what's been happening

I feel so behind in EVERYTHING!! I have not had a free moment to get my thoughts together enough to blog in ages. Crazy time of year. But I do have some pictures to share of what we have been up to. At least some of the time!

We decorated the tree. This is the first year since hubby and I have been together that the tree does not contain a single Hallmark ornament!! This year for my sanity, I decided that I was not unwrapping six huge totes of Hallmark ornaments and putting them all on the tree while the kids ran around playing and ignoring hubby and I. It was a very liberating moment. Instead we purchased a few sets of ornaments at Walmart and some new white lights. The colors on the tree are red, silver, gold-ish and brown. Very pretty. I think Kira misses the Hallmarks as she would not participate in the decorating but she didn't help when we had the others either!! 

Alex however was all for helping! And a big step in my letting go this holiday season... I did not move a single ornament after he placed them. So what if two snowflakes ended up right next to each other. It is a wonderful tree and I am so happy he enjoyed decorating it with us!!

Our elf on the shelf has returned for the holiday season and brought a new friend. We now have Scout and Cookie and they have been having a great time getting into trouble and just plain being silly. That will have to be a whole series of posts to share their holiday adventures!!

On this day, they had left the kids new Angry Birds jammies!! Can you tell they like them??

We went to the annual Christmas party at the Rec Center while daddy was working one Saturday. Oh so much fun!! Kira had Rudolph painted on her cheek and was very proud to show him off.

Santa even came to visit!! The kids said he looked silly with his painted white eyebrows but still managed to tell him what they wanted. Adorable!!

Alex won one of the raffles!! This huge and soft bear is named Edgar Six (and yes there are five more bears named Edgar in our house) He was so happy!!!

We also took the kids to see Santa at the Burlington Mall in Massachusetts. I love the set up they have for Santa and they are always so friendly and kind to the kids. We love going there. The kids enjoy it because we go to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch. Christmas traditions.

I LOVE this picture that the photographer captured. AMAZING!! Then they even emailed me the other three they had taken. Pretty stinking cool. I think it was an oops but I am taking it and am now the proud owner of four great pictures with Santa for this year!!

I have also been a baking fool for the past three weeks. My kitchen and I need to separate as my hubby is missing me. But totally loving the cookies!! After breakfast this morning I need to get baking again and finish wrapping presents. Going to be a busy one.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas! I do hope to be around more in the New Year!! 

scout fun continues

Here was Scout's place on the 23rd. He was guarding presents from two little kiddos who insisted on shaking presents from Nana and Papa. Silly kids.

On Christmas Eve he was hanging from our light on the piano. He was relaxing from doing his self portrait that he left right below himself.

 Not too shabby for an elf!

This morning he left my point and shoot camera in Alex's room with a note to the kids to look at the pictures on the camera. They got quite a chuckle at his adventures through the house on his last night with us! He took over 60 pictures of himself ALL around the house. He had quite a good time. I will have to work on a collage of them all and post it, but the one below was one of the last ones on the camera. The note was there this morning for the kids, but Scout is hanging with Santa until next year.

It was a great day with family here. Good food and now time to relax. Kids were very good and enjoyed all the presents and family time.

Merry Christmas to all! Off to see if I can find my desk so I can scrap. I am feeling in the mood for it.

cookies and scout

This was in Alex's room from Scout. Alex LOVES his Hershey Kisses so these were a nice treat. And the best part, he knew not to eat them until after breakfast! I don't think he ate them until after school that day. Such a good boy.

 Scout was hanging out in Kira's room on her alarm clock, Ashley.

This was the message that Scout left for Kira. Guess he noticed her not listening to us yesterday. ;)

 After school Alex found that Scout had rearranged the days on the advent calendar. He was putting everything back in order for me. He knows how I am. Such a good boy!!

Then he spent the day in our tree hanging out with his friends. He also happened to snag a piece of a spritz cookie to nibble on while he was there!

Here is the process of baking said spritz cookies the day before. My helper was Kira on this day. She loves using the cookie press and it was nice to have the help.

They were so busy eating they didn't want me to take a picture. LOL

Need to get the other Scout pictures off my camera. Maybe tomorrow after the craziness of the day. Gonna miss that little rascal around here.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

scout is at it again!

Seriously loving having Scout in the house this year. He is having a great time and so are the kiddos. On this morning he was hanging out in the stocking on Kira's door. Looks quite cozy to me.

On this day, he was rather hard to find. Alex didn't find him until after school he was hiding so well. He's the little blob towards the 5 o' clock position on the wreath. Yes I love my Mickey wreath that I made. I picked up those ornaments years ago at Lake Buena Vista and they did spend some time on the tree but over the years, I didn't want them getting scratched or lost so they ended up on this wreath. Love it!!

On this day he used dry erase markers to draw on the kids school pictures! So stinking funny. Alex was not amused on this day and erased it after daddy saw it.

