Christmas break

The week after Christmas we had lots of fun playing some of our new games, watching more movies, shows and football than we normally watch in a month, and spending quality family time. The kids were super eager to hit the after Christmas sales at Walgreens to get a few of the toys they had been eyeing, but knew would soon be on sale. They all got foam play-dough type stuff and came home and enjoyed playing with them for a good long while.

Rachel made a giraffe.

Two days after Christmas we went to the temple and let the kids hang out outside with Rachel in charge while Jacob and I did some baptisms and confirmations. It was the first time in our marriage that we've done that together. And next time we'll take Rachel along.

After the temple we went to Chick Fil-A for lunch, then headed to the Planetarium at the U of A to put our membership to good use.

As usual, we all enjoyed the puzzles and games and the mineral museum.

That was our one family outing over break. The next day Ryan came back from playing at Grandma's complaining that his back hurt and didn't feel well. And thus began his week long fever. We thought it was the same thing his cousins came down with because they had back pain to start and it started at the same time. After pretty high fevers Saturday and Sunday we took him in to the minute clinic at CVS where they tested him for the flu. It came back negative and she thought it was weird to have that high of a fever for a virus that wasn't the flu, but couldn't think of anything else, as he had no other symptoms. We kept him on Tylenol and Ibuprofen the next few days and took him in to his regular doctor the day after New Years where we found out his strep had returned AND he had a urinary tract infection. We got some antibiotics and got them started, but he still had the fevers going strong until two days later we got the results from the culture that had been sent to the lab and got switched to an antibiotic that the bacteria would respond to. He was fever free by the end of the day. Finally. A full week after the fever had started. The doctor said his white blood cell counts were up above 250, where anything over 5 is a flag and indicates infection. I'm so glad to have him finally feeling better.
The kids, however, loved that Ryan was sick because it meant they could watch way more TV and movies than they otherwise would have. Besides TV, we played lots of games, finished two puzzles, and cleaned up Christmas and read lots of books.

One of the puzzles Ryan got for me for Christmas:

Driving back from Grandma and Grandpa Knight's house sometimes the kids move to different seats since it's in the neighborhood and we don't go on any main streets. They thought it was hilarious that the only seat they left for Jacob to sit in was Ryan's booster.

When I went to put away all our Christmas decorations I noticed this awesome procession to visit the baby Jesus.

If you'll notice, third in line Baby Jesus from a different nativity is waiting to see Little People Baby Jesus. :D

Megan became super biker last week. She's been pretty good at riding her bike, just needing help to get started for a while. While Jacob and I were packing up the outside Christmas decorations Megan took the initiative to learn how to start on her own. She now rides like a pro and has better endurance than her older siblings.

She asks multiple times a day if we can go on a bike ride. And now going to Grandma's house is even faster since we can ride instead of walk.

Sunday we had a FHE lesson talking about the upcoming study for the new year and how the kids could get more out of scripture study. One of the ways was to write down what they're learning and the promptings the get while reading. We gave them their own scripture journal, then on New Year's Eve, since Ryan was still sick and we were looking for something to do, we went over to Grandma's house and borrowed her washi tape and duct tape and brought them back to fancy up their scripture journals with.

Later that evening before bed we did pop-its and sparklers and the most delicious Apple Mango Martinelli's to celebrate the New Year.

Megan spent most of the time yelling about her Happy New Year hat and blower being pink--she wanted one pink, one blue, but Ryan already had used the blue blower and couldn't share, since he was still feverish. The rest of the kids had fun, anyway.

It had been a great 2018. Here's to a great 2019! Happy New Year!