End of 2013

So sorry about the lack of posts the last two weeks. I have been busy enjoying time with family and friends.  I have also come down with the crud and I just haven't had the motivation to post.  I promise to do the rest of the posts in 2014.  

2013 for our family has been great.  We celebrated big birthdays, me turning 30.  We had great family trips and enjoyed being together.  For the first time we decided to stay instead of move.  Yes, we had a chance to move to another city, actually three.  

2014 is going to be a BIG year for our family.  We are going to Disney (the whole family) in March, I'm running my first 1/2 marathon in April, Mike and I will be celebrating 10 years of wedded bliss, and to celebrate 10 years...mike and I will be heading to Jamaica.  We will have two 5 year olds in August, I'm hoping I will have a job (I'm working on it), and we plan on enjoying another year with family and friends.  So, goodbye 2013, it was a wonderful year, but I can't wait for 2014!! Happy New Year everyone!!

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Today we have to say goodbye to our elf, Dash.  I think we all hate to see him leave, but we are super excited that Santa will be here tonight!  We found the elves this morning all packed up and ready to leave.  Thank you Dash for making our Christmas countdown more fun.  We can't wait until next year to see you again!!

Day 23 Advent

Today our advent activity was to bake Christmas cookies.  I only have pictures on my phone of the finished product.  The others were taken with my camera, but I'm not at home, so these will have to do.  Aaden and Bentley really enjoyed it.  My two, not so much.  I think Santa is going to be happy though!!

Our book tonight was The Night Before Christmas.  I have always loved that story!!

Acro Elves

We found our elves hanging upside down today.  They were being acrobats.  Those silly elves!

Day 22 Advent

Our book today was Can You See What I See? Christmas.  All four kids loved reading it and looking for the different Chistmas items.  

Our activity today was to make graham cracker houses.  They had so much fun getting very messy!!

Super Elf

This morning we found Dash and Bernard being super.  They were dressed like Superman.  Such funny elves!!

Day 21 Advent

Day 21 our advent was to read Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star.  It was cute story of a goose trying to find a star for her tree.  Our activity was to have an indoor snowball fight.  Fun times!!!

Party Ready

The elves today were found in Mamaw's kitchen, ready for the boy's party today.  They are having a Teenage Mutant Ninja Party.  Bernard (Aaden and Bentley's elf) was dressed like the turtle Raphael and Dash (our elf) was found dressed like the turtle Leonardo.  

Day 20 Advent

On day 20 we read Snow Happy to be Here and our activity was to wrap up all our Christmas presents.  

Locked & Loaded

Here is where we found Dash this morning.  Looks like he was ready to head to Mamaw and Papaw's house too!!

Day 19 advent

on the 19th, we read the Christmas Sweater. Then we had our daily activity actually today. It was Christmas breakfast, here is what mommy made.  Also, we watched the polar express in our pajamas yesterday.

Flying Elf

We found Dash this morning flying a hot air balloon around the living room.  Looks like fun!

Gifts for Jesus

Every Christmas our small kids are asked to bring diapers and wipes to give to baby Jesus.  Those gifts then are given to a local pregnancy support center.  Last night I got to help since my kids choir were off.  After they brought the gifts, they then sang songs.  It was one of the sweetest moments ever!!

Day 18 of Advent

Day 18 we read Christmas with Rita and Whatsit.  Our activity was to get in our pajamas and watch The Polar Express.  Unfortunately, mommy didn't plan these very well.  I think I got off by 1 day. We had church last night so we weren't able to do yesterday's activity.  We will do it tonight.  Today's activity will have to be Friday.  I hate that I didn't think these through!  

School Christmas party

Today was Maddie and Zack's class school Christmas party.  I got to play several games, make crafts, and eat yummy foods.  And then they all sang sweet Christmas carols for us.  It was a really fun time!

 

Day 17 of advent

In day 17 we read the book The Christmas Star.  It was a really cute book about a little lamb, whose name was star.  The lambs owner, was a little boy, who put Star and a Christmas pageant. However, Star was quite mischievous and ran around and had to be chased. But ended up bringing the whole town back to the manger, where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were. it turned out perfectly, because everyone followed Star.  

