You would not believe who called me at 8:40 am on Monday morning. The Bellevue Department of Transportation. Yep. It’s a Christmas miracle. Apparently, they work all year round, Christmas vacation included. I was so happy to pick up that flute. Now we get to listen to Elyse play Christmas medleys for the next 2 weeks.
Yesterday we had a gaggle of girls (and one 18 month old brother) over to build and decorate ginger bread houses. I was feeling very Martha Steward when I whipped up a double batch of frosting (the second Christmas miracle–usually frosting and I don’t get along very well) and set out about 20 different candy toppings and let the girls get to work. I think I may have gotten overly ambitious though, when, midway through the party, I offered to let my friend Kelli leave her 2 girls and her 18 month old son while she ran an errand and I cleaned up all the gingerbread mess, and made lunch for everyone. Everyone being: 7 girls, Harry, and 18 month old Landon. Kelli was gone for maybe 5 minutes when Landon realized she was no where in sight and started to cry. I was able to distract him with Tickle Me Elmo, and then tried to hold him while sweeping the floor. Eventually Landon wanted down, but then he pinched his finger in the toy motorcycle, started crying again, and so I gave up on cleaning and read a couple of stories to him. This worked for a little while, but eventually he just wanted his mom. I was just about to call her on her cell, when she walked in the door, Landon crying. I don’t know how long she was gone, maybe 30-45 min. but next time I will be less ambitious.
Camille, little Hannah, and Logan
Sophia, Hannah, Elyse & Mimi
Lucky for me Elyse got invited over to a playdate and Camille too, so it was just Harry and I in the afternoon. I was really hoping and counting on a nap from him, but no such luck. He could feel my desperation. Chris and I had gone out on Monday night to a 40th birthday party for my friend Katy, who is home from Singapore for Christmas. There were probably 20 people at Purple, a restaurant and wine bar in downtown Bellevue. It was a great excuse to go out on a Monday night. A couple of the women are good friends of mine, and some I hardly know at all, but I enjoyed seeing everyone and getting to know some of the women and their spouses better. But, I neither Chris nor I had a very good sleep that night. So, I would have napped too, but that was not in the cards. At least it was quiet though.
Elyse and I got to have some time together this afternoon. Chris worked from home so while Harry “napped” Elyse and I went for a long walk. We were trying to meet up with Hannah which we did eventually, but we did most of the hiking just the 2 of us. Poor thing had a cramp the whole walk, but she was a trooper. She walked through the pain, at a fairly good clip. Harry never did actually nap, but quiet time in his room is better than nothing. Hannah got to stay for dinner and watch The X Factor with us. It was a late night, but this is vacation, and we are livin’ it up.
A couple of pictures from the church pageant
Elyse as Mary, on the left, Harry the "angel", and the back of Camille, the shepherd
Camille, the shepherd
