My maiden name is Noyes, pronounced noise. I learned to spell it as a kid by putting the words no and yes together! So you could say we had a maybe Christmas, or a noisy Christmas! Haha 🙂 I digress! 🙂 On the second day of Christmas we drove to my parents house, where we had another family gathering in celebration of Christmas! My brother and his family, my sister and brother-in-law, my grandpa, an aunt, and of course my parents were in attendance. My mother was thrilled to have us all under roof together again, and we had a great time.

The kids were tired from the trip that day and Emma was at her limits with the overload of people, noise, and stimulation! Here is what she was like! 🙂

After dinner the kids opened presents, again. I was helping Emma with her presents, and she wasn’t that into it.  I didn’t get any pictures of them opening presents. David opens his so quickly now!  The next day I took one of Emma on her knew riding horse. She hasn’t quite figured it out yet, but once she does I think she will love it!

David got several things that were on his wish list. He got a transformer action figure, a garbage truck, (I don’t know why he has a fascination with garbage trucks!), puzzles, and dinosaurs. That evening we left earlier than I wanted because Emma was ready for bed. She was telling us about it too. Truth is we were all tired, beat, and in much need of some sleep.

On the third day of Christmas we visited my dad at work. He oversees the high-school gym/event center. David loves to visit him there! He loves to play and ride the scrubber with Pa-pa! It is so sweet! This was Emma’s first time to visit and ride the scrubber too!  Dad was taking down one of the Christmas trees and the kids of course thought they would help. David kept putting the ornaments back on the tree, and Emma kept trying to climb the ladder! 🙂 Aunt Leah was Emma’s ladder guardian.:) They also like running and playing with the basketballs!  We had a lot of fun!

On the fourth day of Christmas we had lunch with one of my best friends, Crysti! Crysti and I met my second year of college. We became best friends! Life has happened to both of us, but we still keep in touch and we get together anytime we can. We claim each other and our families as family!

We also celebrated my brother-in-law’s Birthday! Brandon and Leah are high school sweet hearts! They have been married for almost three years now. They are such a sweet and  fun couple! I love them!  Brandon’s parents and one of his brothers live in town, and we all went to dinner together. The restaurant was decorated beautifully and it made for some great pictures! Unfortunately by the time we finished eating the kids were not going to cooperate for pictures. I did manage to get this one of our table though!

The kids loved spending time with Papa and Nana! We don’t get to see them very often throughout the year, so we try to make the most of the times we do get together. David is into Dinosaurs, and he received a dinosaur sticker book for Christmas. He loves it! He knows more about dinosaurs than almost anyone I think. 🙂 In the pictures he is sharing that knowledge with Nana and Papa. 🙂

Emma found out that Nana was eating something sweet and tasty! Nana gave her a bite and of course it didn’t stop there! Emma loves ice-cream! She is my daughter! 🙂

On the fifth day of Christmas we visited my grandpa Harvey. We wanted to see him and spend some time with him again. My grandma Betty passed away three years ago. Three Christmases have come and gone now since she passed. All the holidays are definitely not the same anymore without her. She always played a major role in our family gatherings. I miss her very much. My grandpa is now not in the best health and his memory is not good anymore. It is very hard to see someone you love and know as being healthy and strong, smart and intellectual losing their physical and mental health. I know deep inside he is still that person I knew and spent so much time with growing up. I want our kids to remember their great grandpa and know stories of him that I experienced growing up.

Emma was too shy to sit on his lap, so I had to hold her while taking pictures together.

In My Life by the Beatles

There are places I’ll remember

All my life though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life I’ve loved them all

 

 

We headed back towards home after visiting my grandpa. We stayed with Jim and Alesia Friday night and drove the rest of the way home Saturday. Friday evening Emma became ill. She started running a fever and showing some of the same symptoms that David had only the week before. We probably should have taken David to the doctor last week, but I was not going to break his little heart and my mother’s heart by not going home for Christmas! I didn’t take them to church this morning. I had someone fill in for me at church, and decided it was high time we stayed home for a while! We will see what the rest of the week holds!

We are not having any huge new years eve party this evening. Andrew and I will stay up and watch television, munch on goodies, and try to stay awake. We will show David the early New year’s eve countdown on youtube! That way he doesn’t feel left out! 🙂

Here is our menu for the week!

Mmm…delicious!!

Sunday (today): Lunch, Spaghetti ala carbonara. Dinner, Pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and green beans.

Monday: Lunch, Turkey Soup and Sandwiches. Dinner, Mini Meat Ball Pasta Bake.

Tuesday: Lunch, Mediterranean Omelettes. Dinner: Capn Crunch Chicken Strips, carrots and French fries.

Wednesday: Lunch, Freddy’s burgers. Dinner, Slow cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup with Paninis.

Thursday: Lunch, Polish Sausage, Navy Beans and green peas. Dinner: Steak, Broccoi and Cauliflower casserole. 

Friday: Lunch, Chicken Nachos. Dinner: Enchiladas.

Saturday: Lunch, eat out. Dinner, Pepperoni Chicken, Garlic bread, and salad.

Sunday: Lunch, Gyoza, fried rice and edamame. Dinner, Meat loaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. 

 

Happy seventh day of Christmas!

PK