Christmas 2015
Christmas was wonderful - amazing - magical...but I think the entire Bach family is happy to start settling back into some type of routine!
I just need to go back an highlight a few Christmas Activities - including Breakfast with Santa at the Q. Oliver...not so impressed with Santa. Classic!
On December 20th my parents took Eleanor to The Nutcracker for her birthday. But, I wasn't going to let them take over my childhood tradition without me! Eleanor LOVED the Nutcracker - so much more this year then when she went 2 years ago. She's still showing us all the dance moves she learned...
We left Oliver at home with Grandma and Grandpa Bach and after the performance we grabbed some birthday drinks and desserts!
Then, of course, it can't be Christmas without mentioning Eleanor's birthday! On December 23 we went out to dinner to celebrate Eleanor's birthday. It's birthday tradition - on your birthday you get to pick dinner - we'll cook you anything - or take you anywhere. No one can veto or trump the birthday wish. Eleanor picked Applebees. She does love it there, but totally picked it just so the waiters would sing to her!
I've already talked about this - but how is she 7? And really - is she not the most beautiful girl in the entire world? Gah! She makes my heart explode!
So, when we got home from dinner, we put Oliver to bed and then got to open Birthday presents.
We got Eleanor a Barbie bike to symbolize the fact that we will buy her a new two wheel bike when spring comes. Of course, Andy and I didn't realize it was going to be 50 degrees at Christmas and that really buying her a bike in December might not be that impractical - thank goodness for our current snow storm to confirm why we are waiting to buy the bike! And really, she was just as happy with the Barbie bike...probably because she doesn't care if she ever really rides a two wheel bike...
On December 24 Andy, Oliver and I went to get Eleanor out of bed around 6:30 AM. She ran around her room and down to the Christmas tree, so excited that Santa came. We had to explain that it was her birthday and that Santa would come tonight - TOMORROW morning. We settled in to open family presents. Oliver was rather indifferent about opening presents. Eleanor tried very hard to be thankful and grateful for each present, but really just wanted to open more and more.
Please note the picture by Andy's coffee mug...I thought it was so sweet that Eleanor colored pictures for me, Andy, and Oliver, wrapped them, and put them under the tree.
After the first present opening extravaganza, we enjoyed some birthday cinnamon rolls, complete with candles and more singing.
Around 9:07 we left for Andy's dad and step-mom's - only 7 minutes late. Andy's two sisters (and families) were there already and everyone greeted Eleanor with big Birthday wishes! Eleanor kicked off the marathon with opening birthday presents. Then we all moved on to Christmas presents. It was an organized chaos with a combination of the girls wanting to hand out gifts as quickly as people could open them. Oliver just wanted Eleanor's birthday present. He really thinks it's his!
We feed Oliver some lunch and Andy managed to get him down for a much needed nap. We all hung out in the living room, enjoying the sunshine...I also got to enjoy cuddles and a brief nap from my newest nephew "Oakley" - Melissa and Fred's new puppy. Andy's Aunt Sue, Uncle Ken and cousins come over sometime around noonish - Oliver managed to sleep through all the excitement and commotion -- THANK GOSH! We ate some lunch and just hung out until Oliver woke up.
Andy's niece realized that Oliver and I were dressed the same...I SWEAR this was not intentional! These things just happen! I get one dressed and have the image in my head...and end up wearing the same darn. thing. He looks thrilled about it!
Around 1:40 we leave and head to Cedarburg. Eleanor talked the entire way there to avoid falling asleep and at one point we thought we were going to lose Oliver to another nap. We got to my parents and made a quick drop off of Oliver and turned around right away to leave for 3:30 mass. We left at 2:40 and had to sit in the basement because their church was already full! I was pretty bummed and manage to fake/not fake pout: no Oliver AND watching Christmas Mass, at a church other than Holy Apostles, on TV! But I'm with family and the kids do GREAT! Collin and I might be the worst behaved - giggling and whispering through the homily. After church we head home and Grandma informs us she received a surprise Christmas present while we were gone - 30 minute nap with Oliver, holding him the entire time! At my parents, there are tons of munchies - and PRESENTS! This year (as I believe was the case last year) we did away with a formal sit down dinner and instead opted for munchies...Everyone brings such great things! Anyway - presents were getting soggy under the tree with Eleanor drooling over all of them! She wanted to open all of her presents right away - Oliver was still indifferent.
Oliver's cousins got him a Seahawks hat...which I totally don't approve of!
We end the night with "Pie Face", which is hilarious! Except that Oliver cries with grandpa gets pie in his face!
