Monday, December 25, 2017

December Happenings!

Besides Smurf Elf visits, we have been busy in December....

Checking out local businesses and finding some cool holiday decorations along the way!


Drinking hot cocoa!

Building the chocolate cookie tree from Smurf Elf!

As a family, we have started what we hope will be a new tradition for us.  The first annual Cozy Cocoa Christmas Cruise!  We had to wear PJs, get hot chocolate from somewhere, and cruise around to check out Christmas lights!  We had a good time!

 Evidence of our festive Christmas outfits!



Ella participated in the church Christmas program!

 Can you spot her? 
We didn't sit on the right side of the sanctuary so it was really hard to get a picture of her!!



Grandma Jolyn and Papa Paul were able to join us for the program so we took a group picture afterwards!

At school, there was a week of folk dancing for the kiddos, and the third graders with parents/family were invited to a family dance night....



Good times...Ella LOVED it.


Again this year, Ella participated in the Kid Connection lip sync holiday concert. 
This year she was performing with some besties...




We have been busy making and decorating Christmas cookies!


Weekend before Christmas visit from Grandma Deb & Randy for the Winter Dance Show!








I have no idea how she got so grown up!  
The 'tude is real. LOL!


AND THEN IT IS CHRISTMAS!!!  
I'll update the blog soon with some pictures from the various Christmas celebrations!
Merry Christmas!

Smurf Elf 2017

Our Elf named SMURF ELF arrived on December 1 with some new shenanigans!  Here is a recap of what she was up to this year....

December 1

Arrived with a cookie tree to build (sort of like a gingerbread house) and wrote
"I'm Back" in fruit loops!

December 2

Rearranged our "PEACE" sign to be "CAPE"

December 3


December 4

Smurf Elf was wearing a bandaid because she fell down with the carolers on December 3rd when Ella was dancing in the living room!! Ella wrote Smurf Elf a note back asking if she liked to watch TV at the North Pole....

December 5

Smurf Elf left a note to tell Ella that she loved TV and included a picture of her favorite TV
- an ETCH A SKETCH!  LOL!

December 6

Working on some math facts with Ella's flash cards

December 7



December 8



December 9

Our stockings were replaced with Christmas undies!

December 10

Whoopsie!  Stuck in the toy chest!

December 11



December 12

Eating "Jay's" snack mix!


December 13

Cruisin' with her Shopkins purse!

December 14

Uh oh!  Smurf Elf went on strike because "someone" was being sassy.  On this morning, Ella found Smurf Elf then came upstairs to tell me about it.  She then said, well I wonder who the note was for her or me (seriously....)


December 15

Sled racing with some snowmen!


December 16

Being silly with a bunch of friends on the stairs


December 17

Game Day!  Smurf Elf was making SKOL Vikings signs and even had a Vikings jersey for Santa


December 18

Smurf Elf and Santa were hanging around


December 19



December 20

Slumber Party in the toy room!


December 21

Lounging in a sweet bowl of marshmallows and candy canes!


December 22


Left a fun Elf craft!


December 23

Smurf Elf joined us at Grandma Deb's house! 


December 24 (good bye)



Until next year!

Updates to round out November

December is flying by and I wanted to get some updates done before the end of the year!  We left off just after Black Friday.  Since then, we've finished decorating....



We had a visit to BBY to see Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus!  It was a hectic but fun night!  Ella was able to chat for a few minutes with Santa and wrote him a note with her list of wishes






In typical Abbas fashion, we attempted to get a selfie with the reindeer but ended up with his butt instead of his face!  LOL!!!




We each decorated a sugar cookie to enjoy while we waited to visit with Santa.  I think we all know mine is the traditional white with red candy cane sprinkles....The other two were pretty creatively decorated!

It was a great way to start getting into the Holiday Spirit!