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So Sorry (Christmas and life)

Friday, January 24, 2014
I feel so bad y'all.  It has been on my weekly to-do list to post to our family blog all month long.  It is really important to me personally to keep this blog up to date as it means so much to record our family memories (good and bad) here. And when I get behind, I know I will leave out some of the small but important memories.  I always feel like someday when I am gone, this will be such a gift to my kids and  future grandchildren.

So, here is what happened.  Will got the flu just before Christmas.  He missed his final exams and had to go in on the weekend before Christmas to make them up.  Dave also got pretty sick (not sure if it was the flu because he did have a flu shot).  Then, just as Will was getting better, Harry got it BAD.  His fever was 105.  He even had to miss Christmas Eve Mass with our family.  Just as he was getting better, Kate got it.  She woke up with 104 fever on Christmas morning!  It was a scary time as there had been a cluster of flu deaths in our area (one of a 17 year old girl).  I did not get the flu and I plan to share in a future post how I think I escaped it (although Dave doesn't believe me).

Then, right after Christmas vacation, I had a TON of work to do.  I was blessed enough to be hired to give 4 talks this month.  I gave a very in depth two part seminar on the 10 biggest mistakes parents are making and how to fix them at the Houston JCC.  It was very well attended and I got great feedback but it was a TON of work.  It was like putting together 10 mini talks since I had to gather research on 10 different topics.

I am giving two more talks this month at a local pre-school on Fostering positive sibling relationships and What your marriage is teaching your children.

I love giving presentations because it is so rewarding to empower people to go home and make changes for the better in their relationships. I love when people come up to me afterwards and tell me what they plan to change or when they e-mail me and tell me how their family has improved.  It is very rewarding work and I feel God put me on this path. Anyway, I share this with you to tell you that I just have not had time to do much of anything but work and family.  Everything else has fallen by the wayside. Everything. And I cannot complain.  I feel blessed to be able to do this work.

So, here is my long catch up post.

If you've been reading for years (which by the way Jan 7th was the 7th anniversary of 3 Peanuts!), you know we have all sorts of silly little rituals and traditions surrounding Christmas.  Anyway, the flu kinda switched things up for us this year.

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Dave, Will and Kate as we were leaving for Christmas Eve Mass.  Harry was too sick to go.  I did not want him to spread the flu. When he heard us taking the annual "before Mass in front of tree" photos, he quickly cleaned up and threw some clothes on to jump in a picture.  I was laughing inside because year after year, they moan and complain about these photos but Harry definitely did not want to be left out this year.


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And you can see in this one, Harry still had his sense of humor about him.  This was the tail end of his flu. And we did not know it... but the beginning of Kate's:) You can also see we are not really touching each other.  I was trying to prevent the spread of the flu.  In fact, I pretty much quarantined the boys for a week each.

I love this photo.  I took it at our Church.  We always go an hour early to get a seat.

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For the last few years, we have been going out to a very nice dinner on Christmas Eve.  This year, we had decided to order food from one of our favorite Italian restaurants earlier in the day and heat it up after Mass for dinner.  I am so glad we did that this year.  After dinner, we gave the peanuts their traditional Christmas Eve gift.  The boys always get a nutcracker and Kate gets an ornament.


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I try to get a nutcraker that relates to the year they have had. Dave bought a kayak this year and he and the boys have really enjoyed spending time fishing together.  Harry in particular has really gotten into fishing.

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Will has been playing some golf this year. So I was thrilled when I found him this golf nutcracker.

Kate got a gymnastics ornament (photo below--the 3 of them) since she spent every free second this year doing gymnastics.  She loves it with such passion.

I also had a charm added to her charm bracelet.  It is so cute.  I used to sing this song to her everyday when she came home from China.  I would rock her and sing....

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 Scout climbs right into the photos now or she photobombs them.

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After the kids opened those gifts, Kate really wanted me to open something that she got for me.


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A few years ago, I started collecting nativities. I asked Dave to bring me one from each country he travels to for work. I only have a few (France, Israel, and Columbia but hoping for Malaysia very soon).  So, Kate had the idea to buy me a nativity.  She asked Dave to drive her to buy it but it was all her idea and she was SO excited to give it me.  I love it.

Then we read Twas the Night before Christmas and the story of the birth of Jesus as we always do.  We made Harry sit across the room so Kate and I would not get flu germs. Ha!  Little did I know Kate already had it.

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After that, we all went upstairs to our media room/playroom and watched White Christmas. Well, Harry went to bed and Kate fell asleep.  Kate was very warm and sleepy...I should have known!

Next up Christmas morning and day...

