Post Christmas Update

What a whirlwind! Christmas picked us up, spun us around and let us down gently. This is the first year in a long time I'm not devistated that it's all over. Maybe it's because I really threw 100% of myself into the days leading up to the magical day....maybe it's because I know my parents will still visit in a few weeks. We were all at peace with putting the decorations away today. The house is still covered with toys-yet-to-find-a-home, but the fussy stuff is up and it feels lighter.

After a little computer breakdown and then successful check-up (more memory), Sam's day of... um, shall we just say MESSY....sickness, we're ready to keep the blogging roll going into the new year. I'm going to spend tomorrow's post reflecting on the past year. It was a great year for the most part, so stay tuned!

Snow Angels

Mr. Ollie and Miss LuLu had another night of fun. They sprinkled flour all over the kitchen table and then made "snow" angels. Luckily, it vacuumed right off of them and wiped up easily. Those crazy elves!

One more night of fun, and then they fly back to the North Pole with Santa!

Christmas Apron

I finally had a minute to use my sewing machine for my own family :) I just had to share this cute apron for Miranda's Christmas cooking. I stitched some grograin ribbon at the top and embroidered her name with a sassy little santa hat hanging off the "M". She was so excited to get something unexpected after her MUCH needed nap this afternoon. One gingerbread house down, 4,000,000 Christmas cookies to go.....

Saw, saw, saw...Pound, pound, pound

Ollie and LuLu tried to start a gingerbread house while we were sleeping last night. They got everything out of the box, but got overwhelmed and left the building to Miranda and her grandparents. The family watched the Polar Express tonight, and Miranda grabbed the elves to watch with her. We think we might have spied our elves in the crowd at the North Pole!

Two more nights! Stay tuned...

Is it hot in here?

LuLu and Ollie were at it again last night. This was the first morning Miranda couldn't find any elf evidence. We discussed possible scenerios over our cereal.

Miranda: Maybe they drove together and parked the car right?

Mom: We'll have to check it out after breakfast.

Miranda: Maybe they used ELF MAGIC to become invisible?

Mom: I wonder when they'll reappear?

Mom: Maybe they went back to the North Pole early?

Miranda: ***Look of complete and utter disbelief***

We heard Sam stirring upstairs, so I decided to get his breakfast ready before getting him. Miranda thought he might want pancakes, so I opened the freezer while I was still talking to her.

She screamed.

I screamed.

Behold:

We love our crazy elves!

Christmas Photos

Lowered expectations, lowered expectations, lowered expectations.....

Why do I get so stressed out about this? I started worrying and planning for these photos in early October. The beach pictures didn't work out. We tried the park at Thanksgiving. We did get a few good ones, but I wanted to share some of the no-so-good-ones, so you can truly appreciate the "good" ones! Got this idea to share these from Heather. It is more of a real glimpse of our lives than the sugar-coated stuff I usually filter out for you :)

Enjoy!

OK, here's the "good" ones:

Ollie and Lulu Sitting Under a Tree...

Last night Santa sent a special package, but more about that later. First I need to catch you up on the past few nights with our little friend.

Day 8:

We have been getting the house ready for the upcoming holiday visitors. We primed the bathrooms and left the paint out to paint the next day. When Miranda woke up, she found that Ollie is in fact a painter elf for Santa and displayed some of his talents.

Day 9:
Oliver must be a little homesick because we found him surrounded by all the Santa pictures we've had taken with the kids over the years.

Day 10:

Ollie is no longer an only elf. Last night Santa sent a special package and letter. It stated that while Ollie was enjoying his time with us, he was a little lonely. Thus, Tallulah (aka Lulu....or as Sam says "oo-oo") was sent down to help him out. She's a cute little elf with candycane tights and blond braids. We can't wait to see what kind of trouble they get into together over the next few nights!

Edited to Add....

Sorry, but when I looked at the blog, the picture below looks like Ollie rammed the van into the porch with the doors swung open. It wasn't even close to the porch, but it cracked me up the way the angle made it look.

The Adventures of Oliver (cont)

Oliver's nightly adventures just keep getting better and better!

