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via Instagram http://ift.tt/1IGwg59 Everyone say, "Happy New Year!!!" Farewell 2015 it's been real, but I'm ready to break up. Here's to a bright, shiny, new, and amazing 2016.

Christmas Day and so on

Well, Maylee fell on Christmas Eve at about 11 pm. So Matt was a dear and stayed up with her all night. Maylee was a trooper and only got sick in the bowl to reduce the washing machine load. Kristin and Elena fell that night too. The next day I believe it went Jason, then Will. My dad never had any issues with bodily fluids but just felt terrible. Then Maddy during dinner time and Colton Shortly after. The last two, Mom and Sierra fell on Saturday. It was crazy that 15 of the 20 of us got sick. The only 5 that didn't get sick were the H Bragg family. How did they gain immunity you ask? They had all ready had it a few months ago! 

We were debating whether it was better to stay home and be by yourself and healthy or come together and be one big sick happy family. While I wished for death at one point, it was so nice to be with most of the family. 

We didn't end up doing much, and really didn't leave the house much, but we still managed to have a few laughs (at others expenses and a lot of potty humor jokes were used) 

While opening presents Christmas morning Maylee didn't care much for it, Rmma didn't really have the patience but Ty was much recovered and very happy and excited. 

After opening presents we played with a few toys and things but mostly just let the kids out back to run around. We text a few family members, but mostly took care of sick kids and family members. 

That night we watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Special with Sesame Street. Emma was cracking up while watching it. It's funny when kids understand humor. 

Saturday we ventured out to the park for a bit and dropped off gifts at Nate and Kelly's house. We didn't stay as to my infect their home with the dreaded Virus. 

We decided to leave pretty early on Sunday and not go to church. The weather plus risk of infecting others had us a little worried. 

We are glad we did the weather was a little tricky and I kept getting light headed. for some reason. My guess is it was an after effect of the Norovirus. 

The kids traveled well, except Grace who was done with about an hour to go. 

She was happy to get out of the car! 

Yesterday was recovery day at our house, just actually opening all the toys and using them then finding a spot for them. The kids were awesome and cleaned up most on their own. 

Grandpa and Grandma Spence made these super awesome quilts and pillow cases for all the kids. They LOVE them and each of them slept with them last night. Ty came in this morning and told me how warm he was last night with his new quilt. I am jealous! I want one too! 

Matt wore my Grandpa Coombs Sweater vest to work yesterday. I loved it. He loved it. Funny how those things go. My Grandma gave it to him. Matt made it look good too I thought. 

This morning were getting back in to the swing of things. Maylee did school on the computer while Ty read to me and then he did work for school on the computer too. This is the first real picture book that Ty read to me, I was so impressed! Usually he gets so intimidated by a lot of words on a page but he cruised right through it. I told him the title of the book should have been, "You Can Do It, Ty"  

Favorite gifts this year:

Grace- her new ball roller toy

Emma- her little people Cimderella Castle

Maylee- light up Cinderella dress up shoes 

Ty- remote control helicopter (it says 14+ on the box but Santa didn't see that, he's actually getting really good at it) 

Mickie- time with family and new jeans from Matt 

Matt- time with family and a red rider BB gun 

We are so thankful for the love shown to us by our friends and family this season. We love celebrating the birth of our Savior and hope to pay all the love and kindness we feel, forward to each of you. 

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/22v6veh Postchristmas... Messy home but happy kids. I just need to take deep breaths. #ineedtoclean

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/1NPuZ8k Over half have fallen prey to the Norovirus. I think we've all embraced it and now bets are being placed on who is next. Merry Christmas one and all. We're one big happy family.

Christmas Eve

We came to Medford for Christmas. We brought with us the Norovirus. It's been rough but we're trying to avoid anyone else getting sick. It started last Sunday with Emma, the day after Colton and Maddy got to our house. It went through her pretty quickly, then nothing for three days. Then on the drive down to Medford I got ill, like wish for death ill. Then Grace got sick in the back seat, probably 5 times. So poor Matt had to clean it up in his shirt and tie every time since I was wishing I could throw up. Trouble is, I have an iron stomach, it's a blessing and a curse. I literally prayed that I could throw up, I never did... Anyhow though, we made it down to Medford and now Ty is currently in the dying hole. Fingers crossed that's the last of it and Maylee and Matt hold out strong. However the festivities have continued. 

We bought our dollar store gifts, we picked out our Christmas cereals, and Maddy directed us in her Ritter family tradition of re-enacting the nativity. Poor piquant Ty sat on my lap and whimpered while we sang Christmas hymns and giggled at the wiseman, shepherds, Angels, animals, Joseph, Mary and baby Gracie (Jesus) 

I especially love maylees excitement about bringing baby Jesus gifts, she was a wise (wo)man

After the nativity and the wrapping of a few more gifts mom read the Grinch while Kristin administered melatonin to her children. Emma and Maylee were wired, Ty and Gracie went right to sleep. 

Fingers crossed Ty is feeling much better in the morning. 

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/1QPjzr4 Merry Christmas from our Norovirus infected family to yours. Hopefully your holiday isn't as gut wrenching as ours has been.

