Christmas eve 2013 ...

 once the kids had opened their ONE present (a Christmas Eve tradition),

saw that Buddy had brought one last surprise (the stockings & nightlight),

and sat cookies & soda out for Santa - they all headed for bed!

which meant time for Mama to do all the wrapping and present setting out -

while Daddy assembled a play kitchen!!!

 I take a Christmas eve pic - or two, or ten - every year!

I love how nostalgic it feels to have the lights on the tree glowing,

while all the gifts await the children!

so special!!

 I changed things up just a bit this year!  

each kid still had their own specific wrapping paper (for the "Santa" gifts), 

but I didn't put them in piles - I decided it might actually be more

fun to have them under the tree so there was a search!

I took an idea from a blog I LOVE and put a small piece of wrapping paper in each kid's stocking,

so since stockings are always first they find out which paper is theirs!!

so this year's Christmas Eve pics are a bit more "moderate" ...

and, granted - yes I do better each year at reigning myself in on the present purchases ...

but there are plenty of gifts for each child stuffed under that tree!

(including ones from the grandparents, aunt, uncle, & cousins)

 

Christmas art!!!

along with baking I tried to do a lot of "art" with the kids!

one of the days Buddy brought supplies to make these extra special pieces

of art - using the kids' hands & feet!  I really had fun with these:

(*these are on canvases - the "borders" were just for squaring purposes on instagram*)

Jericho & Liam's feet!

Zoey's foot!

each of the kids' thumb prints - this one is my absolute favorite!!

Annicka's hand!

Annicka's foot!

this one didn't make it to instagram, cause it looks so unfinished!  I'm hoping maybe we can

add some foot/hand animals or something next year??  or trees??  something!!

I think this was the only other "pic" that didn't make it to the blog already (of art)!

both Buddy and Nana gave the kids some fun little ornaments ... 

and Buddy sent paint pens with his, perfect for these projects!  then we hung them!

Christmas parties ...

Zoey, Liam, & Jericho all had school parties!!

I wasn't able to make it to Jericho's ... however, despite the fact that they

were on the same day - they were at different times, so I was able to go to both!

it was so cute and so fun!

here are some pics ...

apparently Zoey really liked the felt tree and would decorate it often!

they sang some songs for us ... well, the other kids sang - not Zoey - lol!

Zoey got to be the instrument helper - so adorable!!!

some cookie decorating!

and I (barely) managed to get a pic of Zoey with Ms Karen!

when we came into Liam's classroom, they were all lined up - ready to sing their songs!

it was beyond cute!  I did get some video before I ran out of space!

 

Christmas (food) goodies ...

again, catching up!

I actually ended up making quite a few yummy goodies in December - 

here are most of them, as shared on instagram!

this wasn't shared, but it's puppy chow!

this was part of the teacher's gifts!!!

"and then we got creative with the extra chocolate!!!  #goodies "

(again, these are in random order ... but on instagram this 

followed my post about the buckeyes!!)

"... made lots & lots of cookies!!!  #christmas #cookies "

"the boys didn't last - lol!  So I was trying to do these while cooking dinner!!  Haha!!  Oh well, they don't have to look too pretty - the kids still [love] them!!!  #christmas #fun #candy "

again, our chex mis wasn't on instagram!

this also went to teachers!!!

"finished the #buckeyes last night ..."

  "made ninja bread men with the kids!  I also did our family as gingerbread girls & boys!!!  #christmas #traditions #treasurethemoments #childhood #akidatchristmas #gingerbread #ginger readfamily #ninjabreadment #cookies "

 

Buddy the Elf ... way late catch up!

hey, it's still January ... I think I'm doing good! LOL!!! 

I have been making an attempt to do a better job as wife/mom ... which doesn't always

leave a lot of "extra" time for blogging ... of course I generally choose to use the

"extra" time I have to watch my DVR'd tv shows - but I'm trying to even lessen my tv time!

bottom line:  I need to work on my time management skills!!!

this has really always been a struggle for me, but I really do want to improve!

anyway, I'm hoping I'll be able to do some blog catch-up today ...

which will mean a few days of catch-up posts!

I'm trying to keep it either chronological or in themes/groups, so we're starting

with finishing up with Buddy, our elf on the shelf!!!

day 18

day 19 (goodies)

day 21 

(we did have to have a day where Buddy did nothing - due to some behavior!!)

day 22

day 23

day 24

 

day 24 - evening

Buddy surprised the kids with new stockings and a cool "night light"!

we had a lot of fun with Buddy!
who knows, maybe next year he'll come back with a wife?? 

Buddy the elf - catching up ...

day 9:  Buddy brought goodies to take to the gingerbread house party!

 day 10:  Buddy brought some hats to keep a bit warmer in this cold weather!

 day 11:  some fun crafts and some fun cookie cutters (we like to use them for sandwiches)!!

 the boys just couldn't wait - they were arting it up before school!

Annicka did hers later and once dry I hung them all on a front window!!
(I guess Buddy forgot Zoey's!  oops)

 day 12:  Buddy did some decorating - lights!!!  pretty!!!

he also brought a super fun toy (that I got on clearance last year - score!)

and some fun things to wear!!!  the little kids love the toy!!

later that night while the boys watched a movie with daddy,

Buddy snuck up and did some decorating in their room!!!
*I have to mention that this has been the most exciting Buddy surprise so far ...
probably because they were not expecting it!  to hear them gasp in awe
when they went up to bed, it really was a treasure in my heart!  Annicka & I giggled
hearing them and all their excitement ... it was so neat*

 

day 13:  Friday was meant to be a special treat ... photos with Santa

and dinner at the mall!  unfortunately one child (ahem, he's 8) suddenly decided

to be a pill, right when we got there!!!  it made for a somewhat

unpleasant outing for this mama on her birthday ... never-the-less I got "my"

Santa pic to treasure forever!  the big kids are over it

with Santa, I guess ... so now my inner debate is can I force them to keep

the tradition or not?  lol

Liam - waiting in line for Santa!!

this was the best!

day 14:  Buddy was late - but brought lots of fun stuff!

pizza to cook, donuts to eat, and some additions for our fish tank!

day 15:  a simple day, Buddy likes to remind the kids of the "reason for the season"!!!

day 16:  another fairly simple day!  

but it took quite a while for him to be found!!!  fun!!!

day 17:  today!!!  

we have some fun in store after school - Buddy brought some new candy melts

to use with our molds!!!  he also brought some home made ice cream!

(Annicka helps - she did the ice cream - thanks Annicka!!)