Christmas and Nana and Papa's

After a looooong and sometimes painful trip through airports, we made our way to Nana and Papa Joe's for Christmas.  The week was, as always, too short (seemed that way anyway) and filled with fun...and illness (of course).   Poor little Ry guy had been off antibiotics for a whopping 10 days before he got sick again.  Unfortunately, the doctor we saw felt that it was allergies and offered no antibiotics for relief.  We did manage to get through and he is now on meds and feeling much better...for now.  Sean also started to feel under the weather after Christmas.  He ended up with a fever and later diagnosed with tonsillitis.  He too is doing better.

Christmas Eve, we had our traditional evening.  We went to mass (thank you Uncle Pete for watching Ryan so we could have a peaceful experience) and Chinese food when we got home.   The food was good, despite the service.   Christmas day, we opened presents, ate breakfast and were joined by my aunt Rosemary, her family and my uncle Ken and his family. It was a wonderful day.  Sean and Ryan loved the attention of the "big kids".  

After Christmas, Tony, Sean and I went skiing with my friend Michelle and her family.  He took to it like a duck to water.  Unbelievable riding the chairlift and everything.  Those pics are on my other camera...keep watching for them.

The boys enjoyed trips to city hall to skate and playing outside, building forts and tobogganing in the backyard with Papa.

Tony and I managed to get out for a grownup night with friends and for New Year's Eve.  It was great to be able to catch up in person.  

Unfortunately the trip home was as much of a disaster as the one there.  We got stuck in Detroit and got home a day late.  

Things here are starting to settle down. Toys have found places to "live", Christmas decorations are down ... inside anyway.  Tony is preparing for the RV and Sport Show this weekend and I am prepping for our trip to Cancun in 2 weeks!  Ya, I need a break already!

Sprinkling "Christmas dust" (from preschool to help Santa find his way) and leaving carrots for the reindeer.

Milk and cookies are by the tree...we're ready.

Ryan surveying what Santa and Nana and Papa have left under the tree.

Wow, a real  big boy hockey bag!!  On wheels even...now Mr. Independent can carry his own equipment.

Helping Papa put Baby Jesus in the Nativity scene.

Daddy setting up some toys.  

Sean and his goofy glasses.  Ryan loves these too.

Building with magnets.