Holiday Traditions Part 1 - The Tree

We seem to all be on the mend, so I thought I'd write to more exciting happenings.  Tis the season for all things Christmas!  The next few posts will involve what we hope to be some great family traditions that create some fabulous memories.  Don't forget our elf, Eddie, who made his appearance on Thanksgiving.  He's been a fantastic addition to the holiday season. 

First up, the Tree!  One of my favorite traditions was decorating the trees and sometimes two trees at our house growing up.  When my parents moved us to their current house, my Mom wanted a tree in the front room for space to open presents and one in the kitchen for us to enjoy.  As crazy as it was, it was always fun.

Here are the Proctors decorating our 2011 Christmas tree:

The first ornament

Notice the Willow tree behind Tim?  Family.  He gave it to me our first Christmas with Abby.

The final touches - the Angel! 

We bought the second tree we picked up, enjoyed the candy canes given to us by the nice Rotary guys, and drove on home with our 2011 tree.  Isn't it pretty?

on top of it all...

We now have conjunctivitis! 

Just to keep all our family and friends in the loop of what's going on in the Proctor household.  Fortunately, Tim has started his holiday vacation and can be home with her today and starting tomorrow I'm off the rest of the week.  Let's hope that Miss Abigail is better by tomorrow at 4pm where we hope to be riding on the Polar Express.  I think we'll make it.  We've been armed with antibiotics and eye drops so we're good to go. 

I have a few more things to get for the upcoming holiday and most of the wrapping is done.  pheewwww.  There was certainly an advantage to being home all weekend and having a sleepy baby. 

We are very much looking forward to Christmas and all the family time!  I'm excited to go to Christmas Day service in our PJ's and serve breakfast at Preble Street on Monday.  I have a big box of donations ready to go to the food pantry thanks to my couponing and dropped off mittens and gift to the mitten tree. Tis the season of giving, you know. 

And the doctors say...

Ear infection!  Abby's cough deepened last night and we were nervous her cold may turn into pneumonia.  So we called last night and ended up seeing the on call doc this morning.   Luckily, it is not that serious and she is now on antibiotics for her ear.  I'm thankful our office has weekend hours and we were one of the first ones on the list!

After a fairly normal day helping me bake in the kitchen (stay tuned for priceless pictures!), she took a turn backwards and whimpered herself to sleep with a leaky eye, leaky nose, and cough.  I'm predicting her leaky eye might be conjunctivitis.  We'll see what tomorrow brings!  Let's hope she is on the mend very soon and the rest of us stay healthy for the holidays. 

Sick Abby

Tim and I have been splitting the last couple of days between home and work as Miss Abigail has caught the cold (disgusting mess) that was running through day care and school.   Poor Abby worked so hard to poop in private she fell asleep.

Tim didn't dare move her......

Thankfully the nice folks at Port tix took pity on us and exchanged our Polar Express tickets to another day.  There would have been no way we would have made it tonight.  Abby is running fevers up to 104, blowing snock rockets and just today refused to eat any food.  She's still drinking fluids, but I have a feeling we might be at the doctors on Monday if not sooner.

I can't help but chuckle at her lovely bed head, rosy cheeks, and bright red nose as she wakes from a nap...off to watch Elf on the Shelf or Rudolph for the upteenth time.  We'll keep y'all updated!

My Tree Hugger

 When we started feeding the ducks in Millcreek last summer, Abby began to hug and kiss the trees.  Without my encouragement.  I think she's going to be the next EPA leader.

I found this picture on Tim's phone from this fall. :-)  Oh, how I love her!

The Elf Part II

Yesterday morning after breakfast.  Eddie has already been found in the bathroom toilet paper holder

Me:  Abby let's go wash our hands and brush our teeth!

(Abby does her toddle waddle off to the bathroom!)
Abby:  Teeth? 
Me:  Yes, Abby you can brush your teeth
Abby: OOOOK!
Me: (A few minutes later) Alright, Abby, it's Momma's turn to brush teeth...(I usually make sure she got all the crevices)
Abby:  No, Mummy, MYSELF!  Eddie's watching.

The bathroom is THE best place for Eddie to show up. 

Santa!

This Christmas season is going to be so.much.fun!  Abby is at an age where she understands the meaning of Santa...well, that he brings presents, that is.  I'm working on how to introduce the religious aspect of the holiday and that will come.  For now, seeing the awe and wonderment in her eyes when she met Santa for the first time this year was priceless.

I had to work a bit late on Friday night and was fearful we were going to miss the Christmas Tree lighting and potentially seeing the man in the big red suit.  A frantic call to my mom and brother led to a quick change in plans.  Mimi rushed through through her evening plans (thanks, Mom!) to scoot down to the park earlier than anticipated.  While we waited for the lights to magically come on, we stopped by city hall where Santa was anxiously waiting his good little girls and boys.

We walked into the room and I couldn't get over the shock in Abby's eyes.  Because Eddie, our elf on the shelf has been visiting, we've been talking about Santa all week.  The surprise of seeing Santa in real life was just awesome.  It wasn't just the reality that Santa really does exist, it was a reminder of our children's innocence.  This innocence should be captured, bottled, and given out in times of despair causeless it is precious and short lived.  

So thanks Mimi and Uncle Chris for shuffling plans for getting to the park in time to meet Santa and **almost** see the lights came on.  They were off when we went in to see Santa, and they were on when we came out! 

Merry Christmas to all and may this holiday season be the happiest of ones for you and your families.