Last weekend my mom asked if I was done with blogging... I guess that was her way of saying I was slacking in the on-line update department. I cannot argue, I am. So here it goes... again...
1. The girls day-care Holiday Program a few weeks ago was super cute. Neve stood on stage and looked semi-disgusted with the whole event (she was SO OVER all those people looking at her). Ellie loved it was so proud of herself. Liam was one of the girls' guests and he thought it was pretty cool (not sure which he liked more, eating treats with Grandpa or watching the girls on stage). Afterwards we all went out for dinner at Ellie's favorite place- Jethros. Should I be concerned that Ellie knows exactly what she wants to order from the moment she sits down?
2. On the morning of the 18th our lives changed. Nick and I both had vacation time to use up, so we took the day off to do 'fun things' (cardmaking for me and biking for Nick). We were not ready for what actually occurred. Nick hadn't heard from his dad in a few days, so he went to check up on him. Unfortunately, Nick found that his dad had passed away at the age of 64. The next few days were mentally and physically exhausting, and sort of a blur. We are currently learning more about funerals and estates than we were/are ready to learn at the age of 34. This weekend is Nick's Dad's Celebration of Life and on Monday he will be buried at the Van Meter Veteran's Cemetery. It is sure to be a rough weekend, and we are thankful for all the love and support we have received thus far. Keep sending the thoughts and prayers our way, we need them.
3. Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with my family. It was nice for that break and being able to think about something other than the loss of Nick's Dad. My brother and his family in Iowa City were not able to make it due to weather. They were missed, but we would rather they stay home and be safe then try to make it and have something happen on the way. We had fun and the girls loved the time they had with their cousins (even if Ellie did not last very long during Cousin Campout).
4. We started Christmas Eve with an afternoon trip to the bike shop for the bike shop Christmas party, and then headed onto Ames for Christmas with Nick's Mom. My plan to have the girls sleep on the way to Ames failed, although Neve did take a short nap at Grandma and Grandpa Thorson's house. The girls had a blast opening up gifts, even if Neve was done after two of them. I enjoyed the kumla and left stuffed! We put the PJ's Santa had brought the girls on and ventured back home, the plan being that they would fall asleep in the car... Once again, the plan failed as they were both awake when we got home. I guess they were showing me that they didn't want to miss a thing!
5. Christmas Day we opened Santa gifts and had our annual turnover breakfast. Then we headed to church for the quick and semi-empty 9AM Christmas Day service (love that we can show up at normal time and find amazing seats!). Although it is a rush between getting up, playing with toys, eating breakfast and getting to church, it really is nice to avoid the crowds and be able to focus on the real meaning of Christmas first thing Christmas morning. Nick's Dad was supposed to be with us Christmas afternoon, and I think he was in spirit. We had a few gifts we had purchased for him from our trip to MN, so the girls had one final thing to remember him by, including one of the few items Ellie really wanted (which she had told him when he visited a few weeks back and asked her what she wanted for Christmas). It was a rough day, but we made the most of it and Ellie's excitement helped more than she will ever know. Overall, we had a good Christmas. Not great like it was supposed to be, but good. It is fun to see Christmas through a child's eyes and I am so glad we have those two little ones to remind us of the magic that is Christmas. Looking at them makes everything better.
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