Holiday Round Two

On Thursday, the Hamolia's arrived from Baltimore, MD after they stayed over in Ohio with some family.  The Hamolia's are Jim's sister and her family.  Mike and Brittany have two daughters; Maddy - 3 years old and Lexie - 9 1/2 months old.  Lexie and Samantha are just a few hours short of being exactly 2 weeks apart.

We had such FANTASTIC fun with them at the house.  Maddy has been nicknamed Drama, and I think she has had that name since she was probably 24 hours old.  The kid is so stinkin' cute and sometimes talks like a little adult.  I about died laughing when she opened up the bedroom door and said "Excuse me?" when she thought we were talking about her.  Oh wow.  JM and I decided that we were not ready for a 3-year-old yet.  I guess we have some time. =)

We had been afraid that Samantha would scratch Lexie's eyes out b/c that is what she tends to go for on other people.  Keep in mind Samantha goes to Joy's during the day and meets adults.  Lexie, on the other hand, goes to daycare and has different friends and other child interactions.  Lexie. doesn't. mess. around. hahaha.  She was kind of the "bruiser".  Samantha finally hit her stride and started "fending for herself" a little bit by the end of the weekend.

At some point between our Doctor's appointment on Monday and the weekend, Samantha's "not-sick status" changed to sinus infection.  I called into the doctor's office on Wednesday and told them that she had drainage, but it was clear.  However the drainage was enough that she had gagged on it and thrown-up.  She was sneezing out a ton of it....gross, gross, gross.  I cannot handle other people puking, but did just fine with her and I really thought the snot was going to be hard to get over, but it wasn't.  We just used the "snot sucker" and Samantha didnt' seem to mind.  The nurse said that since her "drainage" aka SNOT wasn't green so they probably weren't going to be able to do anything for her if we brought her in.  However, she mentioned that they would be in on Friday but only until noon.  Of course, Samantha didn't start having the green drainage until Saturday. However, Lexie arrived all snotty too, so I immediately felt better.  Because I know that if I was traveling and walked in and the other person's kid was all sick I would be like "great... infection here we come".  Brittany's comment was "She goes to daycare, it seems like she ALWAYS has a runny nose".

Thursday evening we ran into town to make a Wal-Mart run.  JM, Samantha, and I were a few aisles away and I hear "Mallloorryy..... Malloryyyyy.... Where's Mallory?"  hahaha... oh Maddy, how I love you!
We tried to get Monical's pizza, b/c Brittany and Mike don't have it out East.  They messed up the order so we said forget and decided to make supper at home.  We arrived back at the house in time to watch the Capitals' hockey game. The boys were happy.

Friday:  We had planned on going to the inn for a little bit and for some breakfast.  We all took our shower "stuff" and clothes because it was much easier for everyone to shower there.  After lunch we headed out to Jim and Marcy's for the day.  The girls played all day and we ate some fantastic food. Samantha finally fell asleep on Jim's lap and they took a nap while the rest of us just relaxed and maybe napped.  We had all planned on going to Christmas Eve service but the traveling had caught up to the little Hamolia girls.  Samantha was a little strung out too from not being on her normal schedule for the day so JM and I chose to just go home too.  Maddy crashed really early and was able to sleep a long solid night.  The little ones went to bed a little early slept pretty well too, so we adults stayed up kind of late and raided the alcohol cabinet in the house.  I must say that it was really nice to have a drink or too and be adults-having-fun.  This was the first time, for me, since we had started the process of "trying for a baby".   My parents and sister came up to spend the night so that they could be here for Samantha's first Christmas.  Mom and Dad slept out in the camper and Marisa crashed on the couch.  It was so quiet when all were in bed that the old storybook quote came to mind, "not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse".  =)

Christmas morning was great.  Jim and Marcy came over and while we waited for them the girls opened their stockings.  Santa had brought Maddy a TON of candy and man was she in Heaven. Brittany says payback will be Hell, but I'm not sure who she's talking to.  SANTA brought the candy. =)  The girls made out like bandits with tons of toys.  It was SO nice having my parents here for our first Christmas with Samantha.  She was the perfect age to tear the paper.  The paper was SO cool and so much fun to rip and shred.  After we had breakfast and got ready we headed back to the Inn to have our Jenness Christmas.  Mexican Train was played and good times were had.  It was great to see Ben & Bonnie play with Maddy, Lexie, and Samantha.  Samantha is definitely a Grandpa's girl.  All he has to do is say  "Where's my little Toodler?" and if there is crying, it stops and either way a big smile spreads across her face.  What a bond they have!

On Sunday we had intended not to travel anywhere, but ended up going back to the inn.  We wanted Ben & Bonnie to see the great grandkids again before the Hamolia's took off home.  We had lunch at the inn and then headed back to our house to have a nice, relaxing day.  It was good to just relax. 
Early Monday morning the Hamolia's headed off to Ohio (as their halfway point) and Samantha and I just about missed the.  We ran outside to give a last hug good-bye.  It is always sad to see them go because if they lived close I think we could be the best of friends.


Overall Christmas was a great time.  Samantha started walking along the furniture and at one point let go but has not done it since.  She gave out kisses (which sometimes were head-butts) and loved on everyone.  She screamed at Uncle Joe occasionally, but that really isn't anything new! =)