Family Christmas- Part 1

Well, to say Christmas 2010 didn't quite go as planned would be an understatement! My sister and her hubby made it back to my parents house on Tuesday and I really wanted to make it back with enough time to actually spend some time with her. So, April, Maddox and I packed up and headed down Wednesday night.

On our way down Justin gave me a call and said he wasn't feeling too well.

Rewind to Sunday evening.... Maddox wasn't feeling the greatest and from what we can tell, he had the flu. Obviously at the time, we didn't know or we probably wouldn't have went on as though it was something he ate. He was fine by Monday morning.


Here is my family, you wouldn't know by this photo we were all dropping like flies from (or just getting over)
the flu. NOT a fun way to spend the holidays but a memorable one!



Fast forward to Thursday, 5:00 am. It hit ME! I was down for the count and I can honestly say I haven't been that sick in YEARS! Even when I was pregnant and sick all-the-time I didn't feel as terrible as I did that day. It was AWFUL! Thank goodness Maddox and I were down in Iowa 'cuz I would not have been able to care for him on my own. I couldn't move, stay awake, anything!

Friday (Christmas Eve) I woke up and it was like a whole new world. Justin was better as well and he headed down to Iowa to be with us. I was really excited that all of us would get to be at Christmas Eve service together for the first time (which is another story!) We started the service with 8 of us in the church and at one point we were down to 5.... Thank you flu bug!



My parents have changed the farm set up quite a bit these past few years so they gave all 3 of us girls a photo of our farm place from 2010.  The funniest part of this was that JR and I had kept a photo from my  grandma's house after she passed from 1988 and decided to give it to  my dad this year for Christmas.Funny how things work out! 



After church we were able to open most of our presents before my mom had to call it quits. Both she and Trent had been struggling (Trent most of the day) so we called 'er good and headed to bed, hoping they would feel better in the morning which thankfully they did! We were able to open the remaining gifts and even enjoyed a nice warm meal.

  

Justin is a big Leinenkugels Beer fan. He has wanted an oar (novelty item) from there for years but they were always way too expensive...

Earlier this month on our way to Green Bay for a game my parents, sister, and I stopped at the brewery and took a tour. I decided to take a look and see if I could find one. The store actually had 1 in stock and it became MINE!  After talking with the beer sample bartenders, I found out that the brewery owner, Jacob Leinenkugel, would sign it and ship it in time for the holidays. I, of course, jumped at the chance and had it signed with the typical inscriptions with a little twist....

It reads" Enjoy life with Leinies, Go Pack Go!" OK, so maybe the Packer jab was for me, but the rest is just for Justin!
 

Just a few more days Maddox, a few more days.............. (: