On to Christmas….

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree….

Friday we did some relaxing, some play dates, some shopping, some lights on the house decorating, and just enjoying each other.

Saturday we headed on our Christmas tree hunt….

 

Nolan found the perfect size for him.  Jacob and Lucas decided to be scarecrows in the middle the trees.  Makes sense right?

 

After some back and forth, the boys picked out their favorite choice.

 

While daddy got it loaded on top of the car the boys and I enjoyed warming up with some hot cider and cookies.   

 

Nolan helped hold the string so the tree wouldn’t fall off! ;)

 

Jacob is really into reading to Lucas right now, and apparently playing Santa…Ho Ho Ho.

 

The tree is always too tall that Matt has to do the top of the lights.

 

The boys have been gathering quite a collection of ornaments and each have their own container we keep them in.  Every year they still get excited when they take them out of their container and look at them.  They were awesome helpers putting the ornaments on this year.

 

The first night our Christmas tree is put up the boys get new pajamas.  We enjoyed being comfy in our pjs, munching on a snack, and watching a movie with the glow of the Christmas tree.  I love this time of year.

 

 

And to top it off, can you spot who made his appearance in our house once again?

 

Yes,  good ol’ Elfie is back.  Now only if he can remember to hide in a new spot every morning. ;)

 

Welcome back Elfie.  Bring on the Christmas joy……

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Connor's class put on a play with the third graders. He was a sheep. My mom and dad and Matt were able to go watch it. Matt taped it, so that Jacob, Nolan, and I could also see it.

We are definitely excited about our white Christmas that we are going to have. Matt's been out snow blowing and shoveling quite a bit already.
The boys and Matt went outside and built a snowman. They had a blast. We had to improvise for his arms and his nose. They couldn't find any good sticks, so they used the butterfly nets and we didn't have any big carrots, so we used a corn dog! We enjoyed some hot chocolate when they came inside.

CHEERS!

Papa John and Yaya came down for Christmas Eve. We alternate every other year with spending the holiday with my family and Matt's family. Matt's mom was going to come down yesterday, but the weather was not good for driving. We will get together with her another time.
We had a nice relaxing afternoon and evening opening presents (the boys made a haul from Papa John and Yaya - race track, walkie talkies, fireman and policeman costumes, erector building set, another Wii remote and numchuck - to name a few), eating, and visiting. Matt, the boys, and I went to 10:00 pm mass, it is always so beautiful. The last couple of years the boys have slept through most of it. We put them in their pajamas so that we can just put them to bed when we get home.

We got the house ready for Santa before we left for church because we figured they would all be sleeping. The boys put out cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer. We had to be sure to say good bye to Elfie. Santa takes him home when he comes to our house. Connor got a little teary eyed about Elfie leaving. He left Santa a picture he made at school to take back to the North Pole with him.
Waving good bye to Elfie (he hid on Connor's windowsill - in front of Mauer - the last night because Connor was so bummed about him leaving).

He's back......

Look who found his way back to our house today.We were on our way to bed and Connor screams, "Mommy, Elfie's back! Look!".
I think he had been there since early this morning, but we didn't find him until tonight.

For those of you who have no idea about Elfie. Santa sent him to the boys last year at the beginning of December and the story is that he hides in a new place every night (I just hope he doesn't forget to move every night! ;)). The boys named him last year. He is one of Santa's helpers and keeps an eye on the boys and goes back to report to Santa every night (or so Connor thinks it's every night, I think it has to be pretty exhausting doing it every night, but we'll go with it!). He comes at the beginning of December and heads back to be with Santa after Christmas. The boys were so excited. In fact, they went to bed the best that they have lately because Connor kept saying, "Guys, Elfie watches everything we do now and goes back to tell Santa, so we have to be good!". It's pretty funny. Even Jacob was telling Nolan to go into his room because Elfie is watching. Connor asked me to keep an eye on Elfie to see if he moves at all while I'm still awake. Not sure what we started.......
Welcome back Elfie!


The boys and I went shopping after I picked them up and got Matt a new coat and sweatshirt. They picked them both out. We talked about surprises and how we can't tell daddy. I really didn't expect it to stay a surprise until Christmas, but was wishful thinking a little bit. We'll probably end up giving the coat to him early anyways. When Matt called to talk to the boys, Jacob right away said to him, "Daddy, we got you a new present. It's under the tree. It's a coat." Right as he said it, his eyes got big, and his eyes teared up (he knew that he wasn't supposed to tell). He handed me the phone without saying good bye and started bawling. He kept saying, "I sorry, mommy! I sorry, mommy!".
It was the cutest thing, and there was no way I could be upset with that. I told him it was OK over and over...but he was sad for most of the night, but eventually calmed down. It didn't help that Connor was not happy with him for telling Matt.