Christmas roundup

This post should be about 10 different blog entries, but Christmas has come and gone and I have not sat down (for writing or much else) in weeks.  So here it is, all smashed up and thrown together like a Christmas fruitcake.  A Barkalow Christmas.  

We began with school parties.  Rosie and Andy had a ball at theirs.  Bubbles, candy and games and a lot of fourth grade silliness.  Zadie would have loved her party, too, I'm sure, if she hadn't been at home with the throw up bug that day.  Poor sweet Zadie, I think her friends will write in her yearbook, "were you in my class?   I don't remember seeing you... oh yeah, you're the one who was always out with the throw up bug."

She did recover in time for a trip to the zoo light festival with our friends Abby and Michael.

Rosie was there, too, but was acting too beastly to get in any of the pictures.  Two year olds are not at their best at 8:00 at night.  Neither are mommys.

Then, we spent 6 hours in the car last Saturday so that Andy could see his favorite cousin (also his only cousin).  He says it was totally worth it.

And the girls got lots of presents, so they went willingly.

Did I mention there was weaponry?

 And swinging?

And people who love us?

Yeah, it was worth the drive.

We also managed to gather a few friends for our annual gingerbread house building party.  I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that over half of the families we invited this year were down with the flu.  They were sweet enough not to share it with us.

This was also the first year Rosie made a gingerbread house.  She wouldn't let anyone help AT ALL.  So it was a bit of fun mixed with a bit of frustrated toddler screaming, but it wouldn't be a Barkalow party without a two year old throw down.

We made it to church on Tuesday night (almost) on time, but of course not early enough to stop for a picture of children in their nice Christmas clothes.  I'll settle for this one in their Christmas pjs.  Look, no one throwing up!  A Christmas miracle.

 Santa came, presents were opened, games were played, messes were made, cleaned, and remade.

Am I a terrible person if I say I'm glad it's over?

Now we have two weeks to recover, eat leftovers, and learn lots of new ways to use our rainbow loom.   I may not take my pajamas off for the next 10 days.... and it's not just because I've eaten so many cookies they're the only thing I have that still fits.  Although that is also true.

Merry Christmas, y'all!  I sure hope you don't have the throw up bug!