Our Sick Christmas

Our Christmas turned out a little different than we expected.  Christmas typically for us is very very very busy.  We operate at a break neck speed from Christmas Eve morning until Christmas night.  This year, things turned out very different but it was wonderful nonetheless.  

The night before Christmas Eve, Ella came down with a nasty cold and we were up and down all night.    Due to that we had to cancel breakfast with two of my dear friends from college.  I was so sad to miss breakfast but we could not risk Ella getting their children sick.  

We typically spend Christmas day with my Dad.  My parents divorced when I was young so we have always done Christmas this way.  We gave Ella some medicine and went to meet my Dad and stepmother for lunch at Mark's Gourmet Burgers in Greenville, SC (delicious btw).  After that Ella perked up a bit and we exchanged gifts at my Dad's house.  

This is Ella and my husband.

These are a few shots of my stepmother's gorgeous tree.  

In the late afternoon, Ella started fading fast so we had to cancel our plans to see my mother's family that night and we headed home to put Ella down for a nap.  In my memory I do not recall ever being at home on Christmas Eve.  It was quite the change.  My sister was also sick so she was home in the bed as well.  

We fed Ella some chicken soup and we settled in and watched The Holiday, one of my favorite holiday movies.  We had some cocoa and put out cookies for Santa.  

Everyone knows these Anthro mugs but I love them so much.   I had the melamine Santa plate made from Lima Bean Kids.  It turned out so cute!

We also let Ella open up a few gifts from us.  She loved her puzzle from Dwell.  

After that Ella went to sleep we started prepping for Santa.  I have to say that it was far more exhausting than I anticipated.  Whomever the sadistic bastard is that created the packaging for kids toys should be punished... severely.  My husband and I both wrestled the toys to the ground amid a litany of curse words and with the help of screwdrivers, scissors, box cutters, etc.  

This is the before shot. 

And the after shot.  

Now I admit I went a tad overboard.  Anytime you have to rearrange your living room to accomodate what Santa brings, I think its a sign you've gone too far.  There I admitted it but I had fun doing it.

Her big present was the Pottery Barn Kids 3 in 1 Retro Kitchen in Pink. 

I also fully stocked her kitchen of course. 

The pots, utensils, tea kettle and some of the food was from Pottery Barn Kids. 

The felt veggies I picked up at the Land of Nod.  They are literally one of the cutest things I have ever seen because they are so large.  

I stocked the freezer with the ice cream treats from Le Toy Van (also sold at Pottery Barn Kids). 

I also had some cupcakes baking in the oven.  Cupcakes from Pottery Barn Kids. 

Other than the kitchen, Santa left Ella a very special prize, which was an Elf on the Shelf that we (by we I mean me) have named Pepper.  I used this precious paper and From Santa tag from Sugar Paper Los Angeles. 

The other rather large (physically at least) gift was this tent.  A tip for anyone looking to buy a tent, pay attention to the measurements.  This tent is from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child and I totally didn't pay attention to the fact that is 48 inches on each side and freaking huge.  It's cute though.  

Santa also brought some Toms, a couple puzzles from Boikido and a few books along with a baby and a stroller from Pottery Barn Kids. 

Yes I'm still going.  Santa also brought the Anywhere Chair from Pottery Barn Kids.  I choose pink (of course) with her name on the back.  Almond the bear was a last minute purchase at Pb Kids while we were at South Park Mall in Charlotte on Friday.  He's so soft.  

To finally wrap up, we capped it off with a pillow racer, a preschool owl backpack from Pottery Barn Kids, some Pigeon books by Mo Willems, the Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon plush dolls and a pink dump truck from Green Toys.  All girls need a pink dump truck.  

By this time my husband started feeling really sick too.  I finished up our stockings while he sat on the couch in a daze of mucinex.  

This was our mantel.  I don't think I ever featured it this season.

This was Ella's stocking.  It's so cute!

This was my stocking.  I did my own stocking so it was fabulous. 

I ordered this new stocking this year from West Elm.  It's felt and I love it.  Spoon and spatula are from Sur La Table.  Pad is from Rifle Paper Co.  Hand Cream from Sabon.  Inside I also put a Ginzing gift set from Origins, Philosophy lip balm, socks, etc. 

This is Chris' stocking.  Very manly with Kiehl's facial fuel scrub and moisturizer, a Belkin armband for his iPhone 5, some gift cards, some candy and other goodies like socks and boxers from J.Crew and coffee.  

The next morning, Ella still had her cold, my husband was coming down with the same thing but Ella had a blast as you can see.  

Our parents came over to visit and see Ella in her Christmas morning glory and we exchanged gifts.  We were so blessed.  There was paper everywhere.  

Later we had lunch at my aunt's house and Ella opened more presents wearing this precious outfit from Tea Collection. 

By the time we left my aunt's house I started feeling sick and by the next morning was also a victim of the worst cold/ sinus infection ever.  

So it was our sick Christmas.  We are all three still recovering but hoping to enjoy what's left of our vacation. 

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and  a Happy Holiday and that you did not fall victim to the viral plague.  :) 

this is us.  pre-sickness on december 21st.