Our Family: Week of 12/23/13 - 12/29/13

On Monday, our puppy ran away (again).

The door keeps being left open, as people come over and the kids go in/out, and when I don't catch it in time, he slips out.

We spent the evening looking for him and putting up signs.

We haven't had any calls yet.

The kids are so sad (Mike and I are, too).  

But, if we can't have him... I sincerely hope that he was found and made a wonderful Christmas gift for someone on Christmas morning.

***

On Tuesday, we spent the day cleaning for Santa, while Mike went to work.

These guys are awesome cleaners, when a guy in red is bringing them presents that night.

;)

After Mike got home and rested up a bit, we had our traditional Christmas Eve party and dinner:

Followed by acting out the nativity (Mike was Joseph, Josh a shepherd, Adam a wise man, Grace was Mary, and I narrated):

And brand-spankin' new pajamas:

We set out the reindeer wreath, cookies, milk, and (new) letters for Santa, where the kids declared the ONLY thing they wanted for Christmas was Buddy (our puppy) back.

;(

We wrapped the doorway with wrapping paper, went to bed, and Santa came, and made the living room look magical:

***

On Wednesday, the kids woke up bright and early... and I held them off until 8:00.

Poor Mike had been awake for 24 hours straight the previous day, and needed to catch up on some sleep.

And, by some miracle, these guys let him.

We had a wonderful Christmas day that included us un-wrapping many wonderful and generous gifts, me crying about the said wonderful and generous gifts, talking with family, lounging in our pajamas all day, snacking, a family bike ride, and having fun with new toys.

I loved it.

It was a beautiful Christmas full of miracles and love and everything good.

Just the way Christmas should be.

***

I made myself a deal that I wouldn't deal with the baby at all until after Christmas.

I was having a really, really hard time and was completely stressed out and panicky in November about the holidays and the baby and finances and pregnancy and all sorts of stress-filled goodness.

When I get stressed, I make a chronological list of what has to be done, and set myself deadlines when I have to get things done by/start on stuff.

It's organized procrastination, I tell ya!

It worked in college, anyways.

;)

So, on Thursday we slept in, and then I proceeded to go into full-on cleaning/organizing/nesting/list-making/planning mode.

And made my family jump right in with me.

(Because they are awesome).

And because I'm a crazy-pregnant-Mama/wife.

We stayed in crazy cleaning/organizing/nesting/list-making/planning mode the rest of the week.

Which is a good thing because on Friday I went to the doctor, and they went ahead and scheduled an eviction date for this little boy:

January 15.