Today's 'prank' has been my favorite so far this holiday season. This is what Kira saw when she awoke this morning. Her Build a Bear Rudolph with a note telling her to look in the mirror. hmmm... wonder what that could mean?

This was on her desk blotter. Again... the plot thickens as to what Scout has been up to.

This was also on her desk. Quite messy whatever it is that he did.

Look at my very happy Rudolph!! bwahahahaha... I am loving it beyond words.

This is Alex's Build a Bear Rudolph on his chair with the same note as Kira. And a couple of incriminating cotton balls.

And another very happy Rudolph this morning. bwahahahahaha again I say. I love the looks on their faces. Priceless holiday memories right here!

Here is the little stinker at the very top of Kira's book shelf out of everyone's reach. I do believe both of the kids would have loved to have touched him today and taken away his magic. They were not impressed with his painting job. I was. ;)

And he left a bit of a mess in the family room getting the notes written and the cotton balls together.

Who knows what other trouble Scout will find himself in for the upcoming week??!! I'm sure it will be good.

elf envy

Who knew a little Elf on the Shelf could cause so much envy/ anger/ frustration??

My friend Nicole gave me this link and it is WONDERFUL!! I laughed myself silly. And then I realized... I am one of those people who she is mocking. Good thing I am a big girl and can laugh at myself.

My only concern is... do I need a second elf for next year so that each child has their own Elf to have when they move out???

our silly elf on the shelf (photo heavy)

This is how things went for us with Scout. Starting with the earliest to the most current one (didn't get today's off of the camera yet). Here he is hanging out in the kitchen on our picture wall. He looks quite happy. Alex found him on this day.

On this day, Alex had asked Scout to help with get past this one part in a game he was working on. Looks like Scout was successful!

Then he went to hide on our light fixture in the hallway. Please ignore the dust. It has since been removed. eeek. The least Scout could do was clean while he is hanging out!

Speaking of cleaning... here is the mess he left for us one night. I'm happy he set up some of our decorations for us, but he could have taken care of the boxes!!

Better picture of him hanging with Pooh and Tigger.

This was the sight that Kira woke up to one morning...

And Alex was not left out...

OMG... look what that sneaky elf has done!! He best be hiding behind those goblets on the mantel! He took down our stockings and hung underwear instead!!

 This was on Alex's board on Saturday morning. He even got the sugars and cookie press out!

Kira was going to a friends house for the night so Scout left her a message.

Then he went to hang out with some of our decorations.

Sunday  morning he could be found conducting the singing decorations in Alex's room.

This is the chorus that Alex woke up to.

Then he gathered a few friends to play a game of Trouble. Looks like the Grinch isn't doing so well.

This was yesterday's fun. He took everyone's slippers and a few friends and had a small race using the rug in Alex's room. Looks like Scout is the winner!! My feet were cold yesterday without my slippers!!

It has been a delight to have Scout with us this holiday season. He is feeling right to home and getting into all sorts of fun situations. Kira seems to think he needs a friend so maybe he won't cause so much mischief. I told her that knowing Scout... his friend would be in another room getting into things as well!!

and the fun continues

This morning we found Scout hanging out on Kira's book shelves doing a bit of light reading. I think he liked this book as he was practically at the end by the time the kids woke up!

The day before, he went to spend some quality time with our Pooh tree topper. Both of the kids were giving Pooh all sorts of loving before he was placed at the top of the tree on Saturday night. Guess Scout missed Pooh as much as the kids did.

Saturday hubby and the kiddos went to see the new Pokemon movie that was playing in limited theaters across the country. Thank goodness we had one close enough to us (in Massachusetts) that they could go to. Scout was sitting on the half wall wearing Kira's Pikachu hat all ready to go to the movies. Alex was trying to figure out how to grab him so he could go with them. Pretty stinking cute.

Friday morning found Scout leaving a little note for the kiddos on the white board.

He even watched over Alex while he was sleeping. He looks like he belongs on that shelf!!

I wonder where he will end up tonight?? Hard to tell with that little guy.

busy little elf

Looks like last night, Scout got into Alex's crayons. Let me tell you, Alex was none too happy about it. He doesn't mind the little guy, but when he touches his stuff, he seems to get a little put out about it. Good thing Christmas is only 24 days away!! ;)

The kids found him in the kitchen on top of the fridge. He had added a few chores of his own choosing to the mix.

Close up of him on top of the fridge. I had to very carefully remove the crayon from his hands as Alex wanted it back. So cute.

Yesterday, he was found fishing in Kira's Hatchet diorama. So stinking funny. I think Kira liked this one a lot.

The day before he found a nice cozy spot to watch the kids while they were in the family room.

It certainly is fun to see what trouble he gets himself into. I'm glad he has come back this year. Wonder where he will be tomorrow??