We are in the car around 8:11 PM - Oliver fell asleep instantly, but Eleanor fought it as long as she could. Once home we shuttle both kiddos off to bed and receive our own Christmas surprise - Karl got into Andy's Snoopy Snow Cone Machine maker and I have red #40 dye on my brown/beige carpeting. Of course, we do not have pictures of this event....I'm about as mad as I have ever been at Karl. Actually...I AM as mad as I have ever been. Andy - and the dog - keep their distance from the raving lunatic on her hands and knees in the living room, trying to blot up the dye!
That night Oliver has his worst night since he was an infant - up almost every 20 - 40 minutes! It was a horrible long night! Andy ended up with Oliver in his room; both of them asleep in the glider. Somehow I manage to sleep until 7:15! I fly downstairs - Why didn't anyone wake me?? Eleanor must be going crazy wanting to open presents! Once downstairs I discover Eleanor is watching TV with Oliver. She totally forgot it was Christmas morning!
I ask her if she thought Santa came - her eyes light up and she runs into the living room - HE CAME! MORE PRESENTS - Oliver is still indifferent. Eleanor wants to play with her presents and we finally have time to let her! Having time to relax in the morning without having to rush off to church makes watching Christmas Eve mass on TV worth while.
We head to Andy's mom's and step-dad's around 9:30. Andy's sisters and their families are there already and his step-siblings quickly join us. This year, even his step-grandparents were there for the chaos of present opening. All in all, there were 24 of us! And that's just immediate family! Everyone is handing out presents and opening presents and being excited and happy! It's just great!!
Andy's mom made a HUGE breakfast for us with 2 different casseroles, homemade cinnamon rolls and Polish Sausage. YUM! Oliver mows 4 pieces of polish sausage. After breakfast the Bachs ran home so that everyone could nap - and we all did! Once Oliver wakes up we are off to Christmas #4! To Great Grandma's around 2:30 where we are joined by more cousins, aunts, uncles AND...MORE PRESENTS!! Even Santa comes to this party!
The last present of the marathon and Oliver FINALLY gets it. It takes him about 15 minutes to open it - but he opens it. And then he walks away...
One of the awesome traditions at Grandma's house is the adult White Elephant exchange. This year it was LITERALLY a white elephant exchange.
Then it was time to eat...because we hadn't eaten enough already! More ham - more polish sausage - more, more, more!! Then, finally, it was time to just sit back and relax. We all kind of wandered from room to room talk to family. The kids ran around and played.
At 7 we packed up and head home. We were both a little fearful of the night ahead, but Oliver went to bed nicely - so did Eleanor - and both slept well.
It was SOOOO early :-) We needed more ibuprofen...and so....of course...we needed more Bailey's. Always more Bailey's! Part of Oliver's sleep problems from the night before was the fact that he is certainly getting his bottom two molars (which is great since he only has 2 teeth on the bottom!)
We sit down for - what feels like - the first time in days and enjoy some Bailey's (this is not, sadly, a sponsored post!) in our cheesey dollar store classes...
It was a crazy two days. But it was Christmas and it was wonderful. I have the most amazing family! I'm so lucky. I'm so blessed. And I really tried to just take in each moment and not try to rush through it.
Our tree...well...it's ready to come down!
I just need to go back an highlight a few Christmas Activities - including Breakfast with Santa at the Q. Oliver...not so impressed with Santa. Classic!
We left Oliver at home with Grandma and Grandpa Bach and after the performance we grabbed some birthday drinks and desserts!
Then, of course, it can't be Christmas without mentioning Eleanor's birthday! On December 23 we went out to dinner to celebrate Eleanor's birthday. It's birthday tradition - on your birthday you get to pick dinner - we'll cook you anything - or take you anywhere. No one can veto or trump the birthday wish. Eleanor picked Applebees. She does love it there, but totally picked it just so the waiters would sing to her!
So, when we got home from dinner, we put Oliver to bed and then got to open Birthday presents.
We got Eleanor a Barbie bike to symbolize the fact that we will buy her a new two wheel bike when spring comes. Of course, Andy and I didn't realize it was going to be 50 degrees at Christmas and that really buying her a bike in December might not be that impractical - thank goodness for our current snow storm to confirm why we are waiting to buy the bike! And really, she was just as happy with the Barbie bike...probably because she doesn't care if she ever really rides a two wheel bike...
On December 24 Andy, Oliver and I went to get Eleanor out of bed around 6:30 AM. She ran around her room and down to the Christmas tree, so excited that Santa came. We had to explain that it was her birthday and that Santa would come tonight - TOMORROW morning. We settled in to open family presents. Oliver was rather indifferent about opening presents. Eleanor tried very hard to be thankful and grateful for each present, but really just wanted to open more and more.
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| Pay attention - the Snow Cone Machine makes a reappearance later in the blog |
After the first present opening extravaganza, we enjoyed some birthday cinnamon rolls, complete with candles and more singing.
