick with a horrible stomach bug! But we still managed to have fun and be grateful. :)
I broke tradition this year and we didn't do our early Christmas eve and morning at home before going to spend the real day with family. This year I was tired and decided to just haul the gifts to Boise with us and do the full thing there.
But we did do our special dinner before leaving. Usually I use this stuff for the Christmas eve dinner but this time it was for Sunday dinner. :) The kids voted and we had snowflake waffles this year. Hazel had been the first to start the sickness so she looks a bit tired here and June is missing in the photos because she was mad at us and in her room or something like that. ;) Don't worry, she eventually came up and ate too.
Then the next day we drove to Boise!
What a cute car companion...
Except when we stopped real quick at a gas station and she locked herself and the keys in the car. We tried to get her to step on and unlock the doors but it didn't work and we had to have someone come out and pry open our door and unlock it. Fun times and family memories. ;)
Hazel made up a fun game though with stuff at the gas station! Kids are great.
Once in Boise, we did some caroling with my family at neighbors' homes.
Christmas Eve morning we went to see Wicked! I was the only one that had seen it already so it was new for everyone else!
That night we had traditional cheese fondue, steak, stuffed mushrooms and shrimp at my sister's house.
My mom did a little spiritual Christmas devotional
Christmas pajamas!
And then it was Christmas morning! I did not take many photos, just enjoyed the moment.
And then it was a lazy day! Playing with new toys and binge watching a Harry Potter baking show.
My sister spent HOURS making these little box animal kits for my kids! Aunt of the year!
And a yule cake to end the evening!
I got a new little camera. It's digital but has no screen, so it feels like an old disposable film camera. But it can take up to 2000 photo on it and you can see your photos once you upload them to your computer. Here are some fun ones the kids, mostly Johnny, took.
We really were pretty lazy most of the time, in part due to the cycling sickness. But one day the boys got out and did some golfing. And the healthy girls did some window shopping.
Lots of games were played too
And Johnny would hardly ever leave Buck's side. Had to grab a couple photos to represent the time. haha
Went to see this house but it wasn't lit up yet. hahah
Buck and Rose being sick together one of the days.
Cleaning off the germs. ;)
What was supposed to be Christmas dinner turned into Sunday dinner because my mom had been sick
And I finally got a photo of them in their Sunday Christmas clothes
Honestly I needed a lazy slow week, even if there was sickness. My brain went into, what I'm calling, "screen saver mode" haha. It's always sad to leave but we had a good sunset on the drive home.
