Elf on the Shelf

This is our first year having an Elf on the Shelf.  I hadn't planned on doing one either.  We have our Jesse Tree and our advent calendar with a special activity everyday.  Molly went to her friend, Evan's house back on the 9th and he has an elf named, Pretty.  Molly talked and talked about her the rest of the day and how she wished she had an elf.  I told Scott we had to get her one.  So I did and Tuesday when she came home from school, I told her when I was getting her laundry, something was different in her room.  She ran up to look and there was her elf sitting next to her little Christmas tree.  She had a note saying how Pretty reported to Santa that she didn't have an elf, but wanted one, so Santa sent her this elf.  The elf also brought her colored lights for her tree.  She had to name her elf.  She chose Holly and her full name is Holly Jolly Christmas.   Holly has done some silly things, which Molly just loves.  Every night she wonders where Holly will be the next day and every morning, she immediately looks for Holly.  She is just loving her. Here are some of the places she's been and things she's done. 

This is when she first found her elf.

 

 

 

 

Molly kept saying she hoped Holly would do something with their underwear.  Her friend's elf had and so had Kyla and Kaleb's elf.  So one Friday morning, Holly decorated the fan with their underwear.  Later that day we went to Houston.  I got them in the car then quick threw the underwear in the game cabinet since a dog sitter was coming over and grabbed Holly to take to Houston.  Molly was thrilled she showed up in Houston.  Monday Molly went to get a game for us to play and found the underwear in the cabinet and thought it was so funny that Holly thought that's where they went.  She laughed for a good 5 min.  When Scott called she had to tell him and it was the first thing she told Tyler. 

 

 

I don't like more focus on Santa, but it's been fun doing this with her.  She's at the perfect age to enjoy it. 

Silhouette Pictures

I have always wanted silhouette pictures of the kids.  I didn't know where to look to find them and Pinterest shows how to make them, but I didn't think they'd turn out too well.  I'm on this Alamo Ranch Moms Facebook page and someone posted about this guy, Karl Johnson, who is a Silhouette artist coming to San Antonio.  I looked it up and made an appointment.  Last week, we got them done.  He cut each child out in less than 2 min. and I love how they turned out.

 

 

 

Christmas in Houston

Last weekend we went to Houston to celebrate Christmas early with Scott's parents.  We helped put up the tree on Friday night.  Saturday morning, the kids enjoyed opening some gifts. Here are a few of their gifts.

This is a soccer ball, Tyler also got a new football

 

This is an autographed picture to Tyler from Creek Stewart.  He's a survivalist and has a show called Fat Guys in the Woods that Tyler likes to watch.

Saturday afternoon, I got to get out for awhile and meet up with my friend Dana to celebrate her 40th birthday.  We went to Painting with a Twist and then out to dinner.   It was alot of fun!

 

 

Scott was able to help groom Jet, their dog.  The kids played with Mary and had fun in the spa again. It was a nice weekend. 

S'mores

The kids enjoyed getting an early Christmas present last night that led to s'mores. 

Tyler likes his marshmellows burnt to a crisp.

Just look at that ooey-gooey goodness

 

Santa

Today the kids got a double dose of Santa.  He was at our community clubhouse for Breakfast with Santa.  They had donuts, hot chocolate, and crafts.  Then we headed to Scott's work to see Santa too.

 

 

 

 

Camping

This past Friday and Saturday, we went on our first family camping trip.  We went with my friend, Rachel and her family.  We had a great time.  We fished, hiked, cooked out hot dogs and smores, played in the sand, played soccer and football...we just had a great time.  The weather was pretty good too.  Saturday a cold front was coming in, so on our 2 hour hike, some parts were sunny and warm and then the next we had on jackets and it was very windy.  We can't wait to go back again in the spring when it's warmer and they can play in the water.  

Molly had to get all her stuffed animals set up as soon as the tent was up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming down from one of our hikes

 

 

 

Our whole group.  Way down below, you can see the Frio River.  We camped along it.

 

Our family picture

We hiked to Crystal Cave.  There were little, shiny specks in the rocks.

That was our trip!

Family Pictures

We had family pictures last weekend.  I normally don't post them till I send out Christmas cards, so that you are surprised, but I can't wait.  These turned out so great. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyler's glasses change color in the sun.  Luckily it was cloudy and he could wear them alot.  Here they were getting too dark.

My friend, Barbara took these and she was nervous since it was her first time to do them for a family other than her own.  She did great and I love these!