Let the Holidays Begin!

For the holiday weekend we went over to Khan's house to hang out with their family. We were all very happy to be feeling healthy again and to be able to spend some time with everyone.

Morgan and William are getting to that age where they really play well together. Such handsome boys!
Khan decided to grow a mustache along with some of his coworkers. Great look.

Our family Thanksgiving photo op.

Oh well, we tried.

The boys spent a lot of the weekend shooting guns at aliens and bad guys.

Mega blocks gun.

My contribution to the feast. A chocolate-pecan pie and a peanut-butter, chocolate chip pie. I must say they were pretty darn tasty! We were very grateful for Joanna and her delicious Thanksgiving dinner and the fact that we didn't have to make it:)

We woke up Friday morning to a light coating of snow. The boys couldn't wait to get out and play in it.

Pepper joined in the fun.

Later that morning while Khan, Theron and Kegan were braving the Black Friday craziness, the rest of us went to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaurs.

We were very excited to have Daddy with us!

Ice Age area.

We got in trouble for Pepper playing on the wolf...um...maybe you should put up barriers between the walking path and the exhibit then!

Morgan actually giving me a nice pose. It was probably because he was so excited about all the big dinosaurs.

This museum was tons of fun. At the end they had this big play area for the kids. They also have the largest indoor, man-made cave system that was really fun to explore.

Khan, Kegan and Joanna.

Pepper enjoying a cookie turkey.

It rained a lot over the weekend so when the sun came out we took advantage of the chance to get outside.

It is good to have a brother.

Friday night we ordered chinese food and while we waited we decided to try out the Wii. Morgan really got into the boxing game. Here's a video of his skills:

Pepper relaxing on Theron's cot while watching "How to Train Your Dragon," for the umpteenth time!

Nothing says relaxation like a nerf gun.

We came home Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening we started decorating for Christmas. After trying to get the tree up and the lights on with the kids helping we decided it would be best for all involved to do the rest ourselves. So for FHE we let the kids put on the last few ornaments and put the angel on the tree.

The old "show me your teeth," trick still works!

With everyone!

We are very excited for the holiday season and to be able to spend it in our own home! We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and we apologize for anyone who caught our sickness! Sorry, sorry, sorry! Happy Holidays!

Here at the Sick House

We have not been a very chipper house this past week. Starting last Tuesday night Pepper started throwing up. It seemed to come out of nowhere but after many prayers and a blessing she was able to get back to sleep and in the morning seemed fine. All week she was a little fussy and did not have an appetite but besides that everything seemed fine with us. Cody has been gone most of the past few weeks in NYC and Chicago but luckily Tues. was the one night he was home. I was beginning to forget about the sickness till 3am on Friday when Morgan came in my room to inform me he had just thrown up. Ugh! It has been off and on since then with all of us and currently Cody is suffering with it in a hotel room in NYC!

I am ready for spring! Before the plague entered our lives, Morgan was very happy and showing off the Indian vest he made at school.
Pepper was happy to show off his cornucopia as well.

Friday morning playgroup was at Romp n Stomp in Medina. I was silly enough to take the kids despite the fact Morgan had been sick during the night. We lasted about twenty minutes before Morgan threw up on a bench (thank goodness it wasn't on the equipment.) I was able to leave Pepper with friends to play and spend the rest of the day, and Morgan and I went home to get better. But here are some shots of the fun before we left.

Pepper now loves bouncy castles!

Such a big girl.

Some of our friends who joined us.

This is how Morgan and I spent the rest of the day. We literally stayed on this couch and slept and watched tv till Pepper came home just before bedtime. Cody was able to catch an earlier flight home that night, which was a very nice surprise.

Saturday morning everyone woke up in a better mood, so we decided to go to the Smucker's Breakfast with Santa at the store/cafe.

Our friends Jen, Ava and Brent joined us in the holiday fun.

It was the perfect way to see Santa. While you ate breakfast Santa and Mrs. Clause came around to say hi and an elf handed out goodie bags. Then the Clauses went and sat down and you could go talk to them and get a picture. I couldn't believe that there wasn't a bigger crowd. I hope they do this every year! Morgan was so jazzed all week to go see Santa and was very worried when he got sick that he wouldn't be able to go see him and tell Santa what he wanted. But of course when the big moment came Morgan and Pepper both freaked out and this is the best shot we got!

I'm blurry but I thought this was a funny shot of Morgan trying to hide behind me and get a look at Santa and "Grandma Santa."

Ava wasn't that impressed either. Oh well, one day!

Our darling little girls in green.

They also got candy cane cookies that everyone was excited about.

The store was beautiful. I just love their displays.

Gotta love red frosting!

That night we introduced Pepper to one of our favorite winter pastimes. Eating pomegranate seeds. At first she wasn't sold, like she is with all fruit, but after Cody showed her how to crunch them she went to town.

I love when these two laugh and play together!

Well, during the night from Saturday to Sunday the sickness returned to Pepper and myself. So needless to say I learned from my mistakes and we all stayed home from church. While Cody and I were finally getting ready for the day, Morgan took off with the clippers and tried to give Pepper and himself a new haircut.

I would be crying too if my brother did this to me!

He also gave himself a whole in the back of his head (why would you start there?!) but luckily it isn't as noticeable.

This has just been one long week!

Well, at 6am this morning Pepper AGAIN threw up in her bed so we didn't make it to the Little Gym either. I swear we are all getting cabin fever, except for Cody who left at noon on Sunday to fly back to NYC and infect everyone there with our illness:)

I am very ready to sleep once again without the fear of hearing the worst sound ever. "There is no snooze on a baby barfing!" And I am ready to get my normal kids back. Pepper has just been the saddest little girl all week and Morgan is a little off as well.

Pepper putting on a brave face.

So this has become Morgan's new "inside look." As soon as he gets up in the morning he puts on shorts and a t-shirt. Now he has added flip flops, his jacket and a baseball hat to the ensemble. He wears this until he is forced into pants, socks and shoes to leave the house. The second he gets back into the house he strips back into this look. He asks me everyday if it is summer yet. Poor kid has no idea! I guess he has my Florida blood in him.

Pray for us that we will be able to get healthy enough to go visit Khan and family for Thanksgiving.

We all need to see family, have fun and get out of this house!

Or maybe that's just me!