Christmas eve

This year Christmas eve was a little bit different for us because Daddy had to work all night.  So although our tradition is usually to play games, eat yummy food, and spend time doing Christmas things we changed it up a bit so we could all be together (as much as possible).  After all isn't that what is the fun part?  We spent the day together hanging out, and hey we got what I think is our first family photo of the year!

 Later that night we all headed to Daddy's work and spent the night...

 Bowling!!  I think Uncle David won every game, but we all had fun.  We ate dinner in the restaurant there and Daddy was able to eat with us (when he wasn't running out to fix a problem).  When it was getting late we left Daddy at work and headed home to decorate our cookies for Santa.  Sadi taste tested many cookies (to make sure they were safe of course).

 I think Santa got the most decorated cookies ever!

We watched a short movie and read our final Christmas book "Twas the night before Christmas", and then it was time to hang the stockings or for Sadi try it on once again to make sure it still fits!  I think in a year or so it will be time to get a bigger stocking.

And FINALLY it was time to dream of sugar plums and hope that Santa would come!

Saying goodbye

On Christmas Eve it was time to say goodbye to our little elf Jingle. He really has become one of the family.  His last few nights here of course he was still busy finding things to do while we slept.  Just 3 days before the big guys arrival he was found having a camp out with Woody.  They were roasting marshmallows over the fire.

 Just 2 days before Christmas he must have know the kids needed a little help being good because he brought them a treat with a poem which read:

With little elf eyes watching you,

There's not a lot that Santa misses.

So to help you be good today,

Here's a bunch of sweet elf kisses.

 And on Christmas eve morning he was ready to party with us.  He had brought his very own merry-oke microphone which turned your voice into an elf voice.  It even came with a very clever little music book that had elf lyrics to all the songs.  My favorite was this song which I thought was perfect for Sadi:

(Sung to the tune of Jolly old St. Nicholas)

Jolly old St. Nicholas,

tell me if you can,

Am I on the naughty list?

I'm afraid I am.

Seems to me it all depends

What you mean by "good."

I'm not really bad you see,

I'm misunderstood!

It was so fun having Jingle this year and the kids were sad to see him go.  We blew him a kiss, and told him we would see him next year!

The day arrived

What's scarier than Santa not visiting your house?  Well I decided it is this...

Kelsey got her drivers permit yesterday...yikes!  It's official she can drive.   Anyone want to take her driving, becasue I don't!!  How do parents do this?  I am to much of a control freak, I think Daddy may have to teach her.  Beep, beep, here we go!

He's watching you...

But who's watching him?  Our little elf Jingle is still getting into mischief EVERY night!!  I'm starting to wonder if he really is flying all the way to the north pole to report to Santa.  Here is what he has been up to this week.  We found him one morning in the freezer helping himself to some icecream.  (Sadi was not thrilled he borrowed her scarf to keep warm in there).

He had a shootout in the hall with the nerf guns.

I'm not sure if Sherriff Woody was keeping him in line or playing himself.  But, there wer darts everywhere!!

I think he was trying to wipe up after himself?  Did you know elf's pee green?

He borrowed a sweet ride and drove around...leaving skid marks all over the kitchen floor!!

He brought back a snack from somewhere, but then helped himself (I think he was digging for the marshmallows, so like someone I know).

I'm not sure if I should be worried, I think he and Barbie were on a date sipping hot cocoa?

He made a grappling hook out of candycanes and hooked it to the fan and was whirling around.

And this morning we found him with a huge banner reminding us....

Can you believe it?  Only 4 days left!! I hope we are ready!

Elf update

Many of you have asked what our elf Jingle has been up to so I thought I would update you on what he has been up to!  We have had a few quiet nights.  We have found him coloring in a Christmas coloring books using all the red and green crayons from every single crayon box in the house...

He enjoyed reading some of our Christmas stories from our Christmas countdown basket,

 He even brought us some cookies from the North Pole (Peppermint Oreo's), of course he ate half of them while he was waiting for us to wake up!

He made himself some popcorn and was watching a movie one morning (The movie Elf of course),

But recently well it's getting strange.  We found him under the tree playing Uno with the snowman.

I am undecided if they are friends or not because the next morning it was a war zone.  They had built forts with legos and were throwning marshmallows at each other.

And then this morning we found him "decorating" our tree with the kids underwear!!  Let's just say Kelsey was less than thrilled about this one, but Chase thought it was hillarious!

I'm really hoping Santa didn't send us a bad elf.  I think Sadi is getting more confident that her being bad will not interfere with her getting something from Santa.

Polar Express

Last weekend we took the kids to ride the "Polar Express".  It was a bit lame if I'm being quite honest.  There was no line like last year which was nice but it seemed the train barreled around the loop a bit fast.  Santa (who was to frumpy for even me to take a photo of) came in not really talking to anyone but merely throwing candy canes at everyone before heading to the next boxcar. The kids had fun, but I think next year we may skip this one!  All aboard...

Run, run, as fast as you can...

Last night we decorated gingerbread men (and girls and babies). When I saw these I thought these might be more fun than houses because you could eat it right away. Houses are fun but man do they get hard and really inedible. Sadi was ready to eat hers before it even had a button on it. She made sure hers was a girl with long hair.

Chase wanted to copy the box it came in exactly...just like him to want to follow the instructions. Matt did help him make some very stylish striped shorts.

Kelsey took her time making the perfect little ginger baby complete with bib and diaper.

These gingies didn't run fast enough to escape these hungry kids. Before the frosting had dried this guy had his legs snapped right off!