Family Fun Night

Ted's face on Christmas Day after all the "booger wiping." The picture doesn't do his face justice.

So, Family Fun Night has been going on in Ben's family for over 10 years now. I'm currently trying to figure out what year it started. My best guess is 1995. Anyways, it started as all of Ben's family getting together to eat and play games that everyone could play. We've scooped cotton balls, traded Life Savers with toothpicks, played Boom Wackers, and much, much more. We've recently gravitated towards Bunko and a gift exchange. This year, we missed the Morfords and Kozels in PA. But we set up the webcams to talk.

Grandad and Ted talking to Joanna. Ted was very enthralled by the entire thing. He mainly just sat there and watched with big eyes.

Joanna on the other side of the webcam.

We ate, played Bunko and exchanged gifts. Sophie was not a happy camper. The beginning of the snot/cough stuff she has going on now. She's pretty much cried for two days and prefers to be held - but you must be standing up. Today for about 15 minutes Ben was able to sit down with her. She makes me sad when she cries b/c she has these big tears that get her hair all wet and then it sticks to her face. Ah . . . winter . . .

The Rest of Christmas

So, we left Charleston around 10:30 am. Sophie has a new ride . . . her convertable carseat. She outgrew her infant seat and now sits in a carseat but backwards still. It's a whole different experience for both Ted and Sophie. They chatted, laughed and generally had a very cordial car ride. Ted is a notoriously HORRIBLE traveler so this was a Christmas miracle! =)


My view from the front seat.

For the past 8 years, my parents have come to Ben's parent's house for lunch on Christmas morning. We did the traditional lunch and then opened gifts. Ben wasn't feeling well. He and Sophie napped through that. Ben opened gifts when he got up and then Sophie opened her gifts when she got up. I kind of liked spreading things out through the day.


Sophie in her new pink gangsta WVU hat. Check out her velour Christmas outfit! Snazzy!


Carlyn, Trey & Ted in their dollar store silly glasses.

Around 5:00 pm we went to my parent's house. Carlyn and Trey were there with their parents Jay and Janet, and Charlie and Val. We opened some more gifts. Trey is my 8 year old nephew. He and Ted are great friends. We played a couple rounds of Candy Land, "wrastled", ate dinner, and played.

Ted has had some serious snot drippage since yesterday. Instead of going through several boxes of tissues, I gave him a "booger wiper" (aka a burp cloth, wash cloth, etc). He always says that he has "boogers coming out" which is really snot dripping down his face. He has wiped his face so much that his nose, cheeks, and mouth are completely dry and chapped. It looks awful. But he always has his faithful "booger wiper" by his side. It beats me always having to do it. I am currently listening to him cough in bed, waiting for the cough medicine to kick in.

We had a great Christmas. It continues tomorrow with a visit to Grandad's and Family Fun Night. To be continued . . . .

Christmas Morning

Everyone got up around 7:00 am. It was a fun morning.


Ted got a Smart Cycle. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to peddle yet! In the beginning it will be more work for us but I think it will be a great thing for him.


Sophie's favorite toy of the day . . . wrapping paper.


Ben was PSYCHED to get Ted his first football uni . . . pads, helmet, the whole deal.


Sophie's 1st baby doll. A Cabbage Patch Baby.


Ted showing Sophie how to read her new book.

Ted also got Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders. I'm so excited for him to be able to play board games. We didn't get to play much b/c we packed up the car and left for New Martinsville by 10:30 am.

Christmas Traditions

With Ted being of age to understand more and more about Christmas, we wanted to start some family traditions this year.

So this year, we had the 1st annual "Sleep under the Christmas Tree". You can participate if you sleep in a big kid bed. So, we broke out "Charlie Brown Christmas" and slept under the tree. It was silly of us not to let Ted view it several times before wanting him to actually sit down and watch it. He needed to know each character's name - many times - and would get up and walk around all the beds to point on the TV. Most of the time, it took him too long to get to the TV to point to the person he actually wanted to know. We made it till about 1am. Ted had started his snotty stuff and was having a hard time sleeping. It was fun for him.



