Christmas...Fun (and Flu)

Well the build up to the month of December was a whole lot of talk this year and not much play.  The week before Christmas and several days before his first school Christmas program Drew got the flu.  Lucky for us we caught it fast and all got some meds.  He never ran fever and was able to be part of the big show.  Bad news - the flu this year was following by the "stomach flu" 7 days later.  Luckily we got in a few days in between of Christmas fun ringing the salvation army bell and going to check out Christmas lights.  But then two days before Christmas we were confined to our house sick...sick with the flu and sick that we were missing Christmas.  Both boys rebounded and woke up ready to go Christmas morning.  Unfortunately mom wasn't so lucky.  By 10am I was in bed asleep.  I am told Kevin bypassed our traditional Christmas lunch and opted for the more popular hot dogs and potato chips.  Plans were to head to Dallas the day after Christmas to meet most of my family at Great Wolf Lodge.  We had already told the boys and we all needed out of the house.  So thanks to some friends with Rx pads and some phenegren we hit the road to Dallas.  I honestly don't remember much about the drive or the first day there, but the boys tell me it was a blast.  I finally recovered by the last day and got to enjoy some family time. 

 These two boys are inseparable most days.  They were excited to get some play time in after the school Christmas party.  I don't think I have ever heard two cuter laughs playing together. 

 Not to be mistaken for Halloween - Owen was also a pirate for his Christmas program. 

So stinking cute. 

 Christmas PJs are the best.

We continued our tradition of 3 gifts.

Drew will tell you Santa only brings three, but the postman brings a lot more - joys of family all over the country sending Christmas.

Drew got a toolbox, hiking boots and....drumroll please...a dual engine, heavy duty, gas powered backpack blower.  Yes, that's right, the things the landscaping companies use.  No, they don't make them for children.  Yes, it was very hard to find one that was safe and light enough to carry by a 5 year old.  After much searching by Santa and even some discussions about what MacGyver (i.e. Dad) might need to do to help Santa - one was finally located. 

Owen was a little easier.  A tricycle - he asked for this after going face first down the driveway on the neighbors - note the safety straps on this one.  A tractor and a set of garden tools.  Yard work seemed to be the theme this year.   

And that is where the Christmas day pictures stopped.  It wasn't pretty for mom or dad after that..
Then we woke up and headed to Dallas - Great Wolf had no idea what they were getting this year.  Luckily Granny and Aunt Pam were there to help.  You can see from the pics the boys were unfazed by it all.