Christmas and New Year's 2011

So this year the day after the kids got out of school we flew back to Chicago.  The  total trip door to door took 18 hours.  It was very long!  But we flew Swiss airlines which was one of the nicest airlines we have ever flown.  The food was good, even got ice cream between meals and then some yummy chocolates.  Each seat had a movie screen and many movie options and TV options and video games even for the kids.  Also the movies you could play and watch whenever so it wasn't on a schedule. 
When we arrived home my parents were waiting with some yummy chili and cornbread.  My parents had even gotten out some christmas decorations for us so it looked all festive!
We celebrated Christmas with my parents the next day

and then Jason flew out to NY for work.  We got to visit with friends, and I got to Target- (:, Costco, and the mall.  Sean and Amber got to do build a bear.  Amber did Hello Kitty and Sean did Alvin.  They loved it!

 
Before Christmas we drove to IN for 3 days and met some of Jason's college friends for lunch and then on to his sister's house where Jason's parents flew to as well and we spent 3 days with them hanging out and celebrating an early Christmas. The kids were so excited to see their cousins! We had a good time.

All the boys went to an IU basketball game which of course they won.  They are doing great this season.  The boys enjoy going down there and of course that would be great if they decide to go to school there,  but no pressure!
Christmas Eve we went to church and then to the kids' (boys) favorite restaurant- Kiku's- where they cook the food in front of you!

Christmas morning.

Then we finished up the week with lots of playdates, sleepovers, visits with friends and families!

We had a wonderful trip home and it was great seeing everyone!
Our time at home flew by and before I knew it I was packing everything I had gotten back into the suitcases- tough job!  The day we were leaving I checked us in online and it said that we were allowed an extra bag due to Jason's flying status now.  So we looked around in the basement but all we could find was an old big purple bag of mine.  Jason was not too excited about having to carry this around!  So we packed up our 6 bags and headed back to the airport.  Once on the plane we just sit down and Jacob, who was fine up until  now, just starts throwing up.  Ok those little bags are not too good for kids, as Jacob couldn't seem to keep it all in there.  At least he had one of those blankets on which kept it from getting all over himself, but it was a mess.  I couldn't believe it.  We got everything cleaned up and  after that I got him to sleep and he slept along with the rest of the kids for the entire flight- thank goodness.  We flew to Copenhagen this time.  This airport was a little different.  There are no seats at the gates.  There are just desks to check in when it is time otherwise the whole terminal area is filled with shops and food places, a crazy amount of stores.  I had never seen anything like this before.  So we find a couple of seats just a long a wall and are waiting and this mom and her daughter are sitting next to Jason when all of a sudden they come running toward me to get to the trash can next to me.  The little girl doesn't make it and gets sick all over the floor right in front of us.  The went to the bathroom but then never cleaned up the mess on the floor or told anyone about it.  Nice to look at that again! 

When we landed back here it was dark and rainy, great it looks the same as before we left I was thinking.  We came back to the house and Santa had come and left the kids their presents here.  They were so excited and couldn't wait to get to the tree.

We had christmas and then a light dinner and off to bed. 
The next day we have to start getting things ready b/c we are hosting a New Year's Eve get together with friends.  So busy day of shopping, baking, cleaning.  And cleaning up from Christmas is always a mess.  So we got it all done and friends arrived at 6pm we did a dinner for the 7 children, and then with the help of one of the guys we cooked lobster and steaks for the adults!  It was a bit messy but a lot of fun!

The city did fireworks at midnight and we went out back and did sparklers and watched the great fireworks display.  The kids all were great and all stayed up past 1am.  The next day my kids slept in so well.  Amber was the last one to get up at 12:20pm in the afternoon! 
So now I have one day to rest and then back to school!
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and may 2012 bring you healthy, happiness and cheers!!!