Countdown to Christmas Day 24

Christmas Eve

We always celebrate Christmas with the Bradford's on Christmas Eve around lunch.  I usually have to work a half day and I'm usually a little late for lunch, but not this year since Christmas landed on a Saturday.  I did have to go into work for an hour though to do wound care for a patient.  Then, I still had to finish some last minute stocking stuffers.  As much as I try to get prepared, I never am.  Well, there's always next year...

We had a great time eating and spending time with family.  Of course, Chase loved opening gifts and playing with his and everyone else's presents.

 

We got home around 8:30 that night and I needed to start preparing for Christmas dinner at our house.  I was going to get the sweet potatoes mashed and ready.  I had bought them the Monday before, but when I started peeling them, I realized they were rotten.  I drove around to 4 stores but they were all closed....doesn't anybody stay open for pre-Christmas dinner emergencies? Well, I guess that is one less thing I have to do.  I was also going to make some sugar cookies for Santa.  I thought I had all the ingredients, buying most of the stuff recently but I knew I had powdered sugar in the cabinet.  I guess it has been a while since I baked anything, because the best by date was 2005, so needless to say, the sugar cookies didn't get made either.  But I did make some Peanut butter kiss cookies with all new ingredients so Santa could have something to eat.

Santa is a Razorback fan too!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,

Countdown to Christmas Days 18-23

Not much went on the week before Christmas.  I was sick all weekend and pretty much the whole time I was on vacation from work, but felt better to return to work on Monday.  It was a busy few days, but managed to get off an hour early a couple of days to finish some last minute Christmas errands. 

Countdown to Christmas Day 17

The Spirit of Christmas

We adopted a family this Christmas along with all the co-workers at RVT.  I went by the Main St. Mission since they interview all the applicants to make sure they qualify, and there were so many, it was hard to pick one family.  I chose a family with three children since I wasn't sure how the response would be at work.  Boy, did they ever come through.  I know one family will be very happy this Christmas. 

Many more employees participated; I just couldn't get them all together for a picture!

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Countdown to Christmas Day 16

Our Tree is finally UP!!  I used the ever popular deco mesh this year along with all the stuff from last year.  I think it is a good update with the mesh.  Chase is tempted to take some things off; only one ornament so far, but he may get a little braver or a little more obstinate.  After I decorated the tree, I got to feeling really bad so I spent all afternoon in bed.  It isn't fun spending days of vacation from work in bed. 

Countdown to Christmas Days 9-15

Well, I didn't keep up with my blog like I wanted to...but I've been taking a few pics and using the calendar to remind me what's going on this busy holiday season.

December 15

Robert & I celebrated our 3rd Wedding Anniversary!

The day didn't start out so well.  I was going to meet mom to do a little shopping in Conway so I stopped for some gas.  When I went to leave, my battery was dead.  Rob had to leave work to give me a jump and I had to get a new battery.  We went around Conway and some of the old flea markets and antique stores up to Greenbrier.  Didn't come home with much except tired feet and a sore back from walking in boots with no support.  I should know better being a PT.  Robert made the day better when I got a right hand ring and some earrings and a necklace to match.  They are amethyst, but I have to get the ring sized.  The skinniest bones on me are my phalanges.

December 13

We attended the Christmas program for Day Care.  We weren't at the best spot to see Chase, but he was just sitting quietly by a teacher.  I don't think he shook his little noise maker at all. He has been singing a lot more lately...he likes Old McDonald.  He sings "EIEIO".  I think he will be good at all the vowels before he learns the rest of the alphabet. 

Such a Handsome Boy!

Sandwiched between a few people (The baby is looking at him)

December 12

Chase and I decorated his Christmas ornament for Day Care.  He helped with his hands for the reindeer and he put on a few stickers. I also got to use up some of my scrapbooking supplies.

December 11

Wow, what a busy day.  First I had signed up for a winter crop at the Boys and Girls club so I went to drop off all my scrapbook stuff in my pj's to get some tickets (I never won anything).  Then Chase and I headed to his friend Matthew's house for his 2nd Birthday party.  Chase was shy at first but he had a blast with the boys from the church nursery as they ate Elmo cupcakes, wore Birthday hats, sorted out crayons, and played with Matthew's birthday presents.  Chase especially loved the Toy Story legos (which we gave Matthew) and the Elmo Karaoke toy.  I guess I have some ideas for Christmas/birthday presents.

 

That night, Robert and I went to the ANO Christmas Party.  We had a good meal and got the door prize which was a Walmart giftcard and some cash; it's always nice to come out ahead when you go to a party!

December 10

Chase got a spiffy new haircut.  They are getting a little easier.  Couldn't imagine it without a sucker and the DVD player.  Mimi came over to spend the night so she can watch Chase on Saturday.  Robert cooked up some wild pork and we all had some good BBQ.

December 9

Happy to report that Chase has been going to bed earlier and sleeping great 11-12 hours again.  He's still struggling with a cough due to drainage, but it's better at night with the humidifier.

