The 3rd Post of Christmas

I'm too cheap to buy an Elf on the Shelf.

But I know it is a new tradition in this world and who am I if I don't follow the world?

I made my own and named him Jolly.

Santa sent a letter in the mail and the next day Jolly showed up.

Polly said, "Hey I saw you making that!" (oops)

Macy said, "I bet the real Jolly is at the North Pole and he sent the doll down with a camera."

  

This girl knows Santa, North Poles, and elves on the shelves aren't real, yet she continues to pretend with conviction.  It's confusing.

The Second Post of Christmas

We stole a tradition  from my sisty, Annie.  "'Tis the Season" is what they do the first Monday of the Christmas season to kick off the holiday.

Ours included fancy-ish dinner, decorating the tree, a small present (Christmas pillowcases) and reading from Luke 2

The girls didn't know we were doing it, so they were super excited to see a candle-lit dinner and presents!

On the 1st Post of Christmas

I think I'll do the 12 Posts of Christmas again. 

12 Christmasy posts to maximize Christmas spirit.

I know you've been holding your breath.

Our Christmas list. 

Some things are repeats, some are new.

If we cross everything off it will be a Christmas miracle.

2011 Christmas list

Have a 'Tis the Season night

Watch Home Alone

Make Gingerbread men

Make Christmas pillowcases

Listen to Christmas music every day

Make these awesome houses into a Christmas village

Make homemade gifts for friends

Have dinner by the Christmas tree

Sleep under the Christmas tree (maybe the 23rd)

Send Christmas Cards

Make homemade peppermint marshmallows

Cover the front windows in paper snowflakes

Make gingerbread houses

Narcissist

I just heard Abe laughing and I found him at the computer desk.  He had managed to turn on the camera and he was laughing at this picture.

I hadn't seen it before.  It's the classic baby-in-dad's-boots.  

  If it doesn't make you smile then you are probably dead inside.  Or you don't love him quite as much as we do.  This could be very possible.  But hard to believe.  But possible.

Magic

We decorated the Christmas tree last night.  It practically killed the girls to wait ALL the way until Monday.  It may have actually been legitimate child torture.  I'm looking into it.

Abe seemed mildy interested.  Mostly he wanted to put the tiny silver ball ornaments into his mouth.  I don't want to care for that injury...

However, this morning as soon as he woke up, we took him to the tree and he was mesmerized.  It was the best thing I have seen in a while.

This is Major

She did it!  After years of failed attempts. 

No prayers or scriptures in primary. No talks in primary. No to saying a prayer in front of extended family.  No to practicing her part for the program or saying it last year.  No practicing this year. 

But then... She said her part into the microphone during the actual Primary Program!  It took probably two full minutes standing at the microphone to build up the courage. 

She was so proud of herself.

I might have cried.

Abe Happenings

Is it not every little boy's rite of passage to be dressed up like a girl? 

This was Abe's first time.  The ladies thought it was HIL-arious.  It was pretty funny because A) He's wearing Build-a-Bear sandals and B) He thought it was just as funny as the ladies and was more than happy to get his picture taken.

Abe loves to climb onto chairs and such.  He is often sitting on the dining room chairs finishing off the girls drinks, or art projects like he owns the place. His favorite spot in the house is the toilet.  He climbs on it to get toothbrushes and toothpaste and to turn on the water in the sink.

  YESTERDAY, he climbed on the toilet, BUT the lid was up...AND there was pee in it.  There was Abe standing in his socks in a toilet bowl full of pee.  Dripping...wet...pee socks.

Abe is finally interested in books.  But it has to have animals in it and you have to zoom through the pages (no pausing, get on with it) and say peek-a-boo after you turn every page.  Or if you are Abe you say it peek-boo-boo.