Happy 2013

I can not believe it is already 2013! Not sure about yours, but Christmas break flew by at our house.  We had a wonderful holiday season filled with lots of fun, family and good times!

Carter of  course got the flu 2 days before Christmas.  I mean really, the child just had it not even 2 months ago.  Never again will I do the flu mist.

I think we got it early this time, because he never really felt that bad expect for 3 hours on night.  I am taking that as a good sign and another learning lesson for him.  He came home from school today and told me how he used hand sanitizer before lunch; this is one proud mama right now.  Not to mention, Santa brought both kids hand sanitizer for their stockins.

Both kids were so excited about Santa coming to visit this year, but it is always a little sad the night before knowing our Elf on the Shelf, Character, will be leaving again until next year.  The kids stood in front of him and told him how much they loved him and will miss him.  Too cute, but once again I am so excited that I have one whole year (okay, a little less than a year now), before I have to remember to move him every single night.  I only forgot once this year and it was the first night he had made his appearance too.

I think Natalie's face was the best on Christmas morning this year.  Doc McStuffins was sitting right under the tree.  She could not get down the stairs fast enough.  Only to open her stocking a few minutes later and was stunned that Santa knew and brought her favorite candy, smarties.  She still talks about how he knew. 

Carter loved Christmas too!  I am not sure about Larry though.  He got to spend most of the day putting legos together.  I finally looked at him after he had been complaining off and on for 3 hours and said, "Bet you do not make the mistake of not helping me buy presents next year, huh?" 

I did not think of it at the time of buying presents, but what an awesome lesson for Larry.  I bet come next November he is right by my side at Toys R Us...Point One for this Mommy and Wife!

Larry's family came in 2 days after Christmas to celebrate in Amarillo with us.  We had a lot of fun.  The kids had a blast playing together. 

We then went on to Taos, NM to go skiing.  Larry's parents stay in Amarillo with Natalie. I do not know if she will ever be able to handle Taos.  The pass is 9300 ft!  Larry and I now monitor elevation on my car when we travel to new places.  Guess that is what happens when you have a little one with a special heart.

Carter and Larry

Caleb Harrell, Kalei Aurit, Zac Harrell and Carter

Carter and his cousins had a blast skiing!  It snowed 15 inches on New Year's Eve.  The snow and skiing were amazing.  I will have to post more pictures later of the cars that were literally buried in the snow.  That morning we parked my car to go skiing and when we got back in the car that evening, the snow was past my knees!

The mountain lost power as well and was running of the generator.  We were actually about to get on a chair lift (still thanking God that we were not on it) that shut down.  The ski patrol ended up having to get the people off the lift. I do not know how they did nor do I really want to know, but everyone was safely removed off the lift.  All I knew, was that after standing there 15 - 20 minutes waiting for them to try and get the lift back running, I decided:

A. I was not getting on that lift until it had been running fine for at least 30 mins. and

B. I was not getting on another lift until I went to the bathroom first

We all had a wonderful time skiing, however come to find out that the place we stayed had a few issues to say the least.  Luckily, Larry and I decided to stay in a smaller room in the center of the house we had rented.  The two back rooms had, just wait for it...bed bugs! Gross, Gross, Gross!

Then, the hot tube had some issue too and caused a few people to get rashes.  I am happy to say I never even stepped close to the hot tube and ever time Carter got out of it, he went straight to the shower. 

Larry and I were lucky and never had bed bug issues.  Carter has what looks like one, maybe two bites and small rash that is now gone from the hot tube.  It was like the house that keeps on giving!

We have all taken the precautions necessary to make sure we did not bring any little guys home with us and are monitoring our beds to be sure.  So far, Larry and I think we are good, but we will still be checking.  We left my car and bags outside in the freezing weather since we have been home and I have washed all of our clothes on high heat.  I am hoping what might have saved us, is this place does not have carpet or really rugs anywhere and from what I have read, bed bugs to not like slippery floors. 

I am still praying for Larry's sisters and their families.  They were not as lucky as us in terms of getting bitten and rashes, but they have all gone to the doctor, so I am hoping the are on the mends.

What an awesome start to 2013, huh?  Bet you wish you were us?  There are worse things in the world and I am just happy we had fun and no one ended up coming back to Amarillo to stay with us another night..just kidding, but not really.  His whole family was going to come stay one night with us on their way back to Austin, but decided to go another way.  I can only image what we would be doing to our house right now, all those bags, blankets and pillows with whatever, if anything on them everywhere in our home.  That almost gives me a headache to think about it. 

Natalie had a blast with Larry's parents.  She had them all to herself and enjoyed every minute of it.  They played puzzles, painted, made necklaces and Natalie learned to sew. 

Natalie after necklace making

Natalie's first sewing class

Poor Jo Anne, Larry's mom, did not have such a great time the last day.  She got the stomach bug and was in bed for a day.  Luckily, no one else got it and she feels fine now, but man, that is no way to start a new year either. 

 I am praying we got all the yucky stuff for our year over with already...could I be so lucky? Guess we will find out as the year goes. Welcome and bring it on 2013!