Medium-Fat Elves

I have felt like a big loser-mom for not having the "Elf on a Shelf" for about a year now. Not really a year, but close for sure. All of the sudden there's a movie about it on TV and so of course my kids are talking about it and wondering why they are so unfortunate and don't have the elf flying around their house everynight, yaddayadayadayaddda. I told them that "chippy" was coming in the mail straight from the North Pole after school today. Well... We went to Target right after school and that crazy "Chippy" was spotted on an end cap by Jaxon. I think all the Elves that come with adoption papers and a book were long gone by Midnight on Black Friday sooooo, We ended up with the plush version of the "Elf On a Shelf" and a long explanation of why Chippy was confused and flew to Target instead of our house.

 Turned out that Chippy was hungry and wanted some popcorn at Target and was so happy that we somehow knew he was there and came to take him home! Phew

This is my version of an ADVENT CALENDAR... I filled a bunch of Christmas socks with little toys and treats so my kids will know exactly how many days there are until Christmas! The bad news is that there are socks hanging from my patio door. The good news is that I have a lot of Christmas socks when this whole thing is over and done...

P.S. Ross and I both still remember our childhood Advent Calendars. I'm telling you... This is the stuff they will remember. We still do.............

P.P.S. Today on the way to school Jaxon told me that because there are two teachers in his class he sometimes forgets their names and sometimes even mixes them up, He just kindly refers to them as.... Wait for it.... I about cried.... "The Skinny One" and "The Medium Fat One".

Thanks Again..

I am THANKFUL today and everyday for a million things. I am so THANKFUL for the health of me and my little family, My warm home and full pantry. I am full of thanks for my family and Ross's family who treat me as if I am their own. I am THANKFUL that I know my prayers are answered in one way or another. 

Tasha and John hosted Thanksgiving this year. They pretty much host everything.. I am so grateful to have a place to go wear I am am fed, entertained and  drinks are flowing on any given holiday or any other day of the week. Truly Grateful for Tasha (especially since I moved here).. I brought this sexy salad to Thanksgiving along with a slush drink that everyone seemed to hate. Dang...

   Thankful that sweet little Witney is really not drinking this wine. Tori Jo is THANKFUL too (More for TORI). It's always so fun when "My Tori" and Blaykers come to town. I miss those girls so much.

 And then the Hostess of the year had Santa come to sit in the Pergola and give the kids a gift on Saturday while they sipped Hot Chocolate that was accompanied by Pintrest worthy Marshmallow stirring sticks. Santa was really shy and happened to live next door to her. This is the best picture I got so it looks like we will be headed to the mall for another shot at the 2011 Santa photo.

And I am grateful for a tall and sexy husband who works so hard for our family! I love this guy (Most of the time)!!!!!

So... My dad sent all his girls and all our kids to California for a little pre Thanksgiving celebration. We watched the Bonita Bearcats chew up Pasadena poly and spit them out in the CIF championship game. My little brother was smoother her than silk in the water at the game. We had such a great time with everyone! Thanks again for entertaining us and taking such good care of all of us, I hope Matt plays in college so I can watch this little brother of mine dominate the pool for a few more years!

Spider Girl shakes her Money Maker

missing shopping cart

While helping Granmonica move into her new Senior Apt community I spotted this posted on the bulletin board in the elevator.

a PERM? at 3 years old....

The daily battle with Ivy's stick straight, baby fine hair drove me to desperate measures. A PERM
She did great as the "QUEEN OF PERMS" put in the rods at record speed. Stay tuned for how curly and sassy Ivy's new do is. My sister Calyn was not quite as lucky after the former " QUEEN OF PERMS" got a hold of her bleached locks.

HALLOWEENISTA

 This year Jaxon's dream finally came true! He was painted up by a pro (not mom) and turned into the scariest Werewolf I have ever seen. Ross's cousin, Eric is an artist and was so nice to give Jax the best paint job before school on Halloween. Since Jax is my first baby in school this was the first time I got to help in a class party. thought about doing a cake walk. baked  4 cakes on Saturday. All of them stuck to the pan and the counter tops when I turned them over to decorate. I freaked out! I had no choice but to make my classroom debut with candy and tattoo's as treats for the winner of my SORRY game of broomstick limbo. It was a hit (thankfully).

Jaxon thought he was a real life movie star. Thanks again, Eric.

The good news is that I finally got to meet the mysterious girlfriend, "EMMA". I think it's official. I saw them holding hands during carpet time. I still have no idea who her mom is which is probably a good thing since I have made a You Tube video with her name and (now infamous) white skin in the title.

 

and then..... Joe Dirt, Axle Rose, Randy Carson (as a teenager), or  Brett Michaels, Bat Girl, The Baby Witch, and the Werewolf did some old fashioned trick or treating in Shannons neighborhood. Her birthday is on Halloween and she calls herself a professional Halloweenista. That she was for sure. The kids got tons of candy and a SODA???? in their Trick or Treat bags. This was the first year my kids didn't have to wear coats over their costumes. I'd like to say it all ended nicely but......... It was time to play  turn " The Werewolf" back into Jaxon the kindergartner for school the next day. Lets just say it ended with me in the shower armed with a pumice stone and every species of soap in our house and....... a wrinkly, whiny and red faced boy whose face apparently wanted to remain a Werewolf for time and all eternity.