We also decided that we would wake up at our own house Christmas morning. And I made a birthday cake for Jesus. We planned to eat it after church on Christmas Eve, but everyone was pretty much a mess by the time that we got home so we went straight to bed. This year was a little crazy b/c I couldn't keep everyone healthy. So, this is it. We'll see what traditions make it through to next year and what ones we start next year.

Super Flu

Evidently, the Tuel's have some sort of super-flu. Ben and I are on Day #3. Friday was bad. Saturday was ok. But as the evening wore on, I felt worse and worse. Ben and I were having the traditional viewing of "Christmas Vacation" and he made pizza rolls. That just sent me over the edge and straight into the arms of my bed and down comforter. I was well enough to be at church this morning to get things going and then came home to the toilet. Ben did ok until after naptime and has been in the recliner since. Thankfully, we only feel really bad one at a time. I'm seriously just waiting for Sophie. I'm only feeding her nuetral colored food - which boils down to fruit and cereal. Seriously.

Milestones

We've reached two new milestones:

1) Sophie is officially a sitter. I can leave her unattended and come back to find her in the same position. I think this is one of my favorite stages - sitting but still immobile. It's especially fun to see Ted interacting with her more and Sophie enjoying it.

2) The "why" question has officially become part of Ted's vocabulary. I've been waiting for it. That is where the word "patience" enters my vocabulary.





Ted on his "tage" (stage) giving a concert for Sophie.

Ben and I both had the flu yesterday. I started my trips to the bathroom around 4:00 am. Ben got up with both kids. He took Ted to preschool and Sophie went with him to the church to work. By the time he got home around noon, he was feeling pretty rough. He managed to get both kids down for a nap. By the time the kids got up, I was functionable. Shawna and Lisa took Ted to a basketball game. (Thanks!!!) We watched tv all evening. We were both feeling much better this morning - but not great. As the day has gone on we've felt much better. Guess this won't be a 6 day thing like Ted. The funniest thing was listening to Ben get both kids up and out the door!! Just one of those things that makes him appreciate what I do.

Sophie's Arm

Yesterday, Sophie woke up from her afternoon nap crying and crying and crying. She NEVER wakes up like that. She usually chats to herself in her crib. I found her with a considerable amount of poop in her diaper and up her back - which is usually part of her morning routine. So, I gave her a bath, changed her, and started feeding her and she cried HARD the entire time. It wan't until I was feeding her the bottle that I realized her left arm was completely limp. I lifted it up with no resistance and it fell back down as soon as I let go. She wouldn't grab onto anything. She wouldn't move it. When I tried to move it she cried. It really kind of freaked me out.

I called Ben who was on his way home from Columbus with his new tattoo. (That's a whole different blog!). We tried calling a couple of doctor friends with no answer. So I got everyone ready to go the ER. I dropped Ted off at the Isaacs (thanks, Steph) and my friend Liz called while I was en route - with no gas in the van. She said it's nothing to worry about at this point if it doesn't seem to bother her in some positions. So I took Sophie home, gave her some Tylenol and waited for Ben to get home. Around 7pm, I took her over to Liz's just to have someone lay eyes on her. Liz said to call my pediatrician in the morning if she wasn't much better.

This morning she woke up limp arm and all. I got a 2:30 pm appointment. Up until the time we set foot in the doctor's office, she wouldn't move her arm. Even when the nurse was weighing her - she's up to 20 pounds 6 ounces - her arm was limp. They put us in the room to wait - and she was healed. Seriously, she started using her arm. Grabbing for toys, playing with my shirt, sucking her thumb on that hand. Dr. Goliath checked her over pretty good but couldn't find anything. He didn't charge me - bless his heart! And Sophie is completely fine - aside from being completely cranky from missing her afternoon nap.

