And we're back...

I know you're all just dying to know how Christmas went. The few days after Christmas is what the Ashton family will now refer to as pukefest 2009. After each one of us got the 24 hour flu in turn we were so glad to all be healthy again... poor little Ashton got it the worst and on the first night he puked over 20 times and never slept for more than 10 minutes at a time before he woke up sick. At about 4am his little body was so exhausted he got delirious. After rinsing out of his mouth he laid his head down on the pillow with his eyes closed and said "Mommy, cow says 'moooo' doggy ruff ruff, sheep baaa" it was the saddest funniest thing I've ever seen.

Aside from that we had a great vacation!

Midway did not dissapoint and there was a TON of snow. On the first day there we made David pull 3 of the 2 year olds around in a sled in the backyard.

On Christmas Eve they were so grateful they even performed the Nativity for us.

Mostly they sat their kissing and touching (or hitting) baby Jesus while the parents read their lines. Note King Herod being helped along - or was Jack a wiseman??

Christmas Eve in our new jammies. We really did try to get Ashton to sit on David's lap but he wouldn't let go of Hannah. And hopefully those bells will one day be mine. The lladro bell is the one thing I've staked claim on in the will and I feel no shame in reminding everyone every Christmas.

Christmas morning. Believe it or not those Elmo slippers trumped everything else on Christmas morning.

A little late night slide for the kids (and adults) down the stairs.

And on New Years Eve we played couples Chopped. If you don't know what Chopped is and you have the Food Network you owe it to yourself to watch on Tuesday night at 10/9c. For you poor people who don't get the Food Network the basics are professional chefs with 3 mystery ingredients and they have to come up with a dish using all the ingredients in 20 minutes. We made desserts and had to use churros, some wholistic yogurt, pudding, and strawberries. These are our 3 chopped judges. David & I lost to Mandy and Jason and were pretty sure we didn't come in 3rd just because Cally and Nate set a towel on fire.

Last night as we were playing a final game of Spades and eating licorice Hannah stole one from off the table. We decided to let her have at it. After being sick this was the happiest we had seen in her a week.

And now we have a couple of weeks to get packed up to move to the house we're renting in Richardson for the next 18 months. Can I hear a hallelujah for a backyard and a 3rd bedroom!