BLUE "CHEESE"

Grey just enjoyed a blue colored Icee... can you tell?

NO LAP SITTING THIS YEAR

This is why Luke and Grey didn't get to go visit and sit on Santa's lap this year.

Last weekend it was Grey. He had diarrhea and was vomiting, so we took him to the doctor on Saturday morning to have him checked for dehydration. At that time, he seemed to be fine. But as the day wore on, and he didn't go to the bathroom at all after lunch, we decided it was probably best that he be taken to the Emergency Room. So around 11:00pm Marc took him and I stayed home with Luke. After an IV of fluids, and some Jello and Icees, he was released. He seemed to be getting better on Sunday, but then vomited again on Monday. A neighbor was kind enough to come over and watch the boys so I could run out and get him his anti-nausea meds. After a few doses of that, and another day of rest, he was back to his old self.

Then this weekend it was Luke. He had been coughing a lot since Friday and had a low-grade fever. Then yesterday afternoon, his fever spiked up to 104.6. After contacting the pediatrician on call, we gave him a bath, administered some fever reducer, and waited an hour to see if we would be making yet another trip to the Emergency Room. Luckily, we were able to get his fever down and keep it down. I decided to take him this morning to see the doctor, to get him checked out before I sent him to school tomorrow. Good thing... he has an ear infection. We're keeping him home from school tomorrow, but hopefully he'll be able to go on Wednesday so he doesn't miss his little class Holiday Party and the Holiday Program that night.

Maybe, if they're both feeling good by the end of the week, and we want to fight the crowds, we'll still be able to take them to see Santa... Maybe?

DECORATING THE TREE

Just realized that I never posted these pics about the night we decorated the Christmas tree. As you read in a previous post, the boys and I put the tree together and put the lights on it on a Friday. The picture below was taken later that same day. I also started pulling out some of the decorations, and this little Advent Calendar was my babysitter. All those little doors kept them preoccupied and out of my hair. Amazingly, no fighting ensued. Not sure why Luke has no pants on.

One of the decorations I immediately put together was the little tree for the boys room. They really enjoyed putting the (4) little ornaments on their tree. I guess Grey felt he needed to be up close and personal, so he got a little leverage by climbing up on the dresser.

Why only (4) ornaments you ask? That was all that was left after the tree's little stay in their room last year. Note, today is the 19th, and there are now Zero ornaments on the little tree.

Saturday night, while watching the LSU Tigers, we decorated the tree. We did it in two stages. First, I pulled out about 10 ornaments for the boys to hang themselves.

Most all of them were hung on the bottom 1/8th of the tree, but Grey did get a little assistance from Daddy to hang one a little higher.

Before they went to bed, I tried to get a pic of them in front of the tree. This is what I got...

Then we asked them to point to what they had hung. I guess Grey misunderstood the question since he seems to be pointing in the other direction.

Then he got it, and pointed to the tree... Luke's proud of his work with a Thumbs Up!

After they went to bed, then Marc and I finished hanging the rest of the ornaments. This year however, only the Sentimental ornaments made the tree. I didn't hang any of the decorative bulbs... and I think it looks just fine.

Another note... see all those Candy Canes? Yeah... none of those are any longer on the tree.

Love this pic, but still a White Light fan. Will need to buy new lights for next year.

Then on Sunday, I whipped up this new Christmas Wreath.

It's coffee filters hot glued to a wreath form I made out of plumbing pipe insulation.

MAKING CHRISTMAS

Today, we started decorating for the Holidays... or as Luke called it, we're "Making Christmas".

This year, we decided to save a little money and put up our artificial one. So this morning, after getting everything out of the shed, I put the boys to work bringing in the tree... one branch at a time.

I have to say, it was nice not having to do it all by myself.

Before "making" the tree, we stopped for a "Cheese" break... meaning, Grey wanted his picture taken.

He is definitely a "Cheeseball".

The boys had their own way of "making" the tree.

I had to show them the correct way.

I don't know if you can see it, but Grey is holding up a stray piece of tinsel. We were having a lot of fun with the tinsel that had been left on the tree.

The static electricity from the tree was so strong, that when we held a piece of tinsel about two feet away from it, when we let go, the tinsel would "fly" sideways back to the tree.

Luke told me he Loved the tree and gave it a Big Hug...

and a Kiss.

To get this shot, I had to throw out a couple of bribes. One, the TV had to be turned off, and would not come back on until they cooperated. And two, they would be rewarded with candy.

Grey also Loved the tree.

I propped the camera up on the arm of the couch, and got a few shots of me with my little helpers.

The tree is up and now has lights on it. We plan on decorating it tomorrow.