Life with the Lynchs: ho ho ho, Christmas 2009

We are hoping that all of you had a very Merry Christmas. The past 2 weeks have been very full of fun family festivities. So full that between all the fun and work blogging has taken a back burner. So, let me take a moment to catch up. The weekend before Christmas, Nana and Pop came to celebrate Christmas with us. They arrived Friday just in time to watch the kids while Matt and I headed off to my office party. It was great to spend an adult evening away and know that the kids were well taken care of...always nice to have the grandparents visit. :) As I mentioned in my last post Ella Catherine attempted to sit on Santa's lap with Matt and Mimi but the line was too long. Well, she spoke about it all week long and so Ella Catherine, Nana an I left out Saturday morning to go sit on Santa's lap. (Carter has been battling a very nasty cold and so we left him at home with Daddy and Pop.) We were hoping that the line wouldn't be too terrible but were prepared for the worst. Luckily, we were pleasanly surprised. The line was not long at all. She kept to her word and walked right up to Santa and I put her on his lap. She smiled pretty for the picture and then told him what she wanted for Christmas. She said thank you when he gave her a candy cane and that was that! Surprisingly we made it home in time to allow the guys to go have some fun of there own. Sunday Nana, Ella Catherine and I went to go see the Princess and the Frog. She enjoyed it and was happy to tell her friends at school on Monday that she had gone to the Movies.

Tuesday was Carter's 6 month follow up with the cardiologist. He had an EKG and an ECHO and was a very good boy through the whole thing. As I mentioned before, he has had a VERY bad cold for 3 weeks now and he was having a bad day Tuesday. He has slept most of the day at daycare and had just thrown up his bottle when I arried to take him to the doctor. So, I was extremely proud of how well he did givin the circumstances. He smiled as usual at everyone and had stolen all there hearts by the time we left. Dr. Doyle gave him a clean bill of health and proclaimed him one of his blessings this year. Of Course, he is one of our as well. His ECHO was normal. No more mitral valve regurgitation!!!! All chambers of his heart are normal size!!! It was truly the best Christmas present Matt and I have ever received.

We were both off work Christmas Eve, and we had a nice family day at home. We baked cookies for Santa. We played, We read, We sang, We danced and we practiced writing our letters. Carter slept a lot (still not feeling the best) and played hard when he was awake. Then we all got dressed for church and went to "go see Baby Jesus" as Ella Catherine so eloquently said on the way to church. After church we headed out to Opry Mills and drove through there Christmas lights and Bethlehem display. It was BEAUTIFUL and Ella Catherine loved it! Carter was fast asleep. :) Then is was home to put out the cookies and milk for santa and carrots for the reindeer. Matt did his traditional reading of twas the night before Christmas and it was off to bed. This was the only night in a very long time that she did not play around when it was bed time. :)

Christmas morning I was awake before anyone excited about the day. She woke up and Matt brought her downstairs. She wasn't quite sure what to make of things. She spotten the things that Santa had brought to Carter first and then saw her Tricycle and books. We then had our milk while mom read her the new books. After that I think she finally woke up and once we started looking in her stocking to see what Santa left she was overjoyed and wired! She helped everyone open there gifts. :) The day was spent playing with our new toys and old alike. It was a GREAT day! Sad to see it come to and end.