Ugh!

I started out last week with the stomach flu.  Yay ,I could stay home from work....argh, I was really sick! Yay, the kids really helped out and brought me tissues and water and slippers and GAVE ME THE REMOTE!  Argh, I spent alot of time in the bathroom.  Yay, I got about 20 hours of sleep.  Argh, I am now so behind in housework, homework and Christmas shopping.
 Somehow, it is all ok.

For the first time in about 3 years I actually sent out Christmas cards! 

Saturday night Gene had some pain in his abdomen (thought maybe it was appendicitis).  He never complains about pain and has a high tolerance.  So, this worried me.  Jacob was having trouble sleeping so he went with us about midnight over to the ER.  This was the first time I've ever been to the Emergency room.  Gene immediately got sick (lost all of the turkey dinner we had just eaten- we had a belated celebration of Thanksgiving).  They did alot of tests that took hours (unbelievably slow!)  Finally about 2:30 got him some pain meds that actually worked.  Did an iodine drink and CT scan of his innards to pinpoint the problem.  Turns out his gall bladder was really inflamed and not functioning correctly.
It was so bad the surgeon said it was in super bad shape and he SHOULD have been in pain for a long time (it was a chronic inflamation, irritation).  He had many gall stones and if one of them had tried to pass while it was inflamed, it could have been really bad...
They scheduled him for surgery Sun. morning.  It was a really long night (I got home with Jacob about 5 am) and slept for 2 hours and then took the kids back to the hospital to see him about 9:30.  He had surgery about 12 and all went well.  They are doing follow-up tests today and will need about a week off of work.
A forced vacation right before Christmas.  It's a wonderful blessing and I'm so grateful all went well.

Favorite ways to "hug" after family prayer.

I didn't get pictures while we decorated....but, the tree is up! 

Our view out the hotel window after the snowfall.  Which one is our rental car?  can't tell.

Emily very happily playing her kazoo and watching the snow outside.

Gene very much enjoying his quiet time. (during the breaks between kazooing)

Thank goodness one of these came with the rental.  Otherwise we would have to wait a few days for the thaw.

The pool was a little chilly but, way fun.

We had time for a few movies ...Puss in Boots, Arthur Christmas( and for Moms) Breaking Dawn.

We enjoyed the outdoors is small doses. 

Piggy back rides for the little cousins.  A fun past-time while visiting grandma's house.

Brielle age 6 with Emily and Brynnlee age 4 with Tara.

Emily always finds time to play with Muffin.

Hats made by my friend Tess for all the girl cousins. 

My youngest brother Joe and my Mom.

Diana (Joe's wife) with son Elijah and soon to be new baby Marcus.

Cousins

Enjoying Taco salad.  Emily, Alayna and Elijah.

Elijah, Kris (my sister)  and a couple of her kids -Oldest grandchild Marisa and Tyler Hart.

Hailey  (Joe and Diana's) eating a pilgrim hat. 

The beginning of the trip...Denver airport

Really Dad?  A malibu?  There is no way we are all fitting us and all our stuff in that car!

Jacob waiting for the airplane to arrive.

We barely fit into a Equinox.....everyone was happy here but, not used to sitting so close.  By the time we got to grandmas we were a bit more grumpy.

The first snowflakes of the season preserved momentarily on the girl's heads.

The Ellen Eccles Theater. We got a private tour.  Did a little leap on the stage , saw backstage and ran all the way up to the top seats.

Emily yelling hello to us in the balcony seats.

All the girl cousins who love pink.  Brooklyn, eh, not so much...but, she wanted to be in the picture.

Tara meeting her soon to be aunt Diana.

Jonathan just chillin and texting after showing us his awesome house.

Jonathan and Diana's new puppy Sinjin.

Fluffy the wolf dog....loves the snow.

Wedding favorites

Andrea's art

My ol' friend Andrea Larsen took these photos of the kids.  I've been wanting to do a fall photo shoot most of their lives....we finally got it all together....and  they turned out great.

They look like they actually like each other and are having fun.  (which is true for the most part)

The thing that started this color palate was Emily's socks. 

We tried a few hats here and there.  It helps when they are in the dress -up mood from Halloween.

I think Emily his a cowgirl at heart (deep down)

This is where we told the joke "why did the ballerina wear the tutu?"

Because the three-three was too big and the one-one was too small.

Great reaction.  My favorite look on Jake's face is that grin.

This one is going to go on his wall by all his star wars legos.

Someone thought Tara was 14 this week......remind you of someone?

Love her toe kicking up and shoulders shrugging...she was giggling about something (I didn't hear)

More photos are on Andrea's website...I'll see if I can link it.