Holidays

I know - it's February!
Well, I'd still like to tell you about our holidays because we had so much fun this year with Penny and being home for a few weeks. 

P saw all her grandparents and was of course, spoiled rotten as any little one should be on their first Christmas!

Before we made the trip home we had a small Christmas at home with our felt tree and lots of wrapping paper!

Penelope loves jingles bells and got so excited when they were ringing.  She couldn't contain herself.

Some of the gifts this year included matching strawberry hats for P and me, fun stuffed toys, books, and if you look further down you'll see Gorman, a puppet animal that Nolan gave Penny for story time.

I made cookies this year when Nolan and Penny left for NV.  Shortbread snowmen, salt carmels, and my mom's famous espresso logs! Because of school, I stayed behind while Nolan and Penny flew to NV.  I was on my own for a whole 4 days and didn't sit to enjoy it much as I cooked/baked/cleaned my 4 days away.


When I arrived in Nevada, Nolan's family had a fun holiday party to Christen their new home in Sparks.  They'll be so close when we finally make our way home this year.

 Lots of gifts

Packing all the essentials

 I flew into the sunset!

 Penny and Grandpa Terry

 We were lucky enough to spend some time with my brother and his wife, Alicia who just had a little girl in October.  It was a joy to see the two cousins together!

 My Dad's side of the family!

In Las Vegas we visited Nolan's family who had 2 polar bears mounted and a gigantic great dane who LOVED Penny!

 

 

 Finishing the Holidays with some fun sparklers and our new little girls!

The Elf on the Shelf

I so wish this would have been a part of my childhood!  I am extremely jealous of all those kids out there that are experiencing this Christmas Magic!

 

If you’re unfamiliar with Elf on the Shelf – please view this video on their website.  You can find the Elf at Target or online – which is shipped from “The North Pole!”  How cool is that!?  When you give your elf a name, his/her magic is “activated” so he/she can report back to Santa during the night.  The fun comes when the children find the elf in a different spot every morning because maybe your elf spend the night ice skating in the freezer or had a snowball fight with your other holiday figurines!

Here are some fun photos I’ve seen recently, that make me so excited to share this Elf Magic with our children.

 

Who knew the elf could be naughty! haha

 

 

 

 

This one is so stinkin' cute - please view here for this one: Magic Elf Seeds!

Where the kids are instructed by Santa to plant "magic seeds" aka: cookie decorations in sugar before bed and wake up to cookies that "grew" overnight!

Go support the Girl Scouts!

If you've yet to purchase a box of cookies, now is the time to support the girl scouts. If you didn't pre-order any, you still have opportunities to buy those delicious thin mints (that are the best when kept in the freezer). I am sure you've seen the tables set up outside grocery stores and other business buildings so buy a box!!!
Once upon a time I wore that very fine looking green vest with a few patches sewn to it. It was a friend making club my mom inserted me into when we moved the first time across the country, and well, it worked. I made friends that year and I left them the next but the point it, I had a blast with the girl scouts and learned some valuable life lessons about sharing, confidence and friendship. They have a special place in my heart.
Cookie sales are low this year, among other products. Cocoa and other baking staples are up in price making the profit for the scouts lower even though they had to raise the price this year to $4 a box. It's worth it, though! READ MORE
Go pick up a box of Carmel Delights and support a camp fire trip for a troop!
Thanks, I'll step down from my soap box for the time being.