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/1QPjbsD From our Norovirus infected family to hopefully yours avoiding it, he

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/22mgdzR Ice Skating FHE with @coltonwb & @maddylbragg videos to follow.

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/1O22PKR Three of the littles were all gussied up for Christmas Sunday church. Emma on the other hand couldn't keep anything down this morning. She stayed home with me while Matt took the others. Thanks for all the Christmas outfits @gkbragg!

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/1UGEpb2 The force is strong with this one. If this hasn't made its way to your house, you should try it. http://ift.tt/1O3vlra Happy Star Wars Release Eve! Thanks for the tip @coltonwb

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via Instagram http://ift.tt/1T1UXJb I've been watching a lot of Christmas movies lately. Ty is getting tired of a trend in these movies. He made a sign to remind me how he feels about this. #bleckihatekissing #allboy #elf #whitechristmas #miracleon34thstreet #acrownforchristmas

Maylee was so brave at Adventure Dental today. She was patient for the first half, then the second half Dr. Josh so was patient with her. My little sugar addict had 4 cavities and that was just one side! Ty also had some work done with no gas or shots... He hates all that and just muscled through it, he's hardcore like Grandpa Harvey! #adventuredentalnw

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1IR1oP3

Christmas time is here

Grace's hair is finally long enough for a teeny pony tail. She rips out most bows and hair ties. But I am determined... Girl has GOT to keep the hairbows in!! 

I finally bought the package DVD set from Costco of some good Christmas movies for the kids. They love the old claymation type films like Rudolph and Santa Claus is comin' to town. Frosty is a favorite as well. 

We went to the Adventure Dental Christmas party last weekend. The kids loved it. We took pictures, ate treats, wrote letters to Santa, sat on Santa and Mr. Claus laps, got temporary tattoos, got their faces painted, and played games. Well chatted with Dr. Josh for a bit too. 

After the party mom Maylee and I went down to Portland. 

My mom took us all to see the Broadway play Beauty and the Beast! Baylee and Laycee met us there too. They were so cute in their new dresses and coats. 

We all we are able to sit together even though our seats were all over the place. Luckily my mom bought the tickets as a group and we knew the people sitting in between us. Maylee loved it, Laycee told me numerous times it was the best play ever and Mom and I thought it was Pretty good. No Cinderella or Wocked though... The beast wasn't castes very well, he had a good voice but his acting and looks wearn't strong. Definitely still a very enjoyable evening. 

Then on Sunday we had the May family over for snacks, candy house building and "it's a wonderful life!" I had never seen the whole thing, and it's Kirse May's all time favorite movie. So may as well watch it with a superman for the first time. I watched it and enjoyed it. The kids loved having Karina, Sullivan and Ethan build with them. Tim was even patient enough to bud with Emma. She had the MOST candy and looooved it. 

A few days ago, Maylee came down stairs and said her jeans were too tight around the waist, so I loosened the waist and they were too short anyway, so I told her to take them off. I looked at Grace and her jeans were suuuuper tight. So I switched her to the pants that Maylee fit just a month ago and they fit perfectly! I rolled them up a titch and they were golden. Those pants Emma grew out of a year ago. So funny. Also, Gracie is keenly aware of when she is getting her picture taken. 

Emma is working on her selfie game. This is happening way too soon! 

Our FHE's these days are mostly wrestle with Dad time. Matt's been a busy guy with end of the year work stuff, finals week for school, wrapping up coaching the 6th Grade Basketball team, being with the YM of our Ward and the general hub bub of the Holiday season. They are excited that they get to play with Dad for an hour or so. 

Lately Grace has had a terrible Diaper rash and these bumps all over her tummy. I text my friend and she recommended an elimination diet for the things we think she might be allergic too. We know Berries are terrible for her, for example if she eats a bite of Strawberry Jam she'll have those bumps all the way up to her hair line and a bleeding Diaper rash. We are usually careful with milk, but I had been getting lax on cheese. She loves cheese. (A few pictures up she is eating cheddar cheese, this is the result) so I have been careful all week about cheese and dairy and everything cleared up. She can have mozzarella cheese (string cheese) but only half and only one a day. My other girls didn't ever have such a strong reaction to it, I am hoping she grows out of it like the other girls mostly have. 

I had been putting off folding the laundry for a week. It was over the top... If there is one domestic duty I hate it's folding and putting away laundry. 

Grace has discovered all the cupboards... So she likes to get in them and spread its contents all over the place. Ugh. 

Baking soda was everywhere on the floor. 

This morning we went to Ty's Basketball game. He tried pretty hard and got two steals! He was more disinterested in the second half, but still ran around a bit. We think we'll wait another few years before trying basketball again. He wants to do Soccer or Tee Ball next. 

Afterwards we went to Breakfast. 

Maylee was blueberry hunting

Ty ate two pancakes! He was hungry after his game. 

Emma gave Ty most of her food too. 

Grace was a cheese face. She is cutting 4 teeth all on top. We are glad it's right now instead of 2 weeks from now around Christmas time!