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I will be posting a bunch over the next few days to try to do some catch up before the end of January.  Happy New Year Y'all!

25 comments:

  1. Yeah you are back! So sorry you (almost) all had that horrible flu; it was quite scary in Houston! Congratulations on your speeches and your good work helping others! I admire your strength and knowledge! We just had an orthodontist consultation and I need to look through your entries to see if you wrote about that experience for your boys! Glad to see you are back in the swing of you blog! Ann in Austin

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    1. Ann,
      I do not believe I ever blogged about our orthodontist shopping but I learned a lesson the hard way. I interviewed a handful for Will and had initial consults. I ended up picking one that was very convenient. He was located nearby and his office even provided a ride to school after an earl morning appt. In the long run, we had problems. he did not do the best job. In fact, he really messed something up and we had to put the braces back on Will.

      This time around, I looked at tons of young people's teeth and asked them all who their orthodontist was. I kept hearing the same name. I took Harry and Kate for a consult (Kate had an underbid that needed looking at). I was very impressed with the ortho and the office but it is NOT conveniently located at all. It is a little far and I need to take a freeway I don't like to take…but that is where we are going now for Harry and Kate and they seem to be doing a great job!!!

      One more thing, one ortho tried to push invisalign for Will (it has a MUCH higher profit margin for them). I am so glad I did not go with it as many of the kids don't wear them and thus they don't work. I think they are great for adults but not so great for teens. Okay, that is my ortho experience:) Best of Luck!!!

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  2. i'm always happy to catch up with your family, especially during the holidays! sorry you had so much sickness:( And, it looks like right now you are having some super cold weather for houston! stay warm and cozy! happy new year!

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    1. Thank you Olivia…loved you card. I need to go catch up on your blog:0)

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  4. How very kind of you to share your ortho experiences! And so sorry that poor Will have to have a reinstall. That's nuts! Thank you so much for the advice about the Invisalign option; I noticed a sample on the table at the office. I absolutely will ask friends for their Austin recommendations. I bet I know which freeway you're talking about and I feel the same way (59?). Thank you again for your kindness - can't wait for your post about the Rodeo! Ann :D

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    1. Yes, Rodeo will be here before we know it. Harry will miss it this year( he'll be in France and Spain!)

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  5. Well I am glad for the update! Missed you! I need to know #1 are any of these talks on video? You tube? Or can you come to CA!!?? Also where are those cute jammies from!!!!!??

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    1. Thank you. Kate's jammies are from a local boutique but I think the brand name is Three Sisters? Two Sisters? I'll check and get back to you if that is incorrect.

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  6. What beautiful pictures...you are so blessed Kate and I love seeing these amazing pictures of you and your family! !

    Enjoyed the updates, this Christmas seems there was a lot of illness going around...too bad. Cheers to a happy and healthy 2014!

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  7. I'm sitting here with my cup of coffee (my house is quiet) and reading your blog with a big smile on my face! You know how I feel about your family...each of you is beautiful, inside and out! I feel so blessed to call you "friend"! Happy New Year!

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    1. Aww Kris, you are sweet. That made me smile. I am blessed by your friendship too. And a quiet house…what is THAT?! Maybe it is the quiet before the storm.

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  8. Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year! Living life is more important than blogging it, so no worries about the delay. Sorry about the flu but glad all have recovered.

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  9. Still following your blog after all these years and love it. You are so real and I have learned so much from you. Although I am not blogging I have moved to Instagram, lol.

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    1. Awww that is so nice to hear. I hope you are all doing well. I would love to follow you on instagram (or maybe I do and have not made the connection yet). What is your instagram? I am more consistent there than here for sure.
      Happy New Year!!!

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  10. What kind of dog is Scout?? Adorable!!

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    1. Scout is a Schnoodle. She is hypoallergenic and my boys are very allergic to dogs in general. She is the best dog. Sweet, smart, easy. Never destroyed anything. Love her. She need a grooming here so she is kinda shaggy but solo sweet.

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  11. I love the traditions! I had the flu a few years ago on Christmas and it was miserable. My cousins came up, stood in the bedroom door and to say hi. I could here everyone downstairs having fun...so miserable. Kate's hair has gotten so long!!!

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  12. I love your tree and decorations this year, classic and lovely!

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  13. Love your red jammies in these pics! You must share where you got them!

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  14. I love your red jammies in these pics! Do tell where they're from!

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    1. Thank you. I bought them at TJ maxx and then had them monogrammed locally. They are super comfy and made by Cynthia Rowley.

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  15. What a stunning gown!! Do you happen to know where his date got it???

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Thank you for your kindness.