Countdown to Christmas Day 8

I've missed a couple of days....everyone in the Bradford household has been pretty sick lately.  Chase was sick all weekend, and as he was getting better, Robert and I got sick.  Robert got the worst of it, coming down with  a 102 degree fever and missing a day of work, but maybe we're all on the mend.  Chase had to go to bed especially early tonight, after not resting well at day care due to his coughing when he tried to nap. 

With everyone being sick, not much Christmas prep has gone on this week.  My Christmas postcards did arrive today and so I may start writing some of those.  I already have received a couple of Christmas cards, so I guess I'm still behind, but better than last year.  Here's a sneak peak:

22 Days til Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas Day 6

Chase still ran fever last night, but finally broke fever this morning.  He's actually sleeping now in his OWN bed. Hooray!  He had a fun night at a neighbor's 5th Birthday party at the roller skating rink.  He didn't don any roller skates, but had a blast running around the rink and bopping his head to the music.  Hopefully, we'll all get a full night's rest.  Goodnight.

19 days til Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas Day 5

Chase ran a fever from 101 to 103 ALL day....even though he doesn't really act sick.  He's been sleeping in our bed while he is sick.  I dread the move back to his crib, but we are so tired.  Just can't sleep well with a little one kicking you or pounding on your back to wake you up.  Didn't do much of anything "Christmas-y" today, just a little bit of online shopping again.  Almost done! 

Chase playing in the bathtub trying to get his fever down.  He had to make a tower of letters over and over again, wetting each one in the water, so they would stick.  A little OCD coming out.

Chase will stay at home tomorrow with Dad for half the day and his Maw-maw until I get off work.  Pray this virus or whatever it is will pass quickly. 

Countdown to Christmas Day 4

December 4th

Chase and I started out the day at Breakfast with Santa, a fundraiser for Arkansas Children's Hospital.  Chase didn't sleep well through the night and woke up in a foul mood, but he enjoyed getting out and seeing other kids around.  We ate pancakes and then stood in the 40 minute line to see Santa.  I was trying to point him out and get Chase used to him before the actual sitting on his lap, but as you can see from the picture, he didn't like Santa this year either.  The surprise Chase left in his diaper in the middle of the line probably didn't help.

That night was my Christmas party for work at Lakepoint.  It was decorated so beautifully and the apps and most of the main course was good.  It's nice having the staff do all the work, so we can all enjoy the party.  We played Dirty Santa, and I ended up with a Kavu wallet, but Robert got a Toy Story game, which Chase will love in a couple of years (it says 4+ years on the box;).  The night ended with a great game of Bunco, and I was the grand prize winner! Finally! I've gone 7 years without winning.  I just knew it was my year (even though it is a game of luck). 

Wow! I had a sham WoW! (before Drew stole it)

The winners!

The RVT Crew

We got back home where my in-laws were watching Chase, and he had been running a fever.  Sounds like another sleepless night.... 

21 Days Til Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas Day 3

Chase did sleep great last night. Hooray for that!

Just trying to call Mimi!

Tonight we went to our Church Community Group's Christmas Fellowship.  We had to make appetizers, and they needed some with meat so I made a couple of bacon wrapped apps from Pioneer Woman.  They turned out okay....don't know if I'll make them again, but I'm not really a big bacon eater.

We had a great time at the party.  Ate and played a couple of games that we've never played: Buzzword and Apples to Apples.  They were pretty fun and Robert ended up winning (although the girls think the guys cheated, of course).  

Chase seemed to have fun at the church child care.  He didn't want to leave! He's in bed now and tomorrow we will have breakfast with Santa and have my work Christmas party tomorrow night.  I think it's my lucky year for Bunco!

22 Days til Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 2

Well, last night didn't go much better than the day had gone.  Chase woke up about 1:45 am yelling Mommy for about 5 minutes, then he gave up on me and started yelling for Da-da.  I went and got him and he slept in our bed, which he hasn't done since he was six weeks old.  He actually got some sleep but I couldn't do much sleeping.  Of course Robert could sleep through it all.  

After work, I decided that Chase and I could go to the Christmas parade.  I'm usually not up for going to those, except it wasn't quite as cold as years past.  I grabbed some McDonald's for Chase to eat, b/c he is always so hungry when he gets home from daycare.  I thought it started at 6pm but I guess it didn't start til about 6:30 or so.  I definitely was out in the cold for a lot longer than I thought I would be.  Chase enjoyed the parade, I think.  He seemed to be upset every time a band would get out of sight.  We were by ourselves since Robert had to work, but there was a nice man there to help keep Chase entertained, offer us candy, and have his wife take our picture.  By the time we got back to the car it was 7:43 (I didn't think parades were supposed to last that long) and he was sound asleep when we got home.  I managed to get him ready for bed and down for the night without any fussing, which we haven't had a fuss free bedtime routine in a very long time.  I sure hope the extra sleep helps and he doesn't wake up at 2 in the morning. 

Down in Front!!

Hey, it's Aunt Melissa and cousin Renee' doing a cartwheel!

oooohhh, aaaahhhh

Tip of the day: Probably shouldn't leave the camera on manual mode when a stranger is using your camera

23 Days til Christmas!!