Elf on the Shelf

Aunt Nicole and Uncle Matt sent BP and BB "The Elf on the Shelf" a couple weeks ago. Thank you!! Thank you!!
It has been so much fun for them and for us too! The girls named their Elf, Ernie, and each night he travels home to "talk" to Santa at the North Pole. He has magical powers you see...and in the morning he is hiding in a new place in our house. They jump out of bed each morning and the first thing they do is search for the elf. The book that came with Ernie explains the whole thing. It is a great new tradition for us!

Tree 2009

We have bought our "Christmas bush" as my husband calls it at the same tree farm for the last three years. Now the tree farm is only 5 minutes from our house (b/c of our move in the last year). We always go with our friends Jess and Brian (top pic). The best part about this tree farm is they have this really cool drill thing that drills a hole into the center of the tree stump. Then we just bring the tree home and pop it on the special stand and voila!, no fighting over getting the tree in the stand. It is soo.. cool!

This year we picked out a tall and country looking tree. Both girls were really excited about our tree, but BP loved the whole decorating process and took the time to ask and then listen to the significance of each ornament. BB even helped put a few ornaments on also. Everyday BP tells us which ornaments are her favorite and why. It is really cute.

Holiday Library

The girls and I gathered all our Christmas / Chanakah books yesterday and arranged them on the stairs. Some are old some are new. Many were gifts. There is one that was Daddy's when he was a little boy. Each night BP and BB choose a story from the stairs to read at bedtime. It is fun to start these traditions. We have almost lived in our house for a year, but this will be our first Christmas.

Mischief Night

We had a little non-destructive fun with toilet paper last night. A little joke on a friend of Daddy's with a very good sense of humor. A new traditon for our little family I believe?

A Front Porch Tradition

We have a few of these pictures from our time at the beach over the last five years or more. Even though my husband and his brother always complain, my mom-in-law convinces (forces) them to stand still for a couple minutes and smile for a group photo. I am so glad she does because I think these pictures will be priceless to look back on someday.

So here is the crew from Labor Day weekend 2007 just before a delicious dinner at The Washington Inn. From left to right we have Rainer, Sonja, Grandpa, Grandma, Danea, Todd, Myself (with BP's little sister), BP's Daddy, and of course The Barefoot Princess with Bitty Baby.