Becker-Case-Cash Christmas Extravaganza

[Note: I love the word "extravaganza" and always hear it said in my head in a loud, booming, announcer-like voice, so I reserve the right to use it as often as I like on my blog.]

After hours of tense anticipation, I have finally found the time to post pictures of our Christmas celebration from Tuesday night. Really, they aren't that exciting. It's just a bunch of pictures of us opening gifts. But it gets me out of having to write a witty, thought-provoking post.

Here they are in no particular order, and that's mainly because blogger screws up the order every time I upload photos.

Charlotte allows me to open her presents.

I was evidently moving my hand very quickly.

(Oh, and that's Charlotte's fantastic red bow.)

See the hot pink poinsettia on my sweatshirt?

Uuuuh-glee.

Gamma and Aunt Candice help the boys

open their stockings.

The two ugliest sweaters present that evening!

And the prettiest baby!

I'm not sure what my dad was saying at the moment

this picture was taken.

Jack inspects his new worktable.

The boys got a big set of foam blocks,

and Baylor instantly demonstrated

his mastery of the "stacking" developmental stage.

My new coat!

It buttons all the way up!

Stephen calls it my KGB coat.

Baylor knows what to do with his sister's new rocking chair.

Charlotte, on the other hand, isn't so sure of it.

So we had a great time, yaddayaddayadda.

(No, really, we did, I'm not trying to be cute.)

I'd like to take a moment and praise the dear Lord Jesus Christ that we seem to have almost fully recovered from the stomach virus that so crippled our family this week. I ended up calling the pediatrician's office yesterday because we were on Day Four of the puke and whatnot, and the nurse assured me that the current bug is following that pattern: get sick, get better, eat a little, get sick all over again. We bravely pushed the Pedialyte and saltines and the boys managed to keep everything down after their first bout of sickness in the morning. So today no sick for anyone, and Charlotte and I have escaped unscathed. The only bad news is that my dear mom, who so selflessly gave up her day off Monday and left work early yesterday to help me out with sick kids and sick husband, has now come down with the same virus. She is currently at home wishing that Jesus would come and take away her pain, and I feel terribly guilty.

Mom, I am so sorry.

I would also like to take a moment and note that the nurse at the pediatrician's office knew who I was and knew my children by name and age just by having me mention that my twin boys were sick. Stephen said that we are obviously repeat offenders.

And...we leave either tomorrow afternoon or Saturday for our Christmas vacation in Michigan with Stephen's family. We had planned on leaving tomorrow (Friday) morning, but then my mother-in-law sent an email this morning detailing the severe storm warning for Flint that is supposed to dump about 10 inches of snow, mixed with freezing rain, starting early Friday morning and lasting through the afternoon. So it's all a little up in the air. We'll get there someday.

We're a little anxious to peel out of town and leave the plague behind us, but other than that, we're in no particular hurry...