Flu season....ba humbug!

If it's going around...someone in our house has caught it.  Evie and John both came down with sinus infections. McKynna had bronchitis and Kwynn and Corynn are recovering from their colds. Pertusis is making it's way around the high school and several kids have tested positive for influenza at the middle school. It almost feels like the movie Contagion. Everyone has been sick but me. I felt it coming on last week but refused to give in. And so far I seem to be fine. I credit my determination and love of clementines! I'm a strong believer in vitamin C.

I like to make homemade chicken noodle soup when one of the girlies is sick. Something about the chunky noodles and warm broth...seems to do the trick! 

The worst part of having sick kids, is the helpless feeling you feel when they are suffering. It's terrible! One day Evie was coughing up so much mucus that she was vomiting. I felt so bad for her. And she didn't understand why mommy couldn't make it stop. Thank goodness for modern medicine. 

She seems to be feeling better and is ornery as ever. Just in time for the holidays! :)

Christmas treats

I had a holiday cookie exchange yesterday with some friends! So much fun! I love getting new recipes and treats and trying them out at the same time. Then you know what they should taste and look like. :)

Here's a yummy hot chocolate recipe I wanted to share! It makes a ton! And takes a few hours to get good and warm. Perfect for winter break and snow days. Make it mid morning, let the kids go out in the snow after lunch and it will be good and hot when they come in!!


CROCK POT HOT CHOCOLATE 

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups whipping cream
• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 6 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups of chocolate chips (milk chocolate OR semi-sweet depending on how sweet you like it. I have a heck of a sweet tooth, and I love the milk chocolate, but others prefer the semi-sweet)

Instructions

1. Stir together the whipping cream, milk, vanilla, and chocolate chips in a crockpot.
2. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and chocolate chips are melted. Stir again before serving. Garnish as desired.

Evie's first plane ride

Evie and I went to Arizona a few weeks ago and she experienced her first plane ride. It was just a two hour direct flight so I thought it would be do-able. But kudos to all the parents who fly solo with their little ones. Evie is three and I can't even imagine taking a baby.

highlights:

• Getting through security with her bag, my bag, my purse, out tickets and id was hilarious. Add to that taking out liquids, taking off shoes and trying to coax her through a metal detector...quite the adventure. I'm soooooo glad the airline let me check her car seat rather than gate check it. Because I might have given up at that point. 
• Coming home, our flight had three seats on both sides of the aisle. Evie WOULD NOT get in her seat because she had to sit by a stranger. I'm talking full fledged melt down hysterical crying. We lucked out and the flight attendants let us move to an empty row. Which was a miracle because those shuttle flights are always full. Then we sat on the tarmac for an hour while the pilots figured out paper work. Evie had to pee. But we had been told to stay in our seats. Finally I asked if she could use the bathroom. The minute we got in the tiny little lav-closet and she was situated on the seat- the pilot comes on the intercom and says "Once everyone is in their seats- we can take off." Of course Evie gets stage fright and decides she can't go. LOVELY. 

But over all- it was a pretty descent experience- she did well. On our next flight she sits in between Corynn and I...so I think we should be ok there. And we are checking bags so security should be a bit easier. Even still, I'm guessing we will have some stories to share!

Christmas time

Thanksgiving was late in the month this year and we will busy through out the week of Christmas with John's family. So we aren't doing a tree this year. It's kind of weird but also kind of nice. I put some Christmas decorations up around the house and our window wreaths are up. I also put greenery in the pots on the front porch. Stockings and garland are hung as well. The most important things aren't things- it's family. And being with them is what really matters.