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| It was a LEGO Christmas for Eleanor! It's all she asked for! |
Andy's niece realized that Oliver and I were dressed the same...I SWEAR this was not intentional! These things just happen! I get one dressed and have the image in my head...and end up wearing the same darn. thing. He looks thrilled about it!
Around 1:40 we leave and head to Cedarburg. Eleanor talked the entire way there to avoid falling asleep and at one point we thought we were going to lose Oliver to another nap. We got to my parents and made a quick drop off of Oliver and turned around right away to leave for 3:30 mass. We left at 2:40 and had to sit in the basement because their church was already full! I was pretty bummed and manage to fake/not fake pout: no Oliver AND watching Christmas Mass, at a church other than Holy Apostles, on TV! But I'm with family and the kids do GREAT! Collin and I might be the worst behaved - giggling and whispering through the homily. After church we head home and Grandma informs us she received a surprise Christmas present while we were gone - 30 minute nap with Oliver, holding him the entire time! At my parents, there are tons of munchies - and PRESENTS! This year (as I believe was the case last year) we did away with a formal sit down dinner and instead opted for munchies...Everyone brings such great things! Anyway - presents were getting soggy under the tree with Eleanor drooling over all of them! She wanted to open all of her presents right away - Oliver was still indifferent.
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| Apparently I have started the tradition of buying calendars for the kids for Christmas - Year 2...it can be considered a tradition! |
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| Oliver loves Eleanor's chair so much, it was time to buy his own! |
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| All about oils book!! |
Oliver's cousins got him a Seahawks hat...which I totally don't approve of!
We end the night with "Pie Face", which is hilarious! Except that Oliver cries with grandpa gets pie in his face!
We are in the car around 8:11 PM - Oliver fell asleep instantly, but Eleanor fought it as long as she could. Once home we shuttle both kiddos off to bed and receive our own Christmas surprise - Karl got into Andy's Snoopy Snow Cone Machine maker and I have red #40 dye on my brown/beige carpeting. Of course, we do not have pictures of this event....I'm about as mad as I have ever been at Karl. Actually...I AM as mad as I have ever been. Andy - and the dog - keep their distance from the raving lunatic on her hands and knees in the living room, trying to blot up the dye!
That night Oliver has his worst night since he was an infant - up almost every 20 - 40 minutes! It was a horrible long night! Andy ended up with Oliver in his room; both of them asleep in the glider. Somehow I manage to sleep until 7:15! I fly downstairs - Why didn't anyone wake me?? Eleanor must be going crazy wanting to open presents! Once downstairs I discover Eleanor is watching TV with Oliver. She totally forgot it was Christmas morning!
I ask her if she thought Santa came - her eyes light up and she runs into the living room - HE CAME! MORE PRESENTS - Oliver is still indifferent. Eleanor wants to play with her presents and we finally have time to let her! Having time to relax in the morning without having to rush off to church makes watching Christmas Eve mass on TV worth while.
We head to Andy's mom's and step-dad's around 9:30. Andy's sisters and their families are there already and his step-siblings quickly join us. This year, even his step-grandparents were there for the chaos of present opening. All in all, there were 24 of us! And that's just immediate family! Everyone is handing out presents and opening presents and being excited and happy! It's just great!!
Andy's mom made a HUGE breakfast for us with 2 different casseroles, homemade cinnamon rolls and Polish Sausage. YUM! Oliver mows 4 pieces of polish sausage. After breakfast the Bachs ran home so that everyone could nap - and we all did! Once Oliver wakes up we are off to Christmas #4! To Great Grandma's around 2:30 where we are joined by more cousins, aunts, uncles AND...MORE PRESENTS!! Even Santa comes to this party!
The last present of the marathon and Oliver FINALLY gets it. It takes him about 15 minutes to open it - but he opens it. And then he walks away...
One of the awesome traditions at Grandma's house is the adult White Elephant exchange. This year it was LITERALLY a white elephant exchange.
Then it was time to eat...because we hadn't eaten enough already! More ham - more polish sausage - more, more, more!! Then, finally, it was time to just sit back and relax. We all kind of wandered from room to room talk to family. The kids ran around and played.
At 7 we packed up and head home. We were both a little fearful of the night ahead, but Oliver went to bed nicely - so did Eleanor - and both slept well.
It was SOOOO early :-) We needed more ibuprofen...and so....of course...we needed more Bailey's. Always more Bailey's! Part of Oliver's sleep problems from the night before was the fact that he is certainly getting his bottom two molars (which is great since he only has 2 teeth on the bottom!)
We sit down for - what feels like - the first time in days and enjoy some Bailey's (this is not, sadly, a sponsored post!) in our cheesey dollar store classes...
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