Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree....

Our annual trip out to chop down our tree...

It was exhausting.

All of us were sick with a chest cold

(probably not the smartest idea to be hauling 4 sick people through the cold

but tradition is tradition...)

It was picture perfect.

Dusty finally broke down and got the toboggan of his dreams.

It definitely made the day more special.

He hauled his two rosy checked girls through the snow and trees

to find the most perfectest tree.

It was one of those moments.

It was challenging.

To get a two year old to agree to walking up "just one more hill"...

and to convince a four-year-old that,

"we are almost done"

when it seemed at moments that it was,

"taking FOREVER".

It was satisfying.

To finally find the tree.

It was memorable.

Despite being sick

we had such a good time

tobogganing and

roasting hot dogs and

drinking hot chocolate....

with
some wearing hot chocolate!

I'm ALIVE!!!

I thought that perhaps I should just post something to declare to the world that I have not died. I am still alive... in somewhat of a chocolate haze. We are still celebrating and visiting and doing all the merry festive celebrations. I am trying to absorb as much Christmas cheer as possible, in order to make it through the next 6 months of WINTER. Well, hopefully that gives Dusty enough time to repair the seadoo's before lake season begins!

Happy Holidays!

Puddin' and Pie (Nope just Cookies)

I almost cried when I realized I didn't save this recipe. These are the best "pudding cookies" ever. I had a bit of panic attack but after a couple of hours of sifting through blogs I sometimes browse I found it and now I'm posting it so I'll have it forever.
Thank goodness.

One more post... that's it I promise.

I know all I've been writing about is the flu BUT for the last 3+ weeks that's all I have been dealing with. Lucy got it then there was a 3-4 break and then I got it. Then there was a 2 day break and then Dusty got it and now the past two days Ellie has been "on the couch".
My laundry is piled up to an unholy level. The dishes are barely being kept up with (thank goodness for the person who invented the dishwasher.... they should surly get a spot in heaven). The whole house feels in disarray. I keep disinfecting but I've given up. I quit. Last night Dusty got home from work and was in a pestery mood. All night he poked me and tickled my feet and brought up subjects that NORMALLY would get a reaction. BUT he was disappointed. I wasn't in the mood. I just sat. I am so tired. I feel like I could sleep an entire day. A whole 24 hours of sleep. Okay. I'm going to try to move on.

I hid $300.00 dollars in my parents house. It's been in hiding for 4 weeks. I've given him a ridiculous amounts of hints but he has not found his treasure yet. At first he didn't really care and didn't try to find it BUT the last week or so my mom, my aunt, and my father have all been searching. They even pulled out the oven! This little treasure hunt has brought pure joy to my heart. It's like hide and seek only I don't actually have to hide and I get to sit on the side lines and enjoy hearing about the hunt. I may actually have to give in and just go get it for them. CLEARLY I won't be showing them the hiding spot! It was my old high school hiding spot. It hid all the things that I did NOT want anyone to see. Glad to see they never did know about it. In all the chaos of my life it really has brought some entertainment.

Hopefully this will be the last week and then I can get back to my Christmas festivities...

cold, flu, and fried food.

It's a cold one again today. Sometimes when it's cold I feel like soda bread and eggs and sausages and potatoes. yum. That's what I've been thinking about all day BUT Dusty is sick. Real ick. So that meals is out of the question. I think instead soup is on the menu (I'm sure my arteries will thank me). It's a quiet day. He hasn't gotten out of bed and the girls watched a movie this morning and now are off to their rooms for a nap. I think it may be my fault Dusty is sick. I was just going off the other day to a friend that he NEVER EVER gets sick. In the 5+ years we've been married I have NEVER seen him barf. EVER. He's never even complained of being nauseous. Well that sure changed and quickly. Last night he assured me he was going to die. I am happy to report that he is STILL living. I went in this morning to give him some gravol and check on him and he rolled over and said," I've NEVER been this sick. It sucks so bad.". UMMM yep, welcome to the flu! So Lucy's been hit this year, I got it, and now Dusty has fallen to it. Ellie is the only one left. She's been quarantined and sanitized and I'm hoping that in 3-5 days she is still symptom free and happy. Only time will tell.