Christmas Day 2013

I heard the kids get up around 6, but then promptly fell into the sleep of the dead until they came to wake us up at 7:20.

Santa came!



As per usual, we started with stockings and then took a break for breakfast.



The kids received these balloons in their stockings which they couldn't get enough of:




Tucker could somehow tell exactly what gifts were his and was going crazy trying to get to them, so we let him go next:



I have a parenting theory. It being that if you strongly forbid something, then kids will obsess about it and want it even more. Well, about a year ago I saw the Monster High dolls, thought they were weird and scary looking and told Sadie I wouldn't buy them for her. Well, guess what toy she has been obsessed with every since? So, for Christmas she got 5 of them!



She also received lots of games, books, and arts and craft supplies:



Jackson received lots of books, HotWheels cars, a roller coaster building set, games, and iTunes gift cards:



The number one item on his list was Disney Infinity, which I totally forgot to give him. As we were cleaning up Eric whispered the reminder to me and I had to go and find where I had hidden it in the garage! I also found a shirt for Megan I had totally forgotten about. My mind!

He was happy to receive it.



Megan received, clothes, clothes, and more clothes. Plus lots of accessories like scarves, make-up, and gift cards:



Jackson and Eric opening their new Seahawks hats from me:



Eric and I received lots of things too, especially things we needed, like new knives, scissors, and bedside lamps, along with some items that were more on the fun side:



The opening aftermath:



I just love Christmas morning!

We spent the afternoon opening and playing with toys:



Then went and had dinner with our Baird friends. Amy's mom made her traditional Bean Soup that she makes every Christmas.



This happened while we were there. It's marker, but washed right off!



Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2013

Our Christmas Eve festivities started off with a trip to Target for the kids to choose gifts for each other (procrastinate much?). It was dinner time while we were leaving, so I suggested Roberto's Taco Shop. Mainly because I had heard about someone eating there on Thanksgiving so I knew it would be open.

We do not frequent Roberto's and consequently ordered WAY TOO MUCH FOOD.



While eating I took time to admire Sadie's cute elfin ears, which put me into the Christmas spirit.



Upon arriving home we started work on the foam gingerbread house I purchased this year. Surprisingly it was totally fun!



Megan's vision:



We of course did lots of Santa tracking:



Then we opened our traditional one Christmas Eve gift:



Jackson opened this heavy duty basketball hoop that hooks over his door. It has been a fun but noisy edition to our family.



Sade opened an Orbeez ladybug toy:



And Megan received a new shirt:



Two cuties:



Before bed Sade made a special reindeer concoction that included oats, peanuts, chocolate chips and Nerds.



All ready for Santa:



The cute note Sade left him:



He appreciated it so much that he left her one in return.

The kids were in bed around 10, and Eric and I made it around 1 am, which probably is a new record for earliness.

Max Elfis 2013

 I have to start off by saying that I do not get the all the hate out there about The Elf On The Shelf. I had a friend post on Facebook saying her kids really wanted an Elf, but she didn't know if she should get one, and FORTY THREE people weighed in. Most were fairly diplomatic, but a few took their position a little too seriously and some virtual fighting actually broke out. Weird I tell you.

Anyway.....A few adventures courtesy of Max Elfis.

His December 1st arrival:



I read a hilarious article about stooping so low as putting your elf in a jar, and laughed and laughed because we had found our elf in a jar a couple of days before:



Mummy elf:



Hostage elf:



We were all worried we would touch Max when we found him in a kitchen drawer:



Prince Charming elf:



One day he hid in the recycling:



The kids and Eric thought it was great fun when they tricked me and told me that they had taken the recycling out to the garbage. I almost had a heart attack!

One night Max stole Eric's phone and took about 20 selfies:



A sampling of his work:



He also scanned himself a few times and hung his pictures up over some others:



Trapeze elf:




Posing with a wishbone:



Sleigh riding elf:



Until next year Max.