A much needed snow day...

Y'all, we NEEDED this snow day. In the past 30 days we've been hit with pneumonia, ear infections, flu, and then a vicious stomach bug last week that literally put us all on our knees. You can only be an optimist so long before you start feeling like an Eeyore under those circumstances.
And then The Lord blessed with a perfect family day like today and all is right with the world. 3 inches of snow came overnight making Pat have to cancel his trip out of town and all of us to hunker down and enjoy each other while we played.

Before the snow came, we dashed to the library for new books. Fin and I have been loving reading through 'Henry and Ribsy' and Cole has been loving interrupting every other sentence to giggle like he is following the plot, or ask for water. I devoured every Beverly Cleary book as a child and am so enjoying going through them again.


The night the snow started to fall, Pat pelted a dubious Cole with a snowball down the neck about 5 seconds after Cole got outside. Tears following, Cole came back in, and was wrapped up in a blanket to watch Mickey Mouse and forget his trauma. Thanks Pat, thanks.


After Lilah's morning nap, we headed down the street to the Epp's for sledding, chicken and dumplings, hot chocolate and cookies. It was such a fun morning.








Cole and his buds watching Curious George to warm up after sledding.


Sweet Maeve showing Lilah all her girly treasure. Lilah was captivated, it was so adorable.


Poor Noah rocking his sisters' tights to stay warm. SOO funny.


Me and my girl.


Table full for lunch.


We took long naps, read books in bed, Pat took us out for wings and I made homemade cinnamon rolls to finish off the day.


Any time a snow day wants to come our way...I'm totally game. So grateful for our time of peaceful (and healthy!) rest.

Christmas 2014

Christmas morning, even though both the boys had 103 fevers, they woke up so excited to see their toys.

Santa brought Lilah a new sound machine and wood toys. As predicted, Cole though these wooden blocks were the coolest things ever. He loooves baby toys for some reason.


Fin's big present was a wooden art desk for his room. Mama wasn't about to spend a half hour wrapping that thing so Santa borrowed some of the boys blankets to cover it up. He's so lazy like that...


Pat cooked Sausage biscuits for breakfast...


The rest of the morning the boys played some, but mostly lounged on the couch watching Despicable Me 2 b/c they were feeling so crummy. It was pretty pathetic





My sweet mom and family were insistent that we come over in spite of our fevers and so we brought our germy selves over to my parents where we were all spoiled and the sweet aunts cuddled the boys upstairs in a giant bed while they all watched "King George and the Rubber Ducky". Man was I grateful for a break from the sickies and knowing they were in good hands.


It's not a party unless someone's wearing a tutu.





In the several days following, once the boys got over the 5 day flu, we've had a lot of fun with all the toys and art supplies.





And there were no after Christmas blues for me because I had my birthday right around the corner. It feels really REALLY weird to be 29 b/c aren't I still 17? And where did these kids come from and where are my hips?
SO SO grateful for the families that we have to share this time of year with. I loved that the kids totally got that we do all of this to celebrate Jesus coming, like it wasn't a big deal at all. I am blessed. We are blessed. Always grateful.


Now if only I can get Cole to quit hugging Christmas cards to him like they're his babies. Homeboy's having a hard time letting go of Christmas :o)

Christmas Eve

Christmas was great and full of love, sickies, family, Motrin and sheer kid delight. This was definitely our best year in the Christmas season because both Fin and Cole were totally head over heels in love with the magic of Christmas and everything was just amazing to them. To spare the length, I'll break the post down into two parts.

Christmas Eve dawned with Ms. Lilah having been sick for a week and a half with a fever and double ear infection. After resisting 2 antibiotics, I had to take her into the doctors office 3 days in a row for antibiotic shots, one of those days being Christmas Eve. Poor thing, Merry Christmas.
That morning we had the traditional Keegan Family Brunch which is my favorite thing we do all year. My dad generously takes us all out (this year was at Mimi's) and we all push tables around much to the waiters chagrin until we can all fit at one table. And they said it couldn't be done...



Lilah rose to the occasion and had a ball being passed around and baby chatting with her cousin Kate.


My dad always brings Santa hats for all the men...





Sick baby eyes...


Where it all began..





Cole was a literal Christmas Elf this year. He loved everything Santa and Frosty the Snowman and was thrilled to bits when it was FINALLY Christmas Day.


Christmas Eve night we gathered at Pat's parents house. RIGHT before we left, Finley felt warm to me and I took his temperature and he had a fever. Being in denial, b/c I was still dealing with a sick baby and getting NO sleep at night, we doped him up with Motrin and off we went. Little did we know...

As always, Denise made delicious food and spoiled all the kids with tons of presents. Here's Erin joining in the fun of getting pink highlights with the nieces :o) Cole may or may not have requested pink and blue highlights as well.


Fin was going downhill fast while we were out (hence the lack of pictures of him). He came home and crashed and got up off the couch only long enough to set out cookies for Santa and reindeer food. Cole took full advantage of this opportunity and started chomping away all of Santa's cookies until I had to cut him off so Santa would have some to eat. He also had a lengthy conversation with Eddy the Elf saying goodbye to him until next year. It was the cutest.


Putting the kids to bed, I noticed Cole had a fever too so we tucked them in with Motrin and water cups and set out Christmas for the next morning praying the kids would be well enough to enjoy it...