The Christmas Vacation Curse

One of my absolute favorite days of the school year is the Friday before Christmas vacation.  It's Ugly Sweater day at work, my classes are having our annual "Fiesta", a few students are kind enough to bring in a card or gift, and every single person is in great spirits!

This Friday, I should have known that my day was about to get rocked.  In addition to making sure I had everything I needed for the classroom parties, the ugly sweater decor, and all the daycare teacher gifts, it was also the day that's been on my calendar for months.  It was the day we got to make our Advanced Disney Dining Reservations!  My mom was armed and ready with her laptop at 6am to make the reservations.  I had spent weeks putting together an itinerary and we even had a list of the restaurants and times that were in order of priority.

My cell rang while I was straightening my hair.  The website was apparently freaking out and giving messages that reservations weren't available until some un-Godly hour on the days we were trying for.  The first four restaurants my mom tried all yielded in the same result.  Meanwhile, Scott is snapping at me that I'm running behind schedule, the kids are refusing to get dressed in their party attire for daycare, and my usual "getting out of the house on a school day" anxiety was in full force.

Somehow, I made it to daycare with everything we needed and neither kid cried at drop off.  My mom was able to call at 7am and make all of our reservations at the times we wanted - no problem.  And my class "fiestas" were off to a great start!  Not to mention, my co-worker and I pulled off this awesome Ugly Sweater outfit that was the talk of the school.

Things were looking up.

Until 3rd hour when I received a call from daycare.  The first call all school year, in fact.  We had been holding our breath since September shocked that we have not had to take one single sick day related to our kids.  This had to be a record.  I spoke too soon.  Evan threw up at school and was lying on a cot complaining about his stomach.  I frantically made sub plans (how do you do that when you planned parties in classes with kids that brought in tons of food?) and rushed out the door.

The rest of the afternoon I spent home with Evan, who acted like he wasn't sick at all.  He was so healthy he decided he didn't need a nap.  So, we watched movies and he helped me wrap gifts (that's sarcasm - a 2 year old helping wrap gifts?  More like un-wrap gifts).  And I crossed every toe and finger that his episode of vomiting was not the dreaded stomach bug.

We kicked off Christmas Vacation with a dinner out at Leo's.  Fancy, I know.  We let the boys open their annual PJ's and Christmas movie gift (this year was the Peanuts Holiday Collection) and did an early bath so we could have popcorn and watch Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

Surprisingly, Saturday morning came and no one seemed like they were coming down a stomach bug.  No overnight vomiting.  No fevers.  Nada.

So, I went to my Werq class, we took a family trip to Ikea for a few items (horrible idea...long lines), and went to Troy for a birthday party at Troy Gym.  The boys had an absolute blast at the gym and are making me reconsider signing them up for Gymnastics class.  Sean's first class wasn't the best experience 2 years ago, but maybe he's ready now.  Even Evan was brave jumping in the foam blocks, bouncing around the trampoline, and trying the obstacle course.

Speaking of birthdays, last weekend was pretty busy celebrating five birthdays.  Starting with my Dad's birthday brunch at home.

After a short snooze, we headed over to Reese's 3rd birthday party at a bowling alley.  So much fun!

That evening I had a cookie exchange in Northville that I had to bake 6 dozen cookies for.  Look at all these delicious cookies!  Not the greatest for my diet, but I met my goal so I can splurge here and there now.

I finally finished my whirlwind of a day by meeting up with some friends at a bar downtown in Plymouth for a birthday!  It felt so good to go out and just feel like an adult again.  I danced until my feet were sore.  How's that for some cardio?

The following day we did dinner at my in-law's for both my father-in-law and my niece who turned 6!  6!  I can't believe it!  Seems just like yesterday she was a baby.

After dinner, we went to the Zoo for the Wild Lights.  It was incredible!  We've been to quite a few light displays this season, but this was by far my favorite.  I loved that we could walk at our own pace to see them too.  The train ride we took went by quickly and even driving down Hines Drive seemed like it went by fast.

It was a crazy weekend, but definitely one for the books!  We had such a great time seeing all our friends and family!  And it's truly what this season is all about.

Now, back to my story.  I'm beginning to think we may have dodged whatever virus we feared Evan had on Friday.  I wrap tons of gifts in the basement, we stay home all day and just veg.  Sean starts complaining about his stomach hurting, but he never throws up.  By this evening, he's running a fever and just wants to lay around.  Grrr...I'm starting to wonder if our glorious Christmas Vacation is cursed!

No plans for New Years Eve, but we have a babysitter.  Plans to go out Friday with my brother and sister-in-law that will be in town visiting, but no babysitter.  Doctor's appointment tomorrow at the ENT since Evan's ear tube has shifted.  Random fevers and viruses?  Gahhh!!  Come on now.  This is not how we want to end one of the best years we've had as a family!

Stay tuned...