Week of Christmas- Day 3..... Friends and Play

Today my friend Linda was scheduled to be induced and have her baby. Over a month or two ago she asked if I could watch her 2 boys should she go into labor. Then things progressed and her doctor said that inducing would be fine (she was technically "due" tomorrow). So her and her husband brought their boys here at 5am, as they needed to be at the hospital by 5:30am.

The boys were W.I.D.E awake when they got here, no going back to bed for me! I put a movie on and piled them on the couch.

My Christmas tree shaped chocolate chip pancakes were a hit!

So, it's been a day of play around here! Lee has been at school all week feverishly working to finish his dissertation. So it was just me with Amy (almost 5), Dallin (5 in March), Caleb (3) and Will (18 mos). Wow- what a loud day today was! The kids had lots of fun- running and running and running and running. I don't think my hallway has ever seen so much action.

For me it was a day of continuously cooking a meal and being the "Mom." By 8:30am, I was already exhausted. The kids were all really good though. At 10am Dallin asked if he could go to sleep, of course I said and enthusiastic "YES!!!" He and his brother slept for 3 hours. (Notice neither of our kids asked to go to sleep).

This is how I kept their cups in check.....

We were going to do something fun tonight, but I decided to save it for tomorrow.  Linda's husband decided to stay with her tonight, so the boys are spending the night as well. So I'm sure I'll need to pull out some tricks! Thankfully Lee will be home all day tomorrow and that will be a HUGE help!! (I can't wait for next year when he won't have a dissertation to complete over Christmas break... he can just have a month off to hang out with us!!)

Oh- and in case you are wondering about sleeping arrangements..... Amy is in her room, Dallin and Caleb are in the twin beds in Will's room and I moved Will's crib into our room. So there is plenty of space if anyone ever wants to come stay! :)

In other news- since this was an uneventful post (though NOT an uneventful day!) here are some pictures that I haven't posted yet.....

Will is our cuddler. When you take him out of his crib, he first hands you his blanket and pillow. Then he wants to snuggle up with you on the couch, or in this chair by himself. Such a cutie!!

This is the mantle idea I had for the stockings. Actually someone else mentioned it and I just copied theirs. I just added vinyl to a white board I found in the garage. Then bought the drawer pulls for $ .25 each at the Re Home Store. I have a 5th one, but Will wandered off with it and we can't seem to find it.... Oh, and I only found 2 stockings as well. We do have more.... but I can't find anything lately...... (plus, secretly I don't care because I want to buy some different ones for next year)

I have a video of opening this gift, but I'll post it later. Aunt Donna/Uncle Mike sent the kids a little something.... and a little surprise for me too. In Amy's gift was this book on Panda's. She won't stop looking at it. She LOVES it. Especially the page with a newborn panda. She said, "When I grow up like Taylor (Swift) and be an animal doctor, I'm going to get to hold one of these!" Thanks guys- this was the perfect book for her!!

And Will is obsessed with the Secret Santa gift. He carries it around everywhere... and it's a little heavy for him so you hear him grunting as he comes down the hallway. I put it under the tree thinking the plain box wouldn't entice him.... I was wrong. Oh- and Ben/Ashley I saw your comment about opening it up. We'll do that tomorrow when our friends leave. Don't want them to get too jealous. :)

So that was Day 3. :)