We got out our Elf on the Shelf earlier this week. We'd been telling Piper that Santa had sent a special elf to our house to watch over her and that he delivered him to the attic. She was anxious for Daddy to go up there and find him. She decided to name him Umbrella and he's been a real treat to have around. She loves to find him each morning and put him somewhere where he can easily fly back to the North Pole at night.
The Christmas decorations have made their way out of the attic, just haven't made their way out of the boxes yet! We're going to get a tree this weekend, so should be a festive one.
Piper also wrote a letter to Santa last night (it's something they do locally, where you fill out a form and your child gets a letter back from Santa before Christmas). Sounds like fun, it's our first year doing it, so we'll see.
I asked her what she wanted and she said, "A pink bike with helmut, barbie doll, and ask Santa to bring Boone a truck. He likes trucks." Then she proceeded to decorate the whole sheet with some of her best artwork and it's all ready to drop off to make it's way to the North Pole.
Piper also had her first viewing of "Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas" and loved it. And I'm happy to report it's every bit as good as I remember it (Ger said the same thing). Although she kept correcting me and telling me they were bears not otters.
And while we were watching that I set up one of Boone's little ride-on cars that turns into a walker, thinking it would be a good way to entice him to continue to practice standing and working towards walking. Well he grabbed the walker like he'd used it a million times before and proceeded to walk across the better part of he basement! Looks like it (hopefully) won't be long now.
Oh, and Boone's love of electrical outlets and small spaces continues. He somehow managed to crawl under a table and unplug the Christmas tree in his classroom the other day at school.
We also found out that both kids will be moving up to the next classroom the end of this month. Boone will soon be sleeping on a nap mat (hard to believe), eating lunch at a table in his own chair, and having gym and playground time each day. Piper is moving up to the 3's and I think it's going to be a great move for her. I think she's really ready and she'll be excited to be reunited with some of her friends that have already moved up.
I think the kid's favorite part of the meal were the pre-meal beverages. The kids had cranberry juice and orange juice, and the adults had cranberry mimosas. Osten, Marci and Piper were delighted to have their drinks in real glasses and practiced "Cheers" to everyone before downing their juicy delight.
We went for a family walk in the dark after Thanksgiving dinner and Osten and Piper had a blast being the "lineleaders" and leading the way with flashlights through Grammi and Fafa's neighborhood. After baths, everyone headed out to check out the stars before bedtime.
The kids with their matching Christmas pj's. A rare group shot, thanks Aunt Ria!
And we celebrated Grammi's birthday a bit early too. She had three happy helpers there to blow out the candles for her.
And of course we had to head out and do a bit of Black Friday shopping. Grammi, Fafa, myself and Aunt Ria all headed out around 4am, had a great time and got some great deals. Ger and Uncle Tom manned the homestead and kiddies, and even managed to catch a few ball games as well.
