Happy New Year to everyone. I figured it was about time I let everyone know that I am alive and mostly well and just have been absent from blogging due to recovery, travel, holidays, and Rota-virus! Explain, you say? OK, here we go:
Recovery from tonsillectomy: I still can't believe how long that took! I was on pain meds for FOURTEEN DAYS, had excruciating ear pain through most of that time, and the exhaustion STILL continues almost 30 days later. As Charlie Brown would say, Good Grief. I feel mostly back to normal from a comfort level and eating standpoint, but I still can't say that I have the energy/stamina that I used to...but I'm getting there.
Travel: We were fortunate enough to get away to Vail for 2 separate trips in the past 2 weeks -- a weekend trip the day after Christmas so that I could rest and James and Rip could ski, and a 4 day trip for New Years with the Veldhuizens. During the first trip, Rip had a bad tummy and only got one day of skiing in,
and one day of lazing around with me:), James skied two days, and I scrapbooked one day...
The second trip was a blast, with EIGHT of us in my parents' 800 square foot condo, for four days! It was amazing how well everyone got along, and how it never felt like the walls were closing in on our cozy eight-some. The Clouatres joined us for a New Years Eve celebration, making the number 12, and we ate fondue, laughed, and enjoyed cocktails 
while the kids dressed up in party dresses (except for Jack, who was supervising) and watch movies. It was a great celebration.
The following day the girls had a Scooby Doo marathon and went sledding with the Clouatres (great pictures from Steph), while Ellery and I worked on our December Daily albums and tended to baby Graysen. The boys took an exciting excursion to Wal-mart to buy ski coats for the Veldhuizen girls, then they parked themselves on the couch and watched football. PERFECT New Years Day! All 3 girls went to ski school on the 2nd, while the boys skied and we scrapped. We'd planned for one more day of skiing, but a storm blew in early on the 3rd and we all hit the road to make sure we didn't get stuck.
Overall it was a great way to get some relaxation in and spend time with friends. I hope we get to do it again soon.
Holidays: Christmas was a whirlwind. Although I was off the pain meds, it's still all a little fuzzy:) We had a great time socializing and eating at Ellery and Creig's Christmas Eve brunch, my first time really "out" in so long that I overdid the talking, eating, etc. After baking Santa cookies all afternoon, we headed to Carol's for the Coope Christmas festivities. The kids opened gifts, and after we all ate, the 3 of them ran around playing chase for at least an hour. So cute.
On Christmas day, the Ripster actually slept til 8:15(!) and then wanted to watch "Barbie and the Diamond Castle" (which is an hour+ movie!) before going downstairs to see what Santa brought. I couldn't believe it. Rip declared that Santa ROCKS for bringing her a highchair and crib for Ana her baby elephant (who has bunny ears, don't ask), a full Aerial costume,
and a boat-load of pens and paper. We declared success when Ripley said, "I love the Barbie Diamond Castle. THANK YOU for buying the Diamond Castle for me!" -- being a Barbie girl myself, I just couldn't resist buying that hunk of pink, purple and blue plastic that plays a little song while floor lights go off in the 3rd floor "disco". Oh my.
Rota-virus: Well, this is the REALLY exciting part. I mentioned earlier that Rip had a bad tummy the weekend after Christmas. It started again after we returned from our second Vail trip, and she has had tummy trouble for the past few days. The doctor says Rota-virus is going around, and although there is no real way to test for it, it appears that's what she might have. Nothing to do but wait it out, push the liquids, and get rest, while we all vigorously wash our hands every five minutes so that we don't catch it too. Again, I am very grateful that we purchased Scooby Doo seasons 1 and 2 for Christmas, because we have had a 2 day S.D. marathon here in my bedroom, instead of going to school, running errands, and getting caught up from the past month. Oh well. I guess we'll get to that NEXT week.
Soooo....there are my excuses in a nutshell. A very long nutshell.
I have BIG plans to post pictures of the December Daily album (I am complete thru Day 17), Week in the Life (complete, except for 3 days of journaling), pictures of Christmas, New Years, skiing, etc. I also have big plans to go to the grocery store, the allergist, to buy dog food for poor starving Ralphie, clean this crazy house,...the list goes on. I hope I'll get to some or all of that in the next week, as Rip is feeling better. Wish me luck!
And "One Little Word" is going up this weekend...I have to wait for our "Word Up!" party on Saturday night, where we will be unveiling our word...have you come up with yours yet?????
