Christmas Happenings

We went to Wolf Park to see Santa and help the wolves celebrate Christmas. We started going a few years back, and the boys really love it. You help fill up boxes with meat, dried fruit, cheese that will be given to the wolves and bison, Santa arrives in style to hi, then you get to decorate an enclosure with cheese-whiz, cream cheese balls, eggs, whipped cream, meat, peanut butter, and watch as they let three wolves out to eat the decorations, you get to sit on Santa's lap and get a present, and you can tour the park as they hand out the presents to the animals.

Here is Jack putting Cheese-Whiz on the Christmas Tree

Luke found a log away from all the kids and made a pie for the wolves

Here is one of the wolves eyeing the edible decorations

We thought it would be a neat idea, if we are able, to start doing some type of family outing/bonding/memory making during the Christmas season. The kids have never been to a play and Jack is making his way through all the Roald Dahl books so when I saw that in Chicago there was a production of The BFG it was a no brainer, we had to go. We wanted to make it an all day event but sickness has overtaken our house so we played it by ear. After lunch kids were crying, whining, and just done so we drove home. It was a lot of fun though.

Luke wore his Christmas crown and got complimented by the theatre workers.

Waiting for lunch, Jack is actually using the kid's menu they give you. 

Lou Malnati's- Thanks Tricia for recommending it!

Thomas and Meg broke down on the way home and could not make a recovery. It was pretty brutal. I thought for sure once we were back and they were in their beds they would be able to sleep, but no. It was not pleasant and my loving mothering side was shot to hell. I was done and grumpy!!! We still had to do KK or Kris Kindle or Secret Santa that evening, and I was worried that I or the kids would end up ruining it. It ended up going really well. The kids were not good at the secret aspect of it this year and we all knew who had each other on the first day of Advent- when it started. The goal was to be nice to each other though so we tried to focus on that. The night of the KK gift exchange we had each person say the nice things their KK had done. Thomas said that Jack had slept with him a few nights, let him pick out what toys to play, and played games with him. Luke said that Thomas let him pick shows first, colored and did art with him, and they just hung out together, Jack said that I read to him even when I was sick or too tired, left him notes, and was just a wonderful mom, Meg didn't really say but we all noticed that Luke gave Meg a lot of kisses, Pete said that Meg learned to say Dada, would crawl to the window and wave to him when he left, and would always smile super big when she saw him, and finally I said Pete brought me peppermint bark and hot chocolate, took the boys and Meg for a whole afternoon/evening when I said I just couldn't, and he gave me lots of hugs. Then it was time for the gifts, which also ended up not really being secrets either. Our goal next year is to work on the secret part.

the boys showing the bags of KK presents

Luke and Thomas both got Big Hero 6 action figures

Jack got a couple of books

 After KK's Luke and Thomas were so cute, in whispers, they made plans to sleep together and play with their action figures in bed. Mission Accomplished.

We had our Christmas early since we are going out of town. Pete once again decorated a manager scene with soldiers, super heroes, and this time various barn animals. I think he does it more for himself. He loves doing it.

checking out the stockings

Meg's first Christmas

There was a present opening chair and each kid got one present to open in the chair as everyone watched, then it was the next kid's turn, and all the way around again until all the presents were open.

 So those are a few highlights from our December. There has been more, and I feel like we have been super busy. I know that I have been way tired. The sickness everyone has does not help. My patience is gone, so I go back and forth between feeling justified in my shortness with the kids to feeling guilty.  So it goes. Next stop- KY for more holiday cheer.