Recovery

 Alice and Charlie in front of the sled tree in Silver Spring.

 Cow bench in front of Ben and Jerry's.

 4-day scruff.

 Paul's young men at the DC temple visitors center.

 DC temple lights.

 Reading Christmas books.

 Grace and I were the only 2 in the family able to go to church today.

Amy's baptism!

Ballet Recital and Ward Christmas Party

On Monday, we had a two-hour delay for school and for Paul's work! Grace did homework the whole two hours, and Paul ended up working from home. For dinner, we had beef strips, pesto, couscous, and mixed vegetables - so good! Then we watched The Nativity for FHE.

That night, Grace slept with her pajamas inside-out. Apparently, if you do that, and do a dance before bed, you'll get a snow day the next day.

It worked! Tuesday was a snow day - even Paul got the day off! I wrote all about our fun snow day on the sisters blog here.

On Wednesday, I sent Grace to the bus stop on her own because Charlie took an early nap, only to have one of the moms bring her home crying because the bus was super late. It did finally come, but she was pretty traumatized.

I taught preschool that day: R is for reindeer.

Thursday, Grace's bus came super early, and we almost missed it! She was traumatized again. After school was her ballet recital. Paul got off work early to come. We gave her a new skirt I bought at Gabe's over Thanksgiving.

She was all ready to go!

 Grace and her two little church friends that took the class with her.

She did such a good job.

 She is graceful and beautiful.

The class. Grace is ready to be done with ballet and move on to something else, but she's enjoyed it.

 On Friday, Alice and I made caramels.

 She was a good little helper.

 She LOVES nativity sets! That night, we made pizza and watched Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol and the cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

On Saturday, we babysat the Verhaaren kids in the morning. Then I suddenly got sick, and threw up all afternoon. We assumed it was just food poisoning or something, but I couldn't stop throwing up, so I had to miss the ward Christmas party. I had worked with the girls for weeks on their variety show number.

Paul said they did great singing "Are my Ears on Straight?".

Grace was the only one brave enough to see Santa. Then they came home before the party was over, because Paul was sick. He threw up all evening, and we just stared at the TV.

Grace threw up all night long, and Alice started about 6 AM. Needless to say, we skipped church today. I think all 4 of us are done throwing up, but we're pretty wiped out, just watching movies. The girls even took naps! I pray Charlie doesn't get it.

Kramer Visit and DILLON!!!

There is no rhyme or reason to the order of these pictures. Sorry.

 Chillin' with the Kramer kids: Jensen, Luke, Katie, Grace, Alice, Eliza.

 Alice and Katie playing in the Sam McGee hole.

 Breakfast!

 Playing outside. It was cold after a whole day of rain! Luke, Grace, Alice, Eliza, Katie, Jensen.

 Grace and Luke in the trees.

 Eliza and Alice were good buddies.

 Charlie LOVES the great outdoors!

 Me and the Washington Monument.

 Eliza and Alice reading a book together after they both fell asleep in the van.

Austin's a little too big for this slide!

Awesome.

 Making sugar cookies last Sunday.

 Frosting.

 Decorating. We hadn't planned on it, so we just used what we had: chocolate chips, marshmallows, coconut, and some colored sugar sprinkles.

 Charlie loved watching.

 All plated and bowed.

 We delivered them to our friends!

 Uncle Austin loved the fort set!

 Girls playing dress up.

 Luke was super excited about something.

 Charlie got caged:(

 Luke loved building Charlie's cage, and Charlie and Luke were good friends while Grace was at school.

 Pretty cousins.

 Luke rolled the ball back and forth to Charlie from his fortress.

 Charlie's poor ear. It's still purple, but looking much better from a few days ago when Alice knocked him over:(

 Princess!

 Heather thought it would be funny to swat Austin on the bum. Then Luke started throwing stuff at Austin. Then baby Katie started whacking him. Austin just laughed and laughed. Their family has a skewed view of fun!

 Charlie doesn't like being an astronaut:(

 Austin and Paul playing frisbee.

 At Paul's work Christmas party for kids.

 Front row seats for the magic show.

 Charlie and Alice didn't last long.

 Cool decorations!

 Charlie was hesitant about Santa.

 He made his position clear.

 Glitter and sticker crafts.

 Such a beautiful tree!

 Grace was shy, but finally warmed up to Santa.

 Beaded bracelet making.

 President of the National Academy of Sciences.

 Grace is a budding scientist.

 Sea life touch exhibit.

 Alice loved it.

 She seriously would not leave.

 She really wanted to hold the clam!

 Secret service on top of the White House.

 National Christmas tree.

 White House.

 Washington Monument.

 Pillars of strength and power, in front of the White House.

 Lights at the DC temple.

 It was COLD!

 Alice loved the nativity, and kept wanting to go back.

 Grace loved the camel.

 Our Filipino nativity made it into the international display at the Visitors Center!

 Grace's quest for a purple tree ended in success!

Fun time!

 Too big boys.

Bedazzled.

 Dr. Kramer checking Dillon's fungus toe. I look beautiful:)

 He looks the same!

 And is just as strong:)

 Fun visit!

Elder Uncle.

 Austin wanted in.

 Faces.

 The crew.

Making up for lost tickle time!