Multiply Life By The Power Of Four: Hello 2014

Monday, January 6, 2014

Hello 2014

Our new year has been pretty great so far, just 6 days in.

My awesome brother was home for Christmas but had to go back to Orlando on New Year's day. We spent New Year's Eve with him watching We're the Millers and it was a fun, laid back evening. He went to the Nike employee store after Christmas (he has a friend who gave him a pass) and bought himself and Jeff these awesome Seahawks jerseys. Jeff really likes his and wears it every time he watches a game, whether the Seahawks are playing or not.

A few days after Christmas I pulled out a nightgown that I had bought for Ella way back in October. She was beyond thrilled to see that there was a matching nightgown for her doll, Leila, which fit her perfectly!

The day after Christmas our whole family got a nasty stomach virus. It was awful. I, luckily, was only ill for 24 hours, but Ella and Jeff were sick for over 48 hours, and Nicholas still isn't feeling 100 percent. He's on the mend, but likes to be on his room on bi-pap more than normal. One thing that brought him comfort while he was feeling really crummy was a bath. Having the shower nozzle pour warm water over his whole body brought him some relief from the aches and pains of the virus.

We had Chinese food for dinner several nights ago and Ella and I split a fortune cookie. Lucky us, there were two fortunes in that one cookie, so we both got our own.

On New Year's Eve, Jeff read Ella her last bedtime story of 2013. This is particularly amazing because it's rare that Jeff ever reads to the kids. He doesn't think he is a good reader, but the kids really love it when he reads to them, so with Ella's adorable pleading (she really does have him wrapped around her finger), he finally gave in.

For Christmas Ella and Nicholas got this adorable puppet theatre from my parents. Ella loved performing Goldilocks and the Three Bears for us one evening. Since Nicholas was still not feeling well and in his room, she brought in there to do a special performance for him as well.

After I put the Christmas decorations away each year, I always feel that our house looks sparce. Truth be told, I think it's kind of cluttered when the Christmas decorations are out, but love all the beautiful, festive decorations so much. So, I have added a few things to compensate for the lack of things.

Recently I was at Home Depot and found these adorable tiny succulents, so I bought several. Then, later that same day I went to Pier One and found these cute little cups to pot them in. Now we have tiny succulents all over the living room, dining room, and kitchen. They make me happy.

I also decided to switch up some of the art in our bedroom. I found these cool antique keys and then at our local antique store I found this frame to place around them. Viola! Brand new art for our bedroom wall.