White Christmas

We, like most everyone else, had a very white Christmas! Although I don't particularly like the cold weather, I do like the snow...especially for Christmas. We've been having fun going sledding and being pulled behind the four wheeler!

Christmas was different for us this year. We were all together...except for little Mara. It just wasn't the same without her here. My sister Heather had put a thing on her website asking people to write memories of Mara so that they could put them in her stocking for Christmas day. When it would have been Mara's turn to open a present, Bryan would read a memory of her. It was special to hear other people's memories of her. We had a wonderful Christmas and were very glad that we could be together!

*Tyson got this as a gag gift...ask him about it sometime.

Jace

Last week Jace had a week from H E double hockey sticks. The week started off with a trip to the GI specialist where they told me he might have reflux and they did blood work to check for Celiac Disease. The next day he (and Lexi) had a runny nose, was coughing and throwing up...which last 3 or 4 days (yes, they've had flu shots). I got a call on Thursday saying that his tests results were inconclusive and they needed more blood work done. So we went in on Friday for more blood work. Monday was ended with Jace putting his hand on the hot glue gun and waking up with this... and Tuesday followed with a trip to the doctor finding out he had double ear infections. What a week huh? Poor little guy. I'm happy to say that he's doing MUCH better since getting his antibiotics and HE DOES NOT HAVE CELIAC!!!...he just has skinny kid disease! Yeah for Jace for surviving last week!

Helpy Helperton

So, the other day I was just having one of those days when nothing was going quite right for me. I had taken Jace to the doctor's...found out he's got double ear infections. So, we headed to WalMart to get his prescription filled and they told me it would be about an hour wait. We did some browsing, but I didn't really need to get anything because I had just been there the day before. I tried to stall, but how long can you just stall with two little kids in Walmart??? So we went back to see if the prescription was done and the girl at the counter said it would be about 5 more min. Perfect, good timing. She told me she would call my name when it was ready. We went and sat on the little bench and within about one minute both Lexi and Jace were pulling different medicines off the shelves, and began playing with one of the motorized carts next to us. like banging on the basket in the front, taking off the price tag, jumping on the seat, etc. I was able to distract Jace, but Lexi was not even about to listen to me. I grabbed her arm and pulled the Santa card, which backfired and only made her start crying really hard because, not only did I pull on her arm, but she really wanted Santa to bring her presents. All of you who know Lexi, know that she is a really mild mannered and actually a ver good listener, but when she gets in a bad mood, there is nothign you can do to stop her. Her crying made Jace starting crying (who obviously wasn't feeling good anyway)...which lasted a good 5 to 10 minutes. Still, the lady hadn't called my name yet. By that time I was getting a lot of stares, so I got up to see what the hold up was and she's all "oh, I'm sorry I forgot you were waiting." Really??? How could you forget with two crying children right here. Anyway, by the time we were done I had just had it and was in a terrible mood. We got in the car and the whole way home Lexi was poking Jace, they were both crying, anything I said just made things worse, but if I didn't say anything at all, it didn't help either. I was irritated and annoyed. When we got home I put Jace down for a nap and honestly, I just didn't really want to be around Lexi for a little bit, so I went in the bedroom and started checking my email and paying bills. A few minutes later I realized that Lexi had not come in to bother me and all I could hear was running water. I went out to check on her and this is what I found...

I asked "what are you doing?" and she said "I'm helping you mommy, I doing the dishes." Aw...it was the sweetest thing and I burst into tears. I felt so bad for being so upset with her. She noticed I was crying and said "why are you sad mommy? We just loved each other." We hugged eachother and I told her Santa would bring her presents again cause she did such a good deed. Now I know how well she does dishes too...look how nicely she stacked the bowls and everything. What a sweet girl I have!

Lately...

The kids have been having fun climbing on our moving boxes

We haven't left our apartment for the last couple of day because of this:

Lexi woke up the other night covered in throw up, which was then followed by cleaning her up and doing the same thing on Tyson...almost made it to the bathroom. The next day was the about the same...except she figured out how to tell when she was going to throw up and made it to the toilet from then on out. Jace woke up the next night doing the same thing. Fun times! Anyway, the throw up is over and now both of the kids (Lexi's is worse) sound like they are about to hack up a lung every time they cough and Lexi sounds like a man. Poor kids, but I'm glad they are getting it out before we head home for Christmas!

Christmas Cards

In the midst of packing I am trying to get Christmas cards done as well. So send me your address so we can mail you one! You can email it to me at michellejoycrane@gmail.com.