Christmas & New Year's Eve in Orange Grove

Well, as the week wore on, we were planning to go to Orange Grove on Friday to celebrate Christmas with the Seidel's and attend New Year's with the Powell's and their extended family, as we have done in other years. But, Everly was just not getting better. 2 weeks before Christmas, Atticus had a little strange stomach bug that involved bathroom issues (TMI I know). But, it lasted a couple of days and he was done. Then, a week later, Grace got the same thing but it lasted a day or so and then she was ok. Then, we went a few days longer and everyone was healthy so we went to Sanger for Christmas. Then, Christmas Eve came and Everly got sick. And she stayed sick. ALL WEEK LONG. Hers was an inconsistent combo of throwing up and having bathroom issues - really terrible ones. She was just sick. She spent the week on the couch trying to feel good but just sick and we really didn't know what to do to make her better. We washed lots of crib sheets, tried to keep her hydrated and just waited it out. With all of this happening, by Thursday, we decided to delay leaving by one day. And then, by Friday afternoon, we decided we could not all go to Orange Grove. We were not seeing an end in sight for this bug. So, Vic, Atticus and Grace went to Orange Grove Saturday morning. By Sunday, of course, we start seeing improvement in Everly and by the time they got back on January 1st, she was all better. While in Orange Grove, they opened presents, practiced shooting cans, picked satsumas, spent time with family and played with Keller, and went to the Brown's (Mandee's family's farm) and spent New Year's Eve and did fireworks. It was a good New Year's for them, but it would not have been fun having a sick Everly on the trip. So, I was glad to stay home with my little girls and get her better.

Other Fun December Memories

A few other things we did this month:

Watched our house make the "Best Lights of the Brazos Valley" list! Vic was so proud!

 Came full circle in life and took Everly to a birthday party for her friend, Luke, who is the son of Charley's best friend from A&M and whose wife, Amanda, is also in my MOPS group table.

 

Watched our Christmas decor also be a spot for My Little Ponies and play scenes from the manger, after Atticus and Grace played one afternoon. I know these will not always be our Christmas views, so I cherish them.

 

Played some Christmas Bingo more than once. 

Entertained ourselves with our baby Hazel! And see this video: https://youtu.be/emP0Z0fwWRI

And Everly spent lots of time pretending:  https://youtu.be/v1ZqA_i6MvU

We also went to Dani's house for a PJ / Cookie Decorating / Craft Making Christmas Party; Ellie, Christine, Ava, Maggie, Mia, Dani, Grace and Hailey.

 I love these two sweet girls!

 My PJ wearing girl after her party!

 We spent a lot of time on the floor with Hazel in front of the Christmas tree. She's the youngest baby we've had at Christmastime!

 Vic planned a night for us all to watch Home Alone, his very favorite Christmas Movie. This was my view, while nursing Hazel. OH my heart!

 And on this day, although I have no picture to show, our family was asked to light the Advent Candle and read at the beginning of the service on that Sunday. I was so proud because Atticus also read part of the reading. He did such a good job. And then I was even more proud, because Everly, who I had to hold in my arms because she could not be trusted to do her own thing up at the front of the church, did NOT succeed in blowing out the candle after it was lit (because in her life, candles are to be blown out for birthday cakes...so why not everywhere you go?)

 The cutest part was when she sat and read her Bible while we waited for the service to begin. Everly always goes to her nursery class and never in church during the service, so this was all new to her, but she was adamant about keeping that Bible open.

 Also, Vic and I had a shopping/date night and this sweet girl had to go with us. She looks pretty happy to be the star of our dinner show.

 We did some Christmas baking. 

And more baking. You can never have enough cookies.

 And we grinned and giggled a little while we chewed on Rudolph.

 And we had a Kindergarten Christmas Party at school!

 

And a 2nd grade party too!

 And then we walked out with Greer and Ellie to start Christmas break!!!

I will blog Christmas in Sanger and OG and CS separately, but here are the other things we did this month:

 Everly got a weeklong stomach bug starting on Christmas Eve. Poor girl!

 Atticus and Grace and Luc and Ellie had their very own garage sale. They did not sell a thing, despite riding bikes up and down the street all afternoon yelling "Garage Sale!". I love these kids!

 And, though I didn't get to it until after Christmas, I took some time for myself to decorate cute Christmas cookies!

 During our break, the kids spent a lot of time setting up and playing in their fort.

 And poor Everly continued a terrible stomach bug that lasted 6 long days of throwing up and diarrhea. Ironically, both Atticus and Grace had the 2 day version of this in the two weeks prior to Christmas.

 And Hazel practiced picking things up and throwing them off of the bumbo.

 And she spent lots of time chewing on her toes because that is just what you do at 4 months old.

 Slowly, we saw Everly get better and go back to her normal self..accessories included. 

 And then she was all better! Whew! It was a good December for the Seidel Six!

Christmas Day 2018

Christmas Day began early with the kids coming out to see what Santa brought them!

 

 Santa left Everly a cart with some new play dessert treats; he left Atticus an Electric Scooter; he left Grace a "Show Pony" and he left Hazel a musical pop-up toy.

 Atticus got lots of NCAA shirts, sports cards, and monopoly! Grace got lots of hatchimals, LOL surprise dolls, a flip sequin sweatshirt and coloring books and crafts. Everly got a flower garden, Mickey PJ's and finger puppets, some play jewelry, and some toddler games. And Hazel got some baby toys and treats!
Opening Gifts: https://youtu.be/EebEy7eKkbY

 It was funny that she really got a "show pony" but in robot toy form. Anytime anyone asked her what she wanted, I'm sure it sounded crazy to hear she wanted a show pony! https://youtu.be/5_loSD6QRK4

 Flip Sequins are this girl's life!

So, at school, every 9 weeks, Mrs. Haas (Atticus's teacher) has HaasMart and she lets the kids cash in their good behavior points at her "store". She collects things from people to put in her store and the kids LOVE shopping. Atticus was the SWEETEST! He got gifts for all of the girls and wrapped them at the store. For Hazel, he picked out this teeny stuffed narwhal. He was so proud for her to open it. I probably cannot every pass it on!

 And for us, he gave us a great coupon book!

 

Mid-afternoon, Everly got sick again. Boo. At this point, we were sad for her but still confused because it wasn't like a 24 bug and she would start to feel better. Little did we know what was to come.

It took Hazel awhile to open her gifts...so Atticus helped her. 

And finally, I made each of the big kids their own rag quilt. I originally got he idea to make one or Atticus because he loves NCAA mascots so much and i had seen some mascot fabric online. Well, it turned into quite a pricey project, but I loved the way they turned out. Atticus has one side of NCAA mascots and the other side with NFL, NBA and MLB mascots. Below these photos, I'll put a close-up when I was making his. Grace's is also so cute (and I need to add a photo) and is full of unicorns, mermaids, kittens, and all of the colors that Grace loves. I was very proud of these and hope they love them forever! (and I loved using my brain for math skills to calculate size and fabric needed and layers of fabric and then seeing it all come out correct when I sewed it up!)

Merry Christmas!