As an aside, Sophie went to the dr two weeks ago for her 6 month check up. Her stats are as follows:

Weight: 19.7 pounds (yes she's put on a pound in two weeks) - 100%tile
Height: 25 1/2 inches - 40%
Head: 17 1/8 inches - 75%

Ted spend the afternoon at the Thomas' with Ben Santen. It involved some cookie baking. Jaclyn, post some pictures on your blog!!!

Last of the new photos

Sophie sits between two pillows in front of the couch and plays with her toys. She just needed a little break.


Ted & Daddy working on the Ginger Bread House.



Ted needed a little break, too!

More Photos

Sophie taking a little cat nap in her jump-a-roo.



Ted & Sophie lounging on the couch.

Ted taking Sophie for a ride on his bicycle.

Ted's spot on the couch for 6 days.

Sophie's first sippy cup with juice.

Updated Pictures

She's a hungry chic.



Ted coloring and doing stickers on the floor of the ER.






He got stickers for getting his blood drawn. Playing with stickers took up about 20 minutes of our 5 hours in the ER.

Sophie in the festive spirit.

Ted & Mommy snuggling in a sleeping bag leftover from the suprise overnight guests.

6 days and counting

So last weekend, Ben went on a football tour. Friday evening he went to Wheeling for the Magnolia State Championship. Saturday he went to the GW State Championship game at noon and then the WVU game at 8:00 pm. He got home about 4:30 am b/c of the bad weather.

*Disclaimer - Ted had the flu - this may be too graphic for you . . .

Back on the home front, Ted started "pooking up" around 4pm on Saturday. Apparaently I used the words puke and throw up interchangeably and he came up with pooking up. This was our first virus where he would give me some sort of cue that he was sick and I would run him to the toilet where he would promptly turn into a wet noodle and I'd have to hold him over the toilet. Then he would analyze what had just come up. Meanwhile in the living room, Sophie is crying b/c she's being neglected. Or I had to lay her on the floor to run and she has rolled across the room and is stuck against the toy box, tv stand, couch, etc. It was somewhat comedic.



So around 8:00 pm, Scott Berg, Ben Allen and their friend Tommy show up at my front door. They were leaving Scott's cabin outside of Sissonville and Ben's car went into the creek. So they came here to get things figured out. It snowed during the day and the roads were bad. The only tow truck AAA had slid off the road so it had to wait till morning. I ended up with three guys sleeping on our living room floor.

Sunday (Day 2): No church. More puking in the afternoon. Lay around all day. Perk up a little in the evening.

Monday (Day 3): Perky in the morning so I think it was a 24 hour bug and send him to preschool. When I pick him up at noon, his teachers tell me that he's been real sluggish all day and laying down and stuff. We are less than 2 minutes on the road and he pukes all over the van. My doctor has me take him to the ER in case he's getting dehydrated. 5 hours later, he's not - but quite possibly we've picked up everything that the other 50 people in the ER waiting room have.

Tuesday (Day 4): Lays on the couch all day. Doesn't eat anything.

Wednesday (Day 5): Lays on the couch all day. Eating next to nothing. Chucks all over his bed at 11:00 pm.

Thursday (Day 6): Gets up and eats 3 pieces of toast - the most he's eaten since Saturday morning. Lays around most of the day but gets off the couch occassionally to play. He is currently sitting on the floor taking all the wrappers off of his crayons.

Praise the Lord no one else has this yet. I'm shocked that I don't. Ben's been gone most of the week and I don't think that I could've done two sick kids. However, I have been watching a lot of Jon & Kate Plus 8 these homebound days. Really puts things into perspective . . .

Santa

So Ted's preschool class is going to see Santa at the mall on Friday. Ted might get to go if he finally feels better. That is too long of a story that I don't have time to deal with at the moment. I'll do that one later.

Anyways, I asked Ted what he wanted to ask Santa for. I know he doesn't get the concept of asking Santa for toys for Christmas - or anyone for that matter. And he really doesn't ask for things when we're walking through the toy aisle's at Target.