Day 5:

We woke up morning 5 and couldn't find Ollie anywhere. Miranda found a note from the little guy on the front door. It said he wasn't a bad elf, and he wanted to go buy the kids a gift. It said he'd be back by breakfast. Miranda peeked out the front door and saw the van was parked halfway on the lawn (I may have some explaining to do for the neighbors :)! Ollie was behind the wheel in a booster seat all strapped in. There were two presents beside him which Miranda quickly whisked under the Christmas tree and never even asked to open. The real gift was Ollie's antics!

Day 6:

Miranda came flying downstairs around 7:00 am. She used to sleep until 8:00 at least, but alas, the excitement of Ollie has set her little clock back a bit. She found him sitting in the middle of the living room floor with a completed Elf Craft project. I had won (Ray insists the term is "bought") some vintage chandelier crystals on Ebay to string for Christmas tree decorations. We had hung many of them up, but there was still a package we hadn't gotten to. Oliver used clear string to make a very long chain of crystals to hang in Miranda's window. The note we found beside him said that he had found the crystals and they reminded him of the snow and ice at the North Pole. He thought we needed a little more bling in our house. So thoughtful!

Day 7:

Clearly, Oliver has a little Texas in his blood! What a great match for our family :)

Introducing Our Elf, OLIVER

We must have been good this year. Santa sent us an early gift straight from the North Pole. He arrived earlier this month, and his name is Oliver. Oliver is one of Santa's elves, and he will be spending Decembers with us for the next few years. He comes to make sure we're being good, and he reports back to Santa by phone at night when we're asleep. During the day, he naps under our Christmas tree (with one eye open to make sure he has an accurate report). Oliver is a good elf, but sometimes he gets into a little bit of trouble at night when he's out and about. I'm going to record his nightly adventures here. Hope you enjoy following along as much as we are. Miranda is literally out of bed and in our room every morning at 7:00 begging to go downstairs.

Day 1:

Oliver got into the pantry. We found him with his arms around the peanut butter jar. We think we got to him JUST in time....

Day 2:

Oliver was found hanging from the celing fan...

Day 3:

Oliver wrote us a note this day. He had to go potty and got all wrapped in the TP. It was over the towel rack, over the light fixture and out in the hall with wrapped in it about 20 times. That crazy elf!

Day 4:

Oliver was found on the couch wrapped in the new Christmas quilt the Scavos gave us. He was holding the phone, so we're pretty sure he was reporting back to you-know-who!

I'll fill you in on more of Ollie's adventures tomorrow. I have THREE more bags to finish for Christmas and I'm all caught up!!!!!!

Santa is one SCARY DUDE!!!!!!!

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:
I didn't take a picture after, but I assure he strutted away from Santa without a care in the world. He was totally cool, man. The lady asked if we wanted to try for another, but it was just perfect. We completely captured the personalities of Sam and Miranda. She is poised, focused on getting the picture right and then asking Santa for the 2 things she had decided on....note the comforting hand on her brother. He is screaming bloody murder, kicking, completely passionate and full of energy without a care in the world of what everyone expects of him.

I love it! 

Better Blogging!

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been a super-duper bad blogger. We (it really does involve all of us) have been slammed with bag orders for Christmas, and everything else has slowly been sliding. Well, I'm almost caught up....3 bags to go!!!!!!....and I'm not going to neglect you anymore, dear blog. I have so much to share. We've been doing some really great Christmas traditions that I can't wait to post, so stay tuned! It's going to get good :)

Stacy

Miranda as Mary

Small Paw's Visit

It finally happened! Miranda's name was last on the list since her last name started with a D and the teacher did by last names backward alphabetical. She finally got to bring home the class friend, Small Paw.









Small Paw was an excellent guest. She stayed with us all week and we recorded her stay in the class journal along with this photo we took in front of the tree. She slept in a little box Miranda put together for her by her bed. She ate meals with us in the doll high chair. She was in the car whenever we went anywhere.

It was interesting to see everything this animal had done during the year. She'd been to the beach, trick-or-treating, shopping and more. Miranda read that folder at least 20 times.




Here's a picture of her playing Trouble with Daddy and Miranda. The glob of green playdough was Sam's side of the table. We can't be sure how much he ate, but everyone was happy for about 15 minutes :)

The list starts over now, so we can look forward to another visit from Small Paw in about 12 weeks!