Christmas With Family

We had a fun Christmas Eve over at Grandma and Grandpa's house. The girls had a blast, spending time relaxing, playing with new toys, and eating. 

Aunt Stacey and I spreading Christmas cheer with festive sweaters and hats

This is one of six princesses in a set from Grandma and Grandpa. This one got an owie and needed a bandaid (and apparently is like my kids and doesn't like to wear clothes)

Two little girls were excited about getting cupcakes!

Jeff and I love this current Austen look. Cock the head to the side and give the no-teeth smile...

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On Christmas day, after our own festivities at home (next post), we headed to Grammie and Papa's. The girls have been in heaven with so much grandparent time, and of course were spoiled for two whole days. :-)

Kaitlyn has been a night owl lately...staying up reading and singing in bed until way too late (we put her down at about 8:00, and some nights she doesn't fall asleep until after 11:00). So, we decided to try dropping her nap during the day to hopefully help her get more sleep at night. This picture is hopefully only the sign of a transition time. However, if after a couple of weeks she is still giving herself evening naps, we'll go back to a nap for a while.

Mr. Elf, 2011

Oh, the adventures we've had with Mr. Elf this month. I think our experience can best be summed up in a conversation with Kaitlyn:

Mama: "That Mr. Elf is pretty silly, isn't he."

Kaitlyn: "No he's not. He's a naughty little elf."

And by Austen's (a.k.a. Master Mr. Elf Finder) reaction many mornings:

Pointing frantically: "Ellllllllf! I see 'im! I see 'im! I found 'im!"

We had so much fun. :-)

He arrived in Kaitlyn's room on an early December morning, ready to tell us his story

He didn't waste time getting into the girls' toys

Ready to cook their egg breakfast

Who can resist making flour "snow" angels?

Kaitlyn: "I think he found a friend!"

Yes, 90's children, that's a Care Bear cloud car

"He found more elf friends!"

Saying "hi" to Fredward the Fish, whom I swear is alive. He's been with us for about four years and can frequently be found taking "naps"

Story time with Mr. Elf

Ziplining across the kitchen with Daddy's fishing line

Mama and Kaitlyn made elf-sized donuts as the end of his time with us grew closer

He enjoyed them

Raiding the chocolate calendars

"Hanging" out with the Christmas cards

On his last morning with us, he brought reindeer food. Austen and Mama (Kaitlyn fell asleep in the car on the way home and would not be roused for anything) sprinkled it outside to help the reindeer find us.

I can only imagine what fun next year will be with this little guy when the girls are a bit older. Thank you for the memories, Mr. Elf!

Happy Christmas Eve

The girls are watching part of Home Alone, so I'm sneaking in a short post of pictures. 

This is where I found the girls the other day...in the tub, making mischeif. Can you see the progress from the first picture to the second? It's a big sister's job to instigate...she's doing her job well.

Kaitlyn made some playdough cookies for Santa and we found them sitting by the fireplace - that's my girl!

This next sequence can be looked at in one of two ways: "The Gingerbread House Fail," or "The Gingerbread Skating Rinks Win." If you ask the girls, it was a win, and that's all that matters, right? :-)

Mama and Daddy may have made the icing too watery...oops

Daddy making "snow drops"

Stay tuned for Mr. Elf's Adventures!