Marker everywhere!!!

Oh my STINKERS!!! Seriously, my kids are getting coal in their stockings this year!!! Last night, Kyle & I sat down for a nice salmon dinner BY OURSELVES & we put the kids in independent playtime (like we always do) in the playroom. We enjoyed dinner and our conversation while we hearing LOTS of giggles from the playroom. We were thinking, "oh they are doing fine and having a good time", we didn't think any was going on.

 Then I walked in on this....

Cute and innocent right?!?!?

WRONG-O!!!

The destruction...

was...

everywhere!!!

Even in his hair, neck and hands.

Kyle said they looked like Indian babies with war paint on the their faces.

And so proud of their accomplishments.

After a bath and good hard scrubbin'... these monkeys were ordered to clean up their mess. I love how B Man looks so lost & uncertain of what just happened. Seriously, kid?!?! 

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Gingerbread House party

We went to a birthday party for Paisley, Charlotte's friend. The theme was decorating gingerbread houses. Charlotte LOVED doing this craft and being with her friends. She even got a handmade gingerbread apron as the party favor. Every little detail was accounted for, I enjoyed myself too!

Getting ready to decorate!
Squeezing the icing out

Very focused at the candy placement
She took her time on every piece.



All the decoraters with the birthday girl!
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Christmas Lights

I love our family tradition of seeing lights with our loved ones. We make a map and always stop at the craziest houses. I love to see the creavitiy of peoples' imagination when it comes to decorating for Christmas. We also have to  stop & get Starbucks too. I tried a new drink to me this year, caramal cider. OH MY... SO yummy. It is like a liquid dessert, so sweet, warm & tasty.

Cherry Lane

They kids were so into the lights this year, it was too tall of an order to ask them to stop & smile for the camera. HAHA.

Peppermint Playdough

C, B Man & me made peppermint playdough for a fun activity. Both kids really wanted to help in the kitchen and became very involved in the process of making the dough. B Man is turning in such a big boy these days, he was a great helper, insisting he saw the whole process.

C & B Man standing on the kitchen chair stirring the dough.

When making the dough it is necessary to have fairy wings on. :)

Watching the dough turn from a liquid to solid.

Playtime!!!

They had a great time together!

B Man was focused and into squishing the dough in the cookie cutters.

Charlotte told me her "nose smelled funny". The whole kitchen smelled like peppermint!!!

Stuffing more dough into the cookie cutters.

Illuminarias @ The Desert Botanical Gardens

Kyle & I attended a party at the Desert Botanical Gardens. We ate dinner as a group and then strolled around the gardens. We were able to experience a hand bell choir (amazing!), the Charles Dickens Carolers, and several other diverse bands. The garden was beautifully lit and all the Christmas decorations made it extra special. We really felt like we were on a nice date and enjoyed going. I would definitely go again!!!


Charles Dickens Carolers


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Santa at Bass Pro Shop

We had a BLAST meeting our friends at Bass Pro Shop. We saw the fish in the tank, playing with outdoorsy toys, met Santa, colored pictures, and even rode on the carousel!!! SO fun. We went out to lunch after with our friends and even had time to surprise Daddy at work with a special treat.

The kids watching Landon with Santa!

Meeting Santa!

Riding on the carousel

Charlotte really wanted to ride the reindeer.

Elf on the Shelf

I saw the Elf on the Shelf last year and knew this year would be the year to introduce our Elf on the Shelf in our home! Charlotte is 3 now and totally gets the whole Santa thing. The elf comes with a story book. In the book it describes the purpose of the Elf on the Shelf. The elf watches over you all day long and at night when we all go to bed his magical powers help fly him back to the North Pole to report to Santa on the child's behavior for that day. Each family names the elf and in the back of the book a certificate can be completed. Every day the elf comes back (until Christmas) and "hides" in a new place for the child to seek out! SO adorable, right?!?! Charlotte named our elf, Elfie. LOL. B Man even walks around saying and looking for, "Elfie", too. Elfie made his debut on the shelf of course!

Elfie on the Shelf

And in the tree, see Charlotte pointing?

There he is!

And in the Christmas decorations!

Hi Elfie! (I think I am having a lot of fun with this little guy too!)

Hanging out!

In the Nativity

Haha, sitting on the donkey looking at Baby Jesus. My favorite spot so far!

Sitting in the dining fixture

Hanging in the garland

I like this spot too!