Christmas Bug

We are not prepared to furnish Christmas photos because the Mann house has taken ill.
As of last night this horrible stomach bug has claimed two victims and we are seriously hoping it stops there. Needless to say, Christmas was cumbersome today. But still, the children were delighted and generous, taking time to open one gift each and enjoying the feeling of watching others open theirs. Okay, well... Bennett really just liked ripping wrapping paper and trying to eat it.

Hoping that i crawl out of this funk tomorrow and am able to make a Christmas morning then, instead. Complete with Monkey bread for breakfast, christmas music and a standing roast prepared by the man of the house in the latter part of the day.
that is, if tonight doesnt reveal new victims.

So all in all, we were so happy to have the kids wake up here this morining, and i thoroughly enjoyed playing The Big Guy last night for friends and neighbors and aside from this bug (and its a big aside) it was a perfect morning. I know i had several moments of nostalgia for Christmases past and wished our house were full of family and friends, but we will slowly begin to take on the task of creating our own traditions. Hoping that in years to come more of our family can be here with us because today they were sorely missed. We were happy to have been able to see the NY side for Thanksgiving and to have also had a mini christmas a couple of weeks ago with a small faction of the midwest fam. Add to that, the church christmas play, making cookies, and meals for the shelter in town, donating some toys and the traditional christmas decorating, we have done a great job of beginning some rituals for next year and years to come.

anyway, its off to bed for me in the hopes that we begin anew tomorrow.
Merry Christmas! Here is hoping that you all had an easy and rewarding day.

xoxo