Elf on the Shelf - Week 3 +

Chip has gone back to the North Pole until next year now, but I just wanted to share the fun we had the last week and a half he was here.

Day 15 - Chip made a fishing pole out of a candy cane, some twine and a paper clip, and went fishing for gold fish crackers! 

Day 16 - Chip hid in the apothecary jar snow globe! 

Day 17 - Chip is sitting on the stairs, reading The Christmas Carrots with the bunnies.

Day 18 - Chip's sitting in a basket of pine cones. It looks like he likes the sparkly one!

Day 19 - We found Chip in the nativity...

...holding baby Jesus!

Day 20 - Chip was riding a reindeer today!

Day 21 - Chip was sitting up on Mommy and Daddy's wedding picture! He had a really good view from way up there!

Day 22 - Chip is so excited for Audrey's tea party birthday party today that he had a tea party of his own with Dolly!

Day 23 - Christmas day is getting close! We found Chip hanging out in Audrey's stocking!

Day 24 - Chip's last day! We found him on the couch with a goodbye letter and a present for Audrey and Blake. He brought them matching reindeer pajamas to wear tonight! The letter said:

AUDREY

Today’s my last day,

I must say goodbye.

Tonight I must go,

to the North Pole I’ll fly.

But Santa will be here

with gifts and good cheer,

and I will be back

the same time next year.

So be a good girl

and take care of yourself,

and remember the fun times

with Chip your Scout Elf!

I will miss you so much! Merry Christmas!

Love, Chip

P.S. I left a present for you and your cousin Blake to wear tonight!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

Elf on the Shelf - Week 2

Chip continues to be a big hit in our house! Audrey loves finding him in the morning! 

Day 8 - Chip hiding in a plant. He must have been too tired to be creative when he got back from the North Pole that night.

Day 9 - Chip thought we needed some snow, so he made a snowflake out of Q-tips on the table for Audrey! 

Day 10 - Chip colored a Christmas tree picture for Audrey to draw her own ornaments on! He might also be hinting that it's time to finally get our tree up!

Day 11 - Chip is is sitting on the church, admiring the Christmas village we put up yesterday!

Day 12 - We found Chip playing solitaire this morning.

He fits right in with this family! We love to play cards!

Day 13 - Chip wrote "Chip ♥ Audrey" in chocolate chips! Audrey, of course, ate a few with breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Day 14 - We found Chip sitting in the Christmas tree, admiring all the pretty lights and ornaments we put on it yesterday. We think he particularly liked the ornament Audrey made last year.

That's it for this week! I'm sure Chip has lots of shenanigans planned, so make sure you come back next week to check them out!

Elf on the Shelf - Week 1

Audrey is at such a fun age, and we knew she'd be excited when Santa sent us our very own elf this year!

Our family elf showed up on December 1st and we've been having a lot of fun with him!

When he came, there was a letter from him and a book from Santa telling Audrey all about her new elf.

Audrey let Mommy read the book to her, but then she had to read it herself a couple of times!

After reading the letter and story, we had to choose a name for him. Audrey chose Chip because his letter said he loved to eat chocolate chips, and because, "I lub chockate chips all time too, Mama!" "

Day 2 - Chip saw how much fun we had making snow angels the day before, so he decided to make one out of sugar on the kitchen counter!

Day 3 - Chip's just hanging around, keeping an eye on Audrey from the light fixture!

Day 4 - Chip was ready to go outside and play wearing Audrey's mittens, sock and boots!

 Day 5 - Chip loves to read, just like Audrey!

Day 6 - We found Chip relaxing in a jacuzzi of marshmallows!

Day 7 - Chip got into the good stuff! Sipping on some REAL maple syrup through a straw!

loss and regret

I know I haven't posted vacation photos yet, but the last couple weeks have been difficult for me. I had a sinus infection, Audrey had an ear infection, and my hubby was sick, too. Then last weekend, a friend of mine passed away.

I still haven't really processed how this is even possible. I can't even come close to describing my emotions. I cry every day and regrets fill my head, as we hadn't really talked much in recent years. Why didn't I reach out to him when I saw him a few months ago? Why did we let growing up get in the way?

I know I shouldn't do that to myself. