All I want for Christmas {fill in the blank}

Disclaimer: Oh how I had grander ideas of what this blog would look like. It is Christmas after all. With amazing pictures and clever commentary. Oh how I wish I wrote well. But life got in in the way. We will chalk it up to "maybe next year". But now, for the this year's reality.

This Christmas as been the mostly challenging two weeks of Motherhood so far. I am going to get out of few of the frustrations first and then I will keep it positive (I hope). What is all boils down to in everyone being sick. A round of ear infections for Lu, couple with a vomiting/diarrhea stomach virus for Aaron and Lu, tripled with a (doctor says 14 day long) head cold and cough for Aaron, Luella and Me. There it's out and it's done, I am sure all of you out there get my point.
Here is how the week began. Friends Jason, Vale and their daughter Olivia visited from Chile to start of the break. The rain and by rain I mean it poured non-stop for the four days they were here. We all, with Charla and Brooklyn attempted to go see Santa at Irvine Park. Let's just say it wasn't crowded and we were wet!

We asked Luella if she wanted to sit on Santa's Lap...She said "no, no, no" very passively. She was a bit confused and we didn't push the issue...thanks to these helpful hints.

Here are our friends. Jason used to be Aaron's roommate at UC Davis.

Overall, it was short, it was fun and it was memorable. This is the gang on the train to so see Santa.

Getting pictures these day, or I should say getting good pictures these days is hard. Luella is always on the move. Nonetheless, we tried to capture a few of the dads and the girls. Here is was we got!

You can tell Aaron is starting not to feel so great!

 Luella's classic "Brooklyn-Tickle" to Oli! Nice face Lu!

Cute little Olivia at 7 months.

The guests left and a few hours later Lu and Aaron got sick (they seriously threw-up within 10 minutes of each other...and by the way my anxiety of throw-up in now gone) and then a little better, which allowed us to make a mad dash to get ready for Christmas. Everything we thought we get done in 4 days, we did in one. I am sure this is pretty typical.

Luella is helping us wrap the "silly presents" for my side of the family. Everyone gets things like crown, pencils, tissues and this years highlight, a Backstreet Boy's coffee table book.

In the end, the presents were wrapped and the house was disastrous.

Christmas Eve we ate at Tantalum. We wanted to start a new tradition and go to Disneyland, but we were not feeling up to it. So instead we went to dinner and surprised my mom by celebrating her birthday (a day early) and then went to go look at the lights in Naples.

There was live music at the restaurant and Luella couldn't get enough. She danced, and danced and asked and signed for "more, please" when the music stopped.

 She loved the lights, was finally happy and eat her first whole mini candy cane! 

All was well, we were ready for Christmas morning! I was a little disappointed we did not have cute pajamas as I had hoped, but we were ready. Luella was just about a sleep and then it happened again, more throw-up, all over me and what would have been the cute matching pajamas!

We finally got everything cleaned up and all went to sleep. The morning came and it was amazing (even if we didn't feel well). Luella loved delivering present to her papa and watching me open hers.

 Santa did good. He got her a Buckle monkey and Toothpaste (her fav!).

 Aaron was also pleased with his gifts!

And it wouldn't Be Christmas without a little Gabba Gabba!

Oh wait I almost forgot....I loved this view every Christmas morning.

 

The day continued and we went to Aaron's family's and then to my moms.

Each year I buy something for my sisters (usually themed) from etsy.com. I like to help people who are usually working moms with a stay at home biz. This year it was Fedoras!

After all the hustle and bustle, we ended up back home sick and ready to get well. The rest of Christmas break has been long and exhausted. We have been at home recovering. 

Luella has been happy coloring on her new table! Coloring is one of her new favs!

And last night we saw an ounce of relief in her. Here silly self was coming back and she decided to make a skittles wrapper hat! The pictures are awful, but she was so cute I had to share.

Ahhh, and we are done. The break is almost over. I am looking forward to getting back on a routine and being healthy. I am ready to have my little girl back that kisses me when she wakes up, who wants to jumpy jump, and is obsessed with her little ouchies on her hand and foot. I love my talker who tells everyone Hi and Merry Christmas; my determined little girl who knows when she is ready to leave by telling everyone goodbye and going to door (regardless if it is really time to leave yet). My little one who eyes light up when she sees her papa and wants me and him to notice when she is eating using her spoon right, or just put the duplo block in the right spot, or colored Brobee green. 

This Christmas was one to remember....through the vomit, the poop, the tears (mostly mine) and the snot I am happy to have my family and most of all, such an amazing husband, sicker then me, who took care of his two girls.