I digress . . . I asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He said, "Ice cream. Cake with ice cream on top." I think I can handle that. I'm sure Christmas won't be this easy for long.

Rock Tar

Ted's lack of pronunciation for the "s" sound in a cluster has become even more obvious and fun recently. For instance, he got in trouble for saying "tupid" (stupid). And since he was already in trouble for saying it, he decided to say it many times - tupid, tupid, tupid.

Yesterday, he came into the kitchen and said, "Mommy, do you see this tar (star) on my shirt? That's b/c I'm a rock tar!" You gotta love it.

Friends

I always love the holidays b/c we get to visit with "old" Young Life kids. It's such a blessing to see the fruit of your own labors producing fruit.

John & Shawna are Ted's self-proclaimed God-parents. Ted was all about wearing his silly glasses. We met John when he was a freshmen in high school. He just went on Young Life staff in Pittsburgh. Shawna is a junior at WVU. I met her when she was a freshmen. She leads YL in Morgantown.

Kristin lives in Colorado and just graduated from college. She has an array of jobs at the moment that are all fun, exciting, and different. She still leads YL there.

I had breakfast with Kaitlyn - sorry, Kait, no picture! She is also a junior at WVU and leads YL at East Fairmont High School. And I didn't get to see Jaclyn this trip - but I did see her a couple weeks ago. You guys will get face time at Christmas. Jaclyn goes to Xavier in Cincinatti and finishing up her senior year. She too leads YL.

Whether these guys lead YL or not is not the issue. It's that they are living for and loving Jesus. To see where they started, where they are now, and where they are going is truly the work of God. Thanks, guys, for always making time for our family. We love you!!

30 years

On December 2, my parents celebrated their 30th anniversary. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Our gift to them was for all of us to be home together. Sara made a beautiful dinner and we did family pictures. It was a fun evening together as we just don't do that often. I do love being with my siblings - and talking about the Mountaineers! =)


My parents


Laura, Charlie & Sara



Laura & Ben, Ted, Sophie & Millie


Ted & Sophie


Sara & Ahmed


Charlie & Valerie

More Fun Things in NM

Ted helping Ben blow out his candles. Ben's 33rd birthday is December 3rd. We had a birthday party for him on Sunday evening at Grandad's which we haven't done for Ben in a long time. There is something truly special about birthdays and holidays at Grandad's with whatever family happens to be around. We laugh and eat and I LOVE it!


Sophie playing in the ball's at Grandma's school.



Ted playing on the percussion table at Grandma's school.

Ted making cookies. We would help Ted spread the icing then he would put the prinkles (sprinkles) container directly on the cookie. Then he proceeded to lick the prinkles container and cough all over the cookies. Seriously, the kid knows how to not share his cookies!

Fun Time in NM

Riding the 4-wheeler with Gary Pap.



Do you like my beard?




Reading to Sophie.

Their first bath together.

Bugs Bunny movie night with Gary Pap.

John Pap feeding Sophie coco wheats. And, no, Doh didn't know.

Black Friday

I can honestly say, I've never been shoppin on Black Friday.

My Mom and I took the kids to Pennsylvania to see my Grandma and some of Mom's family.

Grandma Ruth and Sophie checking each other out.


4 generations. Grandma Ruth thinks that Ted talks too much and that Sophie needs a wig. She's one of those people who will tell you if you get a bad haircut or put on weight!



When Mom went to warm up the van, she locked the keys in the van - running. Thankfully, no children inside. The tow truck came with another car attached. The van door wasn't closed all the way so he was able to open it easily. Good thing b/c we had to sign a damage waiver. Needless to say, the van was nice and toasty by the time we got everyone packed in and ready to go.

Ben, Andy, my Dad, John, and several others went to the WVU/Pitt game. A fun time was had by all but not a good game.

Their view from row FF in the top section. It took 5 escalators to get to the bottom of their section and then they had to climb 40 rows.

The view of everyone getting patted down at the entrance. This was after the boys got into the stadium AFTER kick off.