Christmas in the 'Lou

Admittedly, we haven't been to C&J's house in almost (if not longer than) two years.  Craig protested Christmas in Chicago until we came to his house.  The kids and I packed up the car early Thursday morning and we drove to the 'Lou.  We made reasonable time. We didn't stop except once...when I almost ran out of gas. I was heartbroken the stop was my fault, but elated we didn't have to get out and go into a McDonald's b/c we would have lost an hour.  Easily. 

Aunt Nessa and Andrew flew in at later times and Grammy and Poppy arrived shortly after us.  The kids had fun playing together with minimal need to stop in.  The kids and the animals got along well also.  I had to have a prescription for Miss M called in for another (our third now) inhaler and chamber. It's very odd to me that the price changes based on where I buy them.  I have finally learned my lesson though. I am never leaving home without an inhaler again.  The animals make her wheezy and it's a little scary to listen to especially when she's sleeping.  

C&J's house is so big. Their motto is "go big or go home" and go big they did.  Their bedroom houses their king size bed.  A large loveseat and room for these rascals to sleep on their own little cots.  Jessie was able to secure cots from the babysitter's house and the kids thought they were pretty awesome.  We put on a movie/show each night and let them relax before saying lights out, which really means nothing to the children.

Aunt Nessie likes to play games with the kids. She makes them play by the rules and I am not sure the kids always like to play games with her :)

Grammy and Poppy had their car loaded down with boxes and boxes of stuff.  No one was really sure what this stuff consisted of.  They holed up in the basement for a long time and finally let the kids come downstairs.  They had set up a grocery store for the kids using all things from kitchens that normally would have been thrown away.  They had boxes of cereal, lotion bottles, spice jars, milk jugs, old gas station cups, pill bottles, soda bottles, beer boxes. It was truly amazing how much stuff they had and how amazed the kids were. Grammy and Poppy even thought to bring cash registers with money and baskets for them to each shop with. No detail was forgotten. It was pretty awesome. The kids loved going through the store and buying groceries. I would love to set up something similar but our house doesn't allow for the space. Although maybe the baby house could host a grocery store when it opens again in the spring!

Yep. Not sure.  Oh. I remember. The weather was terrible on Friday with lots of sleet falling and ice covering everything. There was a bus stuck in their neighborhood for about four hours.  There were neighbors trying to get their kids and then getting themselves stuck in front of C&J's house.  It was a disaster. It delayed Andrew's arrival for hours but we were mostly impressed he got in at all. It was suggested that Craig wear a helmet outside to ensure the safety of his head.  After his fall on the ice a couple years ago, no one wants to take any chances of more damage.

We did a gift exchange this year with the theme of games. It was great.  Last year was "As Seen On TV" which was also fun and funny.  The themes are more fun than random gifts. The games were fun b/c we were all together and we got to play most all of the games as a big group.  You can't play games without music and Craig was the DJ and Poppy was his dancer.

Saturday morning we decided we needed to get the kids out of the house for awhile.  They were doing well playing at home but the shoe could have dropped at any minute. Best to play it safe and remove them to burn energy elsewhere for a little while.  We went to a huge trampoline area.  We've never been to one b/c three kids jumping on a trampoline with me sounds like a bad idea for everyone involved, especially me.  Andrew and Nessa jumped with the kids b/c their bladders don't leak and b/c they are more fun.

Jack and Nessa in a gladiator game.

We were there for an hour. The kids were sweaty and hot messes which called for a slushy before leaving. My kids are maniacs for slushies. They ask for them every time we drive by 7 Eleven which is almost every day.  The babysitter got them started on them and I get to pay the price of that now!

We went home before roads started getting shut down again. Aunt Nessie had a minute to win it type game where she wrapped a bunch of items in plastic wrap and made the kids figure out how to get through the plastic wrap to the gadgets. It was awesome. And genius.  The kids were thoroughly entertained for quite awhile. They didn't give up but rather kept going to get the prizes inside.  Prizes make a huge difference in the amount of stamina a child has, at least my children.

Afterward, we opened presents. There were lots of joyous screaming about something. We don't open orderly, like we do at Grandma D's house, but where's the fun in orderly!

Cater got a plasma car so she could ride with Willie.  We already had a green one at home. Grammy bought this thinking it would make life easier. Nah, now we fight b/c we don't have a third.  Good grief.

We had a delicious prime rib for dinner. Big Poppy is good. Jessie is also an amazing hostess.  She's got her stuff together in so many ways its both disgusting and amazing. I am always jealous of her cooking skills and her ability to find and try new recipes.

Bath time in the big tub! We need one of these. The three kids have outgrown our regular sized bath tub. Putting all three in it is cramped for everyone.

One of the games we played had plastic pieces that went in your mouth. You then had to say a random phrase that made zero sense.  It was so funny and amazing.

It never gets old to look at the pictures with these plastic things in their mouth. Never.

She can be a lover sometimes.

But mostly she just wants to shove her fingers in your mouth, nose, eyes, ears.  She's a goofy kid.