Me and my Peeps: 2019

Thursday, December 26, 2019

For the first time our kids did not sleep well before Christmas. We sent them to bed at 9 (then got Ada, Sam and Evelyn up quietly to fill each others stockings... they like being 'Elves') and instead of going to sleep, Sam tried to get out of bed to see what we were doing with Santa stuff, Seth woke up having peed the bed, Ada was just laying in bed not sleeping, so we sent Sam in to play games with Ada, washed Seth and put him in bed with Evelyn (who had made a tent over her bed with Ada so that Ada's light wouldn't keep her up.), and we went to bed with our door open to keep kids upstairs instead of wandering the house. We are short on funds this year, so our Christmas was smaller. We usually do a Santa present per person and about $100 of gifts each. This year we had one combined Santa present and about $40-$50 per person. So we still had a nice Christmas, just about half as big. We thought the kids might notice, but I was so proud of them that they didn't once complain about what they got. They didn't even notice that there was not a big present when they went into the living room. They unloaded stockings and opened presents then went off to play. Jer and I had gotten them a Nintendo Switch and set it up in the basement. We went down there and Jer turned on a loop of the soundtrack of Link finding a new object. Sam and Ada asked what that was but not one of them tried to come see what we were doing. Jer eventually called them down and they were ecstatic. Sam especially. Sam has been earning it for about two years.... he was one dentist visit away getting it. Jer thought it would be fun to surprise him early. Sam told me that he knows that he has to keep taking care of his teeth. I hope Ada can too! She seems to have my weak enamel and has cavities all the time like I did growing up. I know she brushes her teeth twice a day, so maybe she doesn't absorb calcium and Vitamin D very well like me?

Evelyn got her own umbrella because she always steals mine during soccer games.... now she has her own and she's been carrying it around for two days. She also got a doll table and chairs and doll clothes.

This girl got mostly clothes and was thrilled about it. She got 4 shirts and a bunch of fun socks. All smiles. I would not have been at this age, but that's what she wanted. Jer found her some very fun shirts online on Black Friday so they were all fairly cheap. Ada said that this T-shirt was her favorite gift that she got. Jer spent a lot of time finding this because the company said that they were out of stock. He did a lot of digging and found just one place that had any left. What a good Daddy. Everything he chose for the kids this year ended up being favorites.

The most thoughtful sibling gift was from Sam to Seth. Sam got this Dinosaur blanket at the hospital when we went in. The second he saw it he said, "I'm going to give that to Seth! He'd love it!" After we got home, I washed it, Sam wrapped it with a copy of dinosaur Uno and put it under the tree. This is what Seth thought of his gift. I about cried at the excitement! Sam knew what Dinosaur Seth would like. So sweet.

Ada had gotten Seth a lego dinosaur and had to wrap it three times because he wanted to play with his presents. He was so surprised to unwrap it to see another layer of wrapping paper.

Ada also got the 2 new Brandon Mull books. Sam got the new Jed and the Junkyard sequel book. Evelyn got the Ballet Shoes book. I've heard it's really cute, but I've never read that one. I hope they are all good additions to our home.

Jer got me a personalized puzzle and a Harry potter blanket. I got Jer some games and the kids got him ties because his ties are getting very worn. My Mom got me a temple bag (which is great, I'm using a drawstring bag right now) and some cash towards our Christmas this year. Jer's parents gave their customary homemade cards and cash. I wasn't expecting them because of how sick she's been, but Margaret helped her finish them and send them out to everyone. That was very touching and the kids loved it. Between the puzzle Jer got me, the three my Mom bought the kids and the one that Jay and Emily got us, we'll be puzzling for a while. We finished two of the 5 already. We'll have the rest of the week to see if we can get the others done too.

Seth and Sam got a combined gift of a slackline. They weren't sure what to think of it, but Jer got it up today and they've all been out there all day on it. I think it's a great addition to our back yard. I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

Wedding

My cousin's daughter got married right before Christmas. I love seeing my cousins, so of course we went. Hugs all around, even from my own kids seeing and recognizing their own 2nd cousins, Great-Aunts and Uncles, etc...

Evelyn was so excited to see that her 'friend' Abigail was there. Abigail is my cousin, Joe's, daughter. I was happy to see my cousin Sarah's kids there. They've grown up so beautiful. It was sad that they no longer know me or my kids, but it was good to see them again. This is Mimi.

A fun surprise.... my family has the tradition of learning the Haka because our Great-grandpa was from New Zealand. My cousin that was getting married served her mission in Hawaii.... so all the Uncles and cousins stood up and did it for her just before all the dancing started. My cousin Joe said that they had taken anyone that had wanted to practice outside for a minute. They had people stop and record them.

My wonderful Momma.

My Great-Aunt Rosemary.

After the wedding, we went to look at lights since it was at the Riverwoods mall anyways. Christmas lights always make me happy.

And of course, these two decided to rough house. I know they love each other... and this is one reason I know.

Wilcox Family Party

This year, McKay's family wasn't able to be here because they were just out for a wedding. We had fun even though we missed them. My Uncle Reid came. That was fun to chat with him. He helped with the cooking, and like always..... is an amazing cook.

These two are not blood related, but I swear they are. You'd look at them and think cousins.

Little Thea was so cute and happy. She's becoming more and more happy to see extended family and it's so cute.

These guys played a new Brandon Sanderson game. It's from the new Skyward book series. You all have your ship and you're trying to make repairs on it. I kind of see it as a mash up between Pit and Old Maid.

All the kids just love Uncle Seth. He's the place to be.

I was in charge of the Nativity this year. Sam wanted to be the narrator. My Dad helped him know where to read and Sam read very loud and clearly.

I asked Emma and Lance to be Mary and Joseph so that Thea would be a happy baby Jesus. Ada asked to be ALL the animals. She was the donkey, camel, sheep, etc.... Funny girl. I love her.

Sharon was the shepherds because we ran out of kids. She was very game and kept petting Ada's head and quoting from Zootopia that she was very soft.

Evelyn LOVES being the Angel. She loves mouthing the part of Fear Not and is very expressive. I could completely see her being part of the concourses of angels praising God and bringing tidings of great Joy. There's a reason that I felt that she needed to be named Joy.

Sharon leaned down to give Vivien a big kiss. She had the cutest smile on her face, but I got the picture just a second too late.

Seth refused to dress up, but he loved the idea of being a wiseman. I asked him what part he wanted to play and he very excitedly told me about the star and the Wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus.

Seth and his camel. Jer said that he'd be a wiseman with Seth. Cute Daddy.

Cute crew is all growing up. They'll be adults before we know it.

Vivien got a tea set for Christmas. Evelyn taught her how to have a tea party and Grandpa joined in. It reminds me of when I was a little girl and he let me style his hair and lay all over his back.

Sharon made cupcakes and let the kids decorate their own cupcake trees. I brought Aubrey's Christmas song game (where you try to guess the name of the song) and Ggma Robertson's "Night Before Christmas" noun replacement game. It was so cute and Lance especially loved it. He was giggling all over the floor. Ada filled out half of the words with the word 'Hamburger'. She thought that was really funny and Jer refused to use most of them when he drew them out of the box.