Christmas in Alabama- 2014

We had all been sick the week before the week of Christmas. Etta brought home a germ and passed it around to everyone else (including some of Keith's family when we celebrated Christmas with them).

(I was a little scared. Sick momma and sick kids yelling "aaaaaaaaaaahh!)

 Christmas fell on a Thursday this year. We had planned to head to Alabama the Saturday before, but I was just so sick that week that I didn't get a chance to pack (and it takes A LOT to get this family packed for a week away). So, we pushed it a day and left on Sunday- and we left much later that day than we would have liked.

(This is how I pack our family for road trips. Bins for clothes and a bin for food and a bin for bedding and 3 bins for Christmas gifts. This way eveything stays dry in the trailer should it rain on our journey.)

I could tell on the drive down that I was working up a sinus infection and by the time I got up on Monday, I knew I needed antibiotics. So, I spent that first day waiting for a couple hours at a walk-in clinic and then sleeping off the steroid/benadryl shot they stuck in my butt to try and help boost my recovery.

I felt much better on Tuesday! Definitely not 100%, but MUCH better than the day before. I gradually started feeling better throughout the week. I am glad I started to feel better because we had a busy day on Tuesday! We went out to the mall to see Santa and ride the train and  also the carousel. Last year, we had an hour wait to see Santa, which I thought was CRAZY because I volunteer to wrap gifts for charity at that mall every year on Christmas Eve and there was NEVER a wait. Anyway, this year, we planned ahead a little and brought plenty of cash to keep the kids entertained on the train while Keith held our place in line. We also made sure my mom would be available to join us to have an extra set of hands. So, we headed out to the mall, parked the car and rushed inside to avoid getting to wet (it was raining) and we walked through Burlington Coat Factory, past the train, and STRAIGHT ONTO SANTA'S LAP!! Seriously! There was ONE person in line in front of us when we arrived! Etta didn't even have an opportunity to break down over the long wait! It was incredible considering our experience last year!

After we snapped our Santa picture, we took the kids over to ride the train a couple of times.

When Daniel got off the train for the second time, he pointed to the carousel over in the food court and we headed over there so the adults could get dizzy. We only let them ride this ride ONCE.

We were in and out of the mall so quickly that we had time to go out to lunch. Bill was working that morning, but he met us over there after a bit.

I took Keith and the kids home for a nap and I went back into Dothan to meet mom for a little shopping.

That night, we lit the Hanukkah candles for the 8th (and final) night of Hanukkah. The kids loved helping light the candles this year.

(VIDEO)

Wednesday morning (Christmas Eve) decorated our gingerbread houses (and one gingerbread train) and took it easy around the house until lunch. 

Etta's completed house. Isn't it beautiful??!!??!!!! (She ate all the candy).

After I helped get the kids down for a nap, my sister, Kimi and I headed to the mall to meet Mom and Pops at the gift wrapping station where we volunteer every year. The donations that we "earn" for wrapping the presents benefit The House of Ruth- a local organization that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Every Christmas Eve day, the local synagogue, Temple Emanu El, takes over the booth.We have been doing this for years and it is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

After the kids got in bed that night, Santa's helpers worked into the night wrapping gifts, assembling toys, and stuffing stockings. Then, finally, all was quiet and I sneaked upstairs and happily whispered "hello" to my pillow.

Daniel woke us all up around 6:40 on Christmas morning. I went to the room next door and woke up Aunt Kimi before I went downstairs to wake up Nana and Grandfather. The kids came down the stairs a little after 7:00 and were excited to see what Santa brought for them!

(VIDEO)

The kids finally went down for a nap and while I waited for Daniel to fall asleep so I could sneak in and take a little nap too, I started to make cookies. I found this sweater shaped cookie cutter at Big Lots a few weeks ago and I had it in my head that I would make a bunch of sweater cookies and we could have a sort of contest to see who could decorate the best ugly Christmas sweater. My step-brother, Adam and his wife, Kim and their son, Jaxson showed up while I was working on the cookies and Kim jumped in to help out. (She actually finished up the last batch so that I could go grab a little nap.)

We never had our ugly sweater contest or even decorated the cookies. Oh, well! 

We tried for a group shot of all the cousins, but you can see how that turned out!

Dirty Santa

We spent most of the day Friday being lazy and recovering from our Christmas hangover.

We got back on the road on Saturday mid-morning. We had a great time visiting, but we were pretty worn out and ready to get back home.

Sunday back at home was the best, laziest day. I am so glad we had that one extra day at home before Keith went back to work on Monday.