Our activity was to help mommy make a Christmas craft.  We made a mail holder for all our Christmas cards.

Wow

This morning we awoke to find the magic seeds had turned into candy canes.  Wow!!!

Magic Seeds

This morning we found Dash on The kitchen table, with a note. It said that he had some magic seeds from the north pole.  Right beside him was a glass cup filled with some kind of magic sand, and for red seeds.  The kids planted the seeds, and can't wait to see what will happen tomorrow.

Day 16 of Advent

Day 16 we read A Car's Christmas and our activity was to go Christmas shopping.  We are so close to being ready for Christmas!

Ballerina Maddie

Here is video of Maddie dancing last week at the nursing home with her dance class.  They danced to Away in a Manger/Where are they Christmas?

Brrrr...

We found Dash hanging out in the refrigerator this morning.  He was wearing his winter weather gear, a red scarf, that matched his attire.  

Day 15 Advent & Dash

Our day 15 Advent was busy!!  Mommy and daddy had 2 shows to do yesterday, so we didn't quite make it to our activity which was to act out the Nativity story. They will be doing this on Thursday at school.  I will have video for everyone later.  Our book was Polar Express.  

Sunday morning we found Dash hanging out in the Tarheel tree. I'm guessing he was pretty excited about the big win over KY!  :)

Birthday Shout

Happy Birthday to our nephew Bentley!  We love you!!

Day 14 Advent

So today we read Toy Story's Snow Day!

Our activity of the day was to make a birthday cake for Jesus.  I must confess that when they opened the activity this morning, my first thought was "I did not think this through, when I put these activities in the folders."  Why? Because our church's musical is this weekend, and I knew we would have family and friends coming in and I wasn't sure that I would be able to get it done today.  But, we did!  Happy early birthday, Jesus!!

Dash Hanging Out

We found Dash swinging from the stairs today.

Day 12 & 13 Advent

On day 12 we read Ten on the Sled.  Our advent was to donate food to a food bank.  Mommy didn't get a picture of this, but while we were grocery shopping, we dropped off some canned foods.

Day 13 our advent was to sleep under the Christmas tree.  So for naps we decided to get out the sleeping bags and rest.  The book we read was Merry Christmas, Splat!  Fun day!

Dash in the house

Yesterday we found Dash taking a picture of snowmen with mommy's camera.  

While this morning, we found him riding the train that goes around one of our trees.  

Sweet Message

We got a message from Santa via Dash today.  We found him this morning on our table and he spelled out a message using Lucky Charms.

Day 10 & 11 Advent

Day 10 Advent was to make an ornament and the book was Santa's Noisy Night.  It was such a cute story!  Te kids made candy canes out of felt and buttons for their ornament.

Today, day 11 was the book Room for a Little One and the activity was to make our teachers a gift. I can't show pictures because I'm thinking about making several of the same for family gifts, but will show later.  

Retaliation

I tried to warn Dash!  It looks like the boy toys were upset with the Barbie date night.

Day 9 Advent

For day 9 we read Elf Elementary.  It was a story about an elf going to school to learn to be an elf an get a chance to meet Santa.  

Our activity was to go out to lunch.  We met daddy at Chickfila.

Ladies Man

This past weekend the kids were with Mamaw and Papaw (thank you by the way!!!).  I was told that yesterday Dash was found in a wreath hugging on an Angel.  

This morning we found Dash with all of Maddie's princess Barbie dolls having a tea party.  Dash better watch out or the boy toys might get jealous.

Snowball Fight

Saturday morning we found Dash having a snowball fight with a police officer.  It looked super fun!

Day 6, 7, 8 of Advent

Friday our book was Diego Saves Christmas.  Our activity was to visit Santa Claus.  The kids did so well.  Maddie was super excited to see him.  Zack was a little apprehensive, but eventually became relaxed the ol' bearded man.

Saturday our advent was to make yummy hot chocolate and our book was The First Christmas.  It was the story of Joseph, Mary and the birth of Jesus.  

Today our book was Santa Claus The World's Number One Toy Expert.  The activity was to play Christmas music.  Right now, the kids want nothing more than to sing Christmas songs.  So this was their favorite!