The House is Quiet

Well, it's Saturday night and my house is quiet. Mom & Dad left from here (they came in on Wednesday) to go get my Nana and bring her back here tomorrow for Christmas. Kids are all in bed. It's eerily quiet. So, I thought I'd take a minute and give a synopsis on my week.

Saturday I went on a date with my hubby to celebrate our anniversary. We've been married 8 years. We drove down to the Woodlands mall, did some shopping, and then ate at Papadeaux using a $50 gift certificate that Easy got from work. Yea free food!

Sunday we had friends over for our annual Christmas party for our internet business. We had 13 children here - the oldest was 8. Thank goodness it was warm enought to send them outside! Sadly that meant it was hot inside because our heater AND air conditioner weren't working properly.

Monday we spent the day working on the potty thing with Tripp.

Tuesday (our actual anniversary) We spent the day working on potty training with Tripp. My hubby came in briefly after work before he had to attend a meeting. We made plans for a romantic rendevouz later that night. Sadly, while Easy was gone Viv's spiked 103 fever. No romance.

Wednesday I took Viv to the doctor where they switched the antibiotic she was taking to something else that would "hold us over" until we go see the ENT next Tuesday. Graggie & Dadoo (that's my folks) arrive for Christmas vacation at the Foster's. Took the kids to see Santa's Wonderland (an amazing lights display that is ALMOST worth the $20 a car the charge to drive through). Went out to eat at Sodalak's to celebrate my husband turning 30. Finally he can stop poking fun at me for being 30 because he is too!

Thursday:
Finished all Christmas shopping and wrapping.

Finished Viv's stocking. Well, mostly. It has a Teddy Bear that gets stitched into the big snowman's arms and I didn't finish that. The instructions even tell you to put the whole thing together and then do the teddy bear. It's almost as though they know that mommies everywhere will frantically being trying to finish the stocking in time so they just give you an out. The bear will be done after Christmas. The important part is that she has a stocking - already full of stuffers - for Christmas morning.

Did the big grocery shop with my Mom. Last time we had Christmas at my house was two years ago and it was a MUCH smaller house with a MUCH MUCH smaller kitchen. I think this year will be a more pleasant cooking experience.

Friday we had Mimi & Papa & Christopher (Easy's mom, stepdad, and we'll call him a step-nephew - it's really complicated) up for our little Christmas with them. We all went out to lunch and had a blast. Then we did the present thing. Fun all around. That night after the two little ones went to bed, Mom and I played a rousing game of Pretty Pretty Princess with our princess Paris followed by a game of Go Fish that Easy and my Dad joined. It was a wonderful day.

That brings us to today - the first true family day we've had in I don't know when. After my folks left we lounged around a while and then went to Petco and the mall. We came home and had naptime - everyone napped except Tripp. He played in his room. Then we loaded back up and went out to see the lights at Central Park. We were hoping to get out and walked the park, but it was raining so we stayed in the warm suburban.

Amidst all the activity this week we were able to make MAJOR progress with Tripp's potty training. He now goes over to his potty when he needs to go TT. He even went twice today in the little potty we keep in the car. He has demonstrated that he can feel it coming, and he has also learned to let it go. It's not always easy or fun but we are definitely getting there! I'm gonna go - Easy and I are going to watch Click now that the kids are all in bed. Hope you all have a great Christmas - ours is has already been fantastic and it's just getting started!