A month in brief....The Cliff Notes

December has brought us much business, as the holidays always do, and just like everyone else.
Here is the Cliff Note version (will our kids know what a cliff note is??).
So on November 29th, Jude had his first real school performance. All of the Kindergarten classes put on a concert at Lakota East High School. He was a BIG man on campus. We were able to snap a few pictures, but most importantly, we have this on tape.
Earlier this year, Rick Charette, a artist-in-residence came to the school and spent a few weeks teaching his songs, as well as helping the kids write their own songs. They perfomed their original songs. Jude's class sang, "Camping in Tents" and they made up their own hand signals to go with the song. Jude came up with the sliding into our sleeping bag motion. So cute.
After all of the classes were finished performing their individual songs, the whole kindergarten sang "Just My Size". This song is about the school being just their size (it is preschool through 1st grade only).
I thouroughly enjoyed the concert. All of the kids, the overly excited ones, the kids sobbing on stage, the mortified ones with the huge eyes, and the horrified by the audience children.




A week later, on November 30th-December 2nd was my trip to South Carolina for my Uncle David's funeral.

The next weekend, we had to go car shopping, for Jason's Jeep was on it's last leg. Really. The Jeep was becoming an eye sore, needed a new transmission, and I believe was getting ready to drop it's engine onto the road. It was making some horrible noises. The car had 119, 500 miles (good for a Chrysler/Jeep) and was 10 years old.
Check out the billy heap car.. the hatch wouldn't stay open anymore:




The next couple weeks were just working and trying to Christmas decorate and shop. Keeping our heads above water.
We had Lily fall with her first stomach flu (which was brief) and just the normal December insanity.

December brought us our first snow and first snow day. The kids were out in the snow by 8:00 a.m.
How fun.

Then on Friday, December 21st, Jason had a repeat surgery on his sinuses. I can only pray that this surgery does the trick for him. He has suffered for 18 months on antibiotics and steriods.
He is doing fine and healing. It was a good time to have the surgery, so he didn't have to use vacation time for that.
Jason's parents kept the kids two nights for us, and my friend Charlotte took them on Saturday for half the day.
We had many people offer to keep the kids for us, and just to help us out. It is so nice to know that we have great family and friends here for us. Thanks to all of you.
Check him out on the day of surgery.

Doesn't he look like he should be trick or treating, not celebrating Christmas?

Anyway, we are all doing well.
Except Jude. He has fallen ill today (Christmas Eve) with the stomach flu.
Nasty.
Poor guy.



We can only hope that Christmas morning doesn't bring anyone else the flu.
Merry Christmas to all.