Christmas is Coming!

It is the first week of December and I'm finally packing up my Fall decorations and dragging out the Christmas ones. I always find this a very exciting process.... I'm not sure why! Obviously I know everything I have, but it's always fun to dust off the items and start deciding where I'm going to put them this year!

I had a bit of excitement the night before December 1st. I have my Elf on the Shelf calendar prepped with most of the days already planned out. I was having Zouff, our elf, deliver the new Lego Advent Calendar to Malachi and Zachary on his first day here. Suddenly I realized I had no idea where I put Zouff last year when I packed up the Christmas decorations!

My husband is on an extended hunting trip, so I was on my own for finding the wayward elf. Then I realized he had moved a bunch of stuff around in the garage this summer.... uh oh. First I checked the couple small boxes I have in a closet in the house.... nope. Then I looked around the garage floor ... nope. Then I started panicking. I called my husband and we tried to remember where he had put the Christmas bins... nope. I climbed up the rickety ladder to the garage attic (in my pajamas in below freezing weather I might add)... nope. Finally I discovered the bins behind a bunch of other stuff (log splitter, elk head, bins of kids clothes)... and Zouff was laying at the top of the closest bin. Success!!!

This photo is a bit dark (it was a bit late by the time I got this set up!)

Zouff left a special note for the boys:

Dear Malachi and Zachary,

It's so good to be visiting you boys again this year! I am excited for all the fun we'll have together. I have brought you this new Lego Advent calendar to count down the days to Christmas because I know it was your favorite last year! Have fun!  ~Zouff

Malachi was SO excited about the return of Zouff and the calendar. =) He had told my mom a few weeks ago that he didn't know if Zouff was coming back this year (I have no idea why he thought that). Zachary is also old enough to think it's exciting. =)

Today we found Zouff hanging upside down from a swing in the doorway to the playroom. Silly elf.

I know some people think the elf is weird and creepy, but the kids seriously get so much fun out of it. To be honest... it's a lot of fun for us adults too. =)

 

Happy Christmas!

I decided to stay away from the blog yesterday, since it was Christmas, so Merry Christmas a day late!! =)

We had a fun Christmas, I thought I'd start out with our final Zouff the Elf pictures. 

Day 19 - Zouff visited the nativity and is holding Baby Jesus | Day 20 - I made a snowman out of marshmallows and he sat on the mantle, but I forgot to take a picture (oops!) | Day 21 - Zouff left Malachi a special note and a bag of magic seeds | Day 22 - Malachi planted the magic seeds in a bowl of sugar (per the instructions) and candy canes sprouted the next day! | Day 23 - We were at my in-laws and I got distracted from taking a picture, but he was sitting in the chandelier and was eating a cupcake. | Day 24 - Zouff got into Malachi's underwear drawer again and hung them (and himself) from the living room ceiling!

I was a little sad, and a little relived, to pack Zouff away until next year. I think I'm going to plan his days out beforehand next year.

We had a fun Christmas. We spent Saturday and Sunday at my in-laws for an overnighter (we didn't get much sleep, but it was still pretty fun). Then on Monday we were free to stay home all day! Hooray! We only went out to attend our church's Christmas Eve service. 

When we got home we opened this box:

Inside is a new pair of pajama pants for everyone, 3 mugs, 3 hot chocolate truffle balls, 3 peppermint marshmallow sticks, popcorn, a book of the Christmas story and a picture of The Polar Express. We then made our hot chocolate, popped our popcorn, put on our pajamas and read the Christmas story together. Then we turned on Netflix and watched The Polar Express. It was Malachi's first time watching it and he was totally enchanted. =)

Christmas morning found us at home with a fun time opening gifts.

Then we went to my parents house for dinner and more gifts. It was a very nice Christmas all around and we are all very blessed! Happy Christmas!

Holiday Fun

Zouff the Elf has been busy in our house.  Here are his antics from the last 4 days:

Day 15 - Hanging from the ceiling in Malachi's fire truck (we think he might have flown it to the North Pole) | Day 16 - We found him hanging out above the kitchen cupboards in a basket... maybe we needed some more decorations in there? | Day 17 - Somehow Zouff decided to go swimming in the water pitcher! | Day 18 - Zouff decided it was time for a shave!

Malachi and I decorated some sugar cookies the other day. Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but we have bells, angels, stockings, gingerbread men and .... cars. Apparently you can't have Christmas cookies without a few (or a lot) cars thrown in. We took this plate with us to Malachi's first Christmas party - put on by his bestest little friend from church.

Here's my proud little party-goer. =) It was a fun little party for the boys. They played some games, listened to the Christmas story and did a Secret Santa gift exchange. Very age appropriate for 3- and 4-year-olds. Malachi did very well, unless we were not engaged in some kind of structured activity.... then the hitting emerged. This has been a battle we've been working on lately... very frustrating and kind of ruined the party for me although it only happened a couple times. Does that sweet face look like it could hit anyone? =)

There is less than a week until Christmas! I am slowing finishing up all my projects with only a few things left to do. I'd still like to do some Christmas PJs for our Christmas Eve box and need to buy some mugs for my presents and a couple gift cards for the nieces and nephew, but other than that I think I'm done! Whoohoo!

Zouff the Elf

As promised, a run-down of our Elf on the Shelf - Zouff! Proudly named by Malachi. =) I must say that my husband is much better at picking out places for Zouff to perch himself for the day than I am, but this has definitely been a lot of fun - for Malachi and for Mommy and Daddy.

 Day 1 - Zouff made his appearance in Malachi's stocking. | Day 2 - We found Zouff hanging from the living room curtain with a pair of Malachi's underwear before church that day. | Day 3 - Zouff is hanging out with the newly hung Advent calendar. | Day 4 - He tried to make himself a bowl of oatmeal... but made quite a mess in the process. | Day 5 - Borrowing Malachi's toothbrush | Day 6 - Riding the dinosaur.

Day 7 - Somehow Zouff ended up inside a canning jar. | Day 8 - Forgot to take a picture, but he had gotten into the gift bows. | Day 9 - He showed up at  Grandma's house since Malachi spent the night. | Day 10 - Hanging out on Malachi's deer rack in his room. | Day 11 - Helping with the tree. | Day 12 - Zouff got into the cookie jar. | Day 13 - He's helping Mommy finish her Christmas projects. | Day 14 - Uh oh... he got tangled up in the decorations on Malachi's rocking chair.

More Zouff mischief to come.... =)