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!!)

Buddy the elf - day 8 ...

today Buddy brought us some new seasonal dishes and placemats!!!

I love having stuff like this - and adding every few years is fun ... plus the few

items I've had since it was just Annicka are harder to spread out over three kids - lol!

the new dishes inspired a yummy breakfast of pancakes!  

yummy!

Buddy the elf - day 7 ...

I saw the copy idea and really ran with it - I just thought it was too fun!

I stocked up the other day at target ... I've literally been waiting for December so I could go

and buy all the fun Christmas-y snacks they have!  they're perfect as little

treats and such - for school lunches and at home!!  I split all the yummy goodies

into two groups and decided that Buddy should bring them to us!!

so, today he has brought us our first batch!!!

it was fun making a scavenger hunt out of it ... the boys had so much fun finding the

clues and then locating the matching yummy food!!

Buddy the elf - day 6 ...

 as you can probably guess, thursday was not the best!

I want Buddy the elf to be a fun thing through the month of December,

but I realized that he has to truly play conscience and re-enforcer - 

not just the guy who keeps bringing presents and such despite yucky behavior!

update: they both had great days at school - so while they were distracted Buddy moved

and a little surprise came with him!!!  the kids really enjoyed the hot cocoa!

Buddy the elf - day 5 ...

yesterday was so big - Buddy needed to pull back a bit!

also, I wanted to be sure that he does acknowledge the true reason/meaning of Christmas!

Buddy the elf - day 4 ...

I think Buddy's note pretty much says it all!!

 

I know!!!

it seems like so much - trust me, though, the kids aren't going to be "gifted"

like this every day leading up to Christmas!  it's just that I put

aside some of the more practical - as well as just fun little stuff - items that I

have been purchasing for just this purpose: our "advent"!!!

today the kids got pajamas, Liam & Zoey got slippers too (I haven't found

any for Jericho, yet), then of course a yummy treat, some fun tattoos, 

and a book I can't wait to read to them!!!

Buddy the elf - day 3 ...

our elf came up with a neat idea! 

a special tin, just perfect to put fun stuff in!

he still loves this nativity toy!

... and I love seeing him play with it!

Buddy the Elf - day 2 ...

 so Buddy decided to help me out with decorating!!!

he took care of the kitchen - cupboards and all!

I thought it was a special touch that he did a cupboard for each kid -

with their very own hand made decorations!!!

good thinking there, Buddy!!!

and here's some of the decorating I've been working on - after we completed the tree!!!  it's a little sparse on those shelves - it's just so darn hard to find items that fit on those!!!  I guess I need to come up with some ideas and make some things for those spots, in the meantime - 

we're happy with what we have!!!