Christmas 2012

A couple weeks before Christmas we had an unexpected free Thursday evening and I coerced Adam into going to the Opry Hotel to see the lights.  This has kind of been a tradition of ours, though we didn't go last year, because we didn't feel like fighting with the crowds and two little ones.  This time...there were hardly ANY people!  There are usually more women in the bathroom than were in the whole place!  It was great!  We enjoyed ourselves and even got some good pictures with no "extras" in the background.

(SO excited about the indoor boat)

(playing on the lobby stairs)

 


Here is a then and now for all of you to enjoy:

Christmas first round = complete

We have more celebrations to come, but I figured I better post before time gets to far away from me!
We went up to Bowling Green on Sunday morning to worship with Granna, Big Papa, Ellen's family, and the saints at Lost River.  The girls enjoyed visiting in bible class.  (This is odd for me, because I was so shy as a kid that I hated visiting places!)
We had a tasty lunch at Granna's house and spent the afternoon visiting, wrapping presents, cooking, and sleeping.  Sunday night Grandpa and Kathy's family joined us at Lost River and then at Granna's house for supper and fun.  We once again wrapped, cooked, visited, and sang a few hymns.  There were 5 children and they played together SO well the entire time!  Quite a Christmas present :)

In the hospital bed...still a little out of it

There was a frightening time period that evening :(  Chloe experienced a seizure about 8:45.  Yes, she is usually in bed by that time, but I think I am glad she wasn't.  Thankfully, Adam was holding her when it started so she did not injure herself.  It lasted somewhere between 5-10 minutes.  I had never seen anyone have a seizure (other than on tv and it wasn't violent like that) so it was really disturbing.  Big Papa had Granna call an ambulance because Chloe had not really exhibited any signs of sickness and because 5 minutes is a long time for a 3 yr old; plus she started to turn blue and vomiting.  Chloe and I rode in the back of an ambulance and Adam and Big Papa followed.  4 hrs later, it was determined to be a febrile seizure and nothing serious was found.  She was also mostly back to normal, talking non-stop.  Prayerfully, it was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us!
Chloe, Adam, and I slept in a hotel that night.  Adam was planning to stay in Grandpa's room, but with the events of the evening, we both wanted to be near Chloe and with Adam's allergy to cats and the other extra people at Granna's that wasn't going to be possible.  We were also hoping to sleep in a little :)  Our wonderful aunt and uncle had a room waiting for us when we left the hospital.  Adam slept with Chloe.  She apparently didn't look at the clock before she went to sleep at 2 and was up and ready to go by 7:30.  She remembered what was going on at Granna's before her seizure, but the rest of the events of the night were forgotten for her.  Of that, I am glad.  I have told her about the ambulance because I knew she would think that was neat.  She was very proud of her hospital bracelet and wore all day Christmas Eve.  She also slept with the little Dr bear they gave her for 3/4 days.  
Christmas Eve went on, as planned, at Granna's!  Food was eaten, presents were opened, games were played, fun was had :)

It was  warm enough to run off some energy outside!

Isn't he the cutest?!

Late Christmas Eve afternoon, we brought Grandpa home with us for a couple of weeks.

We spent Christmas Day at home enjoying one another.  

Chloe got several pair of panties in her stocking.  She excitedly laid all of them out one by one :)

Hope all of you have enjoyed your holiday too!  Most of all, share your love, because things can change in just an instant :/