Christmas

Merry (Late) Christmas everyone! :) Hope you had a good one.

We enjoyed time up in Goshen and Churubusco/Columbia City area with family. First we had our immediate family Christmas celebration with Scott's family. Then on Christmas day we went to visit Scott's mom's brother and all her side of the family. Ashton loved running around their yard. We let him loose since they don't live close to a busy road and they had a dog that he stayed pretty close to so we were pretty sure he wouldn't just run off. We also had a delicious meal and had fun getting reacquainted and playing some Catan. Christmas day evening it was back to Goshen for Scott's dad's side of the family for opening presents and desert. Then the day after Christmas we went to my uncle and aunt's house for my extended family Christmas - a meal and opening presents 'white elephant style'. We all had a good time catching up on each others lives since we only get to see each other once a year really. I also got to talk to my mom, dad and brother on Skype and see them on the webcam a couple times over the break so that was fun too! Not the same as seeing them in person, but it's as good as we can get all the way across the world.

All in all a very enjoyable time was had. Ashton did fine on the trip thanks to his car-sick pills and seemed to be very excited to be home and was back to his old self, being more playful than when he was in an unfamiliar house. (He wouldn't roll over for the first few days we were up there.) Scott and I went upstairs when we got home to put stuff away and we let Ashton run around wherever he wanted. I had left a roll of wrapping paper on the living room floor and Ashton had sniffed at it before but never really bothered it. Scott went downstairs and said, "Rhonda... I think you should look at this". Ashton had unrolled nearly the whole roll of wrapping paper and was having the grandest time tearing it all up. Scott had already scolded him but I came down and scolded him some more. He knew he was in trouble and went and sat in a corner while I picked up the mess. Then I went over to him and tried to have him give me kisses and he wouldn't!... So I pet him and told him I forgave him and then he finally gave me a couple kisses. I didn't know he would take it to heart so much. But I also wanted to be sure he got the message. I felt kind of bad though for ruining his expressions of joy at being back home. He is so funny when I catch him doing something he shouldn't. At least it's funny when it's something harmless. He unrolled some toilet paper a couple weeks ago and I went to check on him and he stopped what he was doing and looked up at me from playing in the mess of unrolled paper with these eyes that say "don't be mad - look aren't I the cutest thing ever?" I couldn't help but laugh but scolded him with the tone of my voice while saying he was hilarious.

Ok, it's back to bed for me. I'm taking a sick day today to try and get over this cold that I've had forever. I might cave and see if I can get in to see the doctor as well.