Christmas 2019 Part 2

(Read part one HERE.) Our plans this year were the same as they've been the past few years; Christmas Eve with Tracy and Derek and then Christmas evening with my family. Caleb was off work so we made lunch reservations at Connor's, and then ended up having to cancel them because Claire was sick. She'd been running a fever since Sunday night, and I had taken her to the doctor Monday and been told she must have a virus, because there was no sign of a bacterial infection anywhere. She didn't feel good and spent a lot of the day sleeping, so we just decided to stay home and let her rest. 

That afternoon after naps we went to Tracy and Derek's and had a delicious dinner of pulled pork, baked potatoes, chicken strips, Krispy Kreme donuts....Mmmmm! Henry and Claire had piles of presents, and Henry was so exited to get them opened! He got some blocks, train tracks, art supplies, a grocery store set, puzzles, books...all sorts of stuff!

 

Claire got some baby toys, new pajamas, a couple dolls and stuffed animals. She also got money to go towards her college account. 

 

Henry's favorite present was a scooter! He actually said it was it favorite out of everything he got the whole Christmas. We were laughing because Tracy had won this from Learning Express. It figures that his favorite gift was the one that wasn't actually bought. 😂

 See that giant Winnie the Pooh? I had wanted to buy that for Claire at Disney World, but we didn't realize until too late that the only place in the world you can buy it is in Magic Kingdom, at the Pooh ride. We didn't have time to go back and get it, so Tracy and Derek coordinated with some friends who went to Disney before Christmas, and they surprised me...I mean, Claire...with it. 😜 So sweet!!

 

Here we are, loving the Christmas life. Totally unaware of what the next few hours would bring. Haha!

We went home, got the kids to bed, and set up their presents. Henry got a grocery cart, a cash register, a soccer goal, a lunchbox that matches his backpack, new underwear, a game, and a book. Claire got a walker, two books, and a piano. We watched "It's a Wonderful Life" while we worked, just as happy and excited as could be.

 

THEN Henry woke up at 2:30 and had thrown up for the first time ever. We cleaned his carpet and changed his sheets and pajamas, and were hopeful that it was just something he ate. Unfortunately, it happened twice more before sunrise, and we knew we had been hit by the stomach bug!

Henry was such a trooper. He didn't feel great, but he mustered enough energy to open his presents, and then crashed on the couch. It's silly, but I was really disappointed that the kids didn't get to have their matching pajamas for Christmas morning. Poor Henry's were three outfit changes ago!  

 

  

Claire loved her first Christmas!

 

 

 

 

Dion came to town to see us, and he and Kendra spent most of the day at our house. Henry watched movies and laid on the couch until I found him like this...

...and then we took him to bed and he slept for several hours.

When he woke up, he felt much better and wanted to go to Mimi and Papa's house for Christmas, and they had already said they didn't mind us coming if he was up for it. We went over there for about an hour and a half and exchanged presents, then we headed back to home for an early bedtime.

 

Although it wasn't how we had planned our Christmas Day to go, I couldn't help but feel thankful for our overall good health, our family and friends, our home, our beautiful Christmas tree and all the gifts underneath it. There are many others who faced Christmas with heavier hearts than ours, and so I'm grateful.

There are so many other things we experienced this season that can't be captured on camera. We watched lots of Christmas movies, read Christmas stories, talked a lot about Jesus and why he was born. We listened to Christmas music nearly every waking moment. We drank hot chocolate almost every night, drove through neighborhoods to see Christmas lights, celebrated at school and with friends. We dropped change into red kettles and bought gifts for a child in need, praying Henry experiences the blessing that comes with giving. What a special, magical season it was.