Christmas Eve 2012

Elf and the Shelf (NOT) continues..

 Christmas Eve is quite possibly the longest day of the year.

I don't believe that the Summer Solstice day is the longest..I don't care what anyone says.

There is no longer DAY than Christmas Eve.

Especially when your husband is working all day.

We were going to go to Temple Square and then swing by for dinner

with dear sweet Todd, but due to the WHITEOUT, we nixed that plan.

GREAT!  I get to entertain my kids, inside, on the LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR!

Every 30 seconds I was asked one of the following questions:

-When can we open our Eve present?

-Can I open a present tonite?

-Am I being good enough to open a present tonite?

-What time is it?

-Where is Santa right now?

-Can I stay up until midnight?

-When is Dad coming home tonite?

-What are we going to do tonite?

-Can we open more than one present tonite?

-Are you OK, Mommy?

-Mommy, why are you sitting in your closet, behind the clothes?

We decided to pass the time with a little Starbucks hot chocolate (Chocolate=serenity).

Then we went and purchased our favorite- Chile's Chips and Salsa (Salt=calmness).

Following Chile's, we decided we wanted to brave the Christmas Eve

crowds some more, so we went to Scheel's and rode the Ferris Wheel.

Lots of fun with these crazy kids.

Peek-a-boo, we see you!

 Listening not to Christmas tunes..

Our favorite-Taylor Swift 

("22" and "Trouble" and "Stay" sung by my 5 year old makes me happy)!

Sadie has informed me that all she wants for her birthday is

Taylor Swift tickets.

I am thinking about some fundraising events..

Maybe a 5k, or a carwash.

Just sayin'

 After Jenga and a Christmas Movie (Santa Paws 2--snooze fest),

we made pizzas.

Maddie and Sadie made Mrs. Clause.

Tanner made a mess.

Luke laughed as he watched us.

Finally.. Our elf got it right.

I wonder if next year he will just sit on a shelf?

Very Tired...

Daddy got home on Christmas Eve just in time for our traditional Christmas pajamas.

This year, we elders got silly t-shirts and sweats, while the little ones received

Mickey and Minnie Christmas jammies.

• Maddie's shirt- "Your Face" 3 million dislikes (a nod to facebook)
• My shirt (Maddie picked it out, she knows me too well..)- "I don't know what I would do without you, but I am pretty sure it's AWESOME"
• Tanner's shirt- "SWAG" (Because he has a lot of it..)
• Todd's shirt- "I'm sexy and I know it.." because we all agreed that was perfect for him ;)

Had a fun WHITE Christmas Eve!  Hope all my loved ones and friends did also!

More Elf on Shelf Fun

Chillin' in bed, listening to Christmas jams..

Reading a Christmas book to Sophie on her princess bed..

Attempting football..

Climbing up to look under Santa's robe..

Tryouts for the Rockettes..

Got a hold of my phone and photobombed us all

while we were sleeping!

Planking on Sophie

Fred likes to mess with Luke..

Bottled up..

Another date night with Barbie..

On the computer, writing a note to the kids..

I love that elf.

Look what he wrote to Maddie and Todd and I.

My personal favorite..

Miss Universe Pageant,

where he was the head judge.

Winner's Circle at the Derby..

Shaving (whoops, he cut himself!)

2nd runner up-

Adam and Eve and the Forbidden Fruit.

See the evil serpent?

I love the spinach leaf coverings..

Toasting himself and some bread for breakfast.

Patrolling the skies of our living room..

I tried...

This was what I asked for for Christmas from my children.
A photo session with no complaining.
In the snow.
No-I did not ask my husband.
That would have been a Christmas miracle.

My kids were good sports about my wish.
All except the tall one, with the 1/2 smile.
He has taken over his Dad's role as
"I-will-never-be-happy-while-being-photographed" person.
He was very annoyed, but with gentle reminders from his
kind and patient mother that he was ruining my Christmas, he almost smiled..like 3 times!


So despite the Arctic chill in the air, we proceeded with our my plans.
It was a fun 10 minutes and I got a few fun shots (2 out of 342 pictures, is that bad?).

It was worth all of the drama and "Tanner, so help me, I am going to beat you!"
I love these precious souls with all of my heart,
and really they have already given me the best life--let alone Christmas--
that anyone could ever have.

Probably my favorite of the 2 girls.

Sadie and her snow buck teeth..

Sweet little Lukifer

Sweet little family

Luke giving me his heart...

These hearts caused much confusion and laughter..

Lots of "What do we do with these?"

And, "I dropped mine in the snow!"

and, "Sophie is trying to eat my heart!"

and "This is dumb.." (Tanner)

Notice Sophie's gigantic rear end.

We laughed and laughed because we couldn't get her to turn around.

After several moments of frustration, I gave up

like I so often do, recognizing that..

THIS IS MY LIFE...

4 PERFECTLY IMPERFECT CHILDREN

AND AN OVERWEIGHT DOG WHO LIKES TO POINT

HER BUTT AT WHOEVER WILL LOOK.

QUICKLY LOOK!

IT'S SOPHIE'S FACE!

or is it her bum...?

We love you, Sophie.

Your fat bum and stinky breath make us happy.

Then, I said the most awful words heard to Maddie.. Snowball fight! Boys against the girls!!

Cute little college girl