Sick Kids!

We all got sick right after New Years, I guess all the Houghton family did. It started out with me, throw ups and diarrhea, then Todd got it. Carson just got a little diarrhea but then his turned into a HORRIBLE cough, nose and ears! He woke up in the middle of the night just screaming because of his ear, it burst the next morning! Poor kid! Ellie then started with a cough and nose and high fever of a 103 and was very lethargic. I took her in on Saturday because she was not getting any better. The Dr was worried about early pneumonia so they gave her a fast acting antibiotic shot which was so painful, it left her a good bruise. She also has double ear infections!

These two do not do well with antibiotics/steroids, they are so mean and ornery! I guess it's worth it for them to get better!

Man, we don't know what was in the Houghton home down here but we all got it! I am hoping to be on the up hill so we all aren't sick when the baby comes! :)

This is so sad, he looks so sick! This is after his ear had started draining, I think it might have burst in the night.....

I have NEVER seen this much drainage come out of an ear before, it must have been a really bad burst because this filled up this fast within 10-15 min. The poor kid. The Dr. gave us an antibiotic and then one for his ear which we have to do 3 times a day for 1 week. He screams bloody murder every time we do it, it's huge fight. I fell so bad for him. It has stopped draining and is healing now but it is still so painful for him.
She was so sick! Ellie is doing much better now, she is at least sleeping all night. I think her ears are feeling better.

~nEw YeArS ~

The Houghton family comes down for New Years. We have a lot of fun eating and playing games! Over course we have to get a swim in too! All the kids wanted to go swimming! What a great sport dad is! I was just watching and melting like Frosty the snowman!

Swimming lesson have really helped him, he isn't scared a bit! He is doing really well. The life jacket makes him feel more safe but before swim lessons he wouldn't even get in the water!

Grandpa started a train, they got going pretty fast and made a whirl pool!

He loves to swim!

Playing games! Our friends Clint and Abbie came down for New Years, we had them over to play games! It was a fun night!

They all loved these! It's amazing what can entertain kids!

Grandma made these fun costumes for them!

CHRISTMAS!!!

Ellie was the first one awake! 8:15! Not bad! We had dad go out and see if everything was OK. Ellie was very nervous, she thought that Santa was out there waiting for all of us! Once she figured out he wasn't she was so excited! Carson could wait, he thought dad was taking too long! :) It was a really fun Christmas! You plan and plan, get everything all ready for months (except me who procrastinated till the last week) and then it is all over within and hour or less! I loved Christmas this year! I am so thankful for the True meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth. I don't think you can fully understand what Mary went through until you have had a baby. I couldn't imagine having a child in the conditions she did. I am thankful for her sacrifice! I am thankful for Christ's sacrifice for me!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! Christmas Morning! Notice how the bottom of the tree is no longer decorated, thanks kids! :)

MORE Play dough! YEAH!!! We have play dough coming out of our ears but they both love it and play with it every day!

BUMBLE BEE!!!!

He was so excited! It was so much fun to see him this year! He understood what was happening and was so excited! Lots of fun!

Ellie was so happy with all of her gifts from Santa!

Ellie LOVES her skirt! She loves to twirl in it! Thanks Nana for all your hard work!

My mom spent HOURS making these darling skirts and bows for all the girls! She even made one for the baby.... if I have a girl!! They are so stinkin cute!

Carson got new church clothes from Nana and Papa and Ellie got her darling skirt and bow! We sure love our Nana and Papa! Thank you!

Jon! What more do I need to say! :)

We love to play games(minus Jon). We had our neighbor Nick over to join in on the fun!

Nana and the kids watching a movie!

Nana and Papa came Christmas evening!! We were so excited for them to come! They had been at Brooke's house for Christmas Eve. Jon, Delena, Noelle, Papa Mac and G.G. came over for dinner and to play games! We had lots of fun!

Christmas Eve

This year we stayed home for Christmas. We spent the evening with a group of good friends, had a wonderful dinner and yummy treats. We stopped by and other friends house just in time for the Christmas story, play and all. The kids had fun acting it out! Thanks Ashley and Nate! That night when we got home, Santa had dropped a present out of his slay early for Carson and Ellie, they were so excited. They both received cute pajamas! I think they loved the new Pj's! The yummy cookies for Santa and the carrots were for Rudolf of course!
They were so excited!

Santa came to OUR house!!

He couldn't believe it! Santa had found him!
He was so excited!!!!

This is as close to Santa that Ellie got! She was so scared! Santa's little helper was great too!

We had a special visitor this Christmas! Santa and a little helper came to see us at our house! (He found this little guy outside and asked if he wanted to be his little helper! Who would refuse!) Carson was so excited, Ellie on the other hand was TERRIFIED!! She couldn't believe Santa was at our house! Carson got to talk with him for a while. Santa was so perfect!! We are so lucky that he came to our home! Thanks Santa for taking the time to come see us!!

Early Christmas with Grandpa & Grandma

Carson was so excited!! He got a remote control motorcycle! He loves it!Ellie loves her blocks! Together they got a huge thing of Play dough and the fun things to play with it. They were so happy! It's all about the frosting!

Carson really got into it. He had a lot of fun and his house really looked so good.

Ellie mostly wanted to eat the frosting!
Grandma came over and made Ginger Bread houses. They had a lot of fun!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

sAnTa SaNtA sAnTa

We had our ward party and they had Santa come. Carson was so excited. They handed out tickets with numbers on them to try and organize the line but It didn't work the kids were too excited to wait. Poor Carson was one of the last ones in line. He couldn't wait to sit on his lap, Ellie on the other hand was terrified. Todd wouldn't let me traumatize her so we didn't get the crying picture this year! We love our ward, we are so blessed to have such great friends so close by!

This is as close as Ellie got to Santa, you can see him in the background. This is Carson's good friend Corbin. These guys are such great friends, they could play everyday all day long and not get sick of each other! He was so excited. Last year he was terrified so it was a nice change.

Carson thought that he needed to give Santa the ticket to sit on his lap.

He was SOOOO patient-- which is not him. He really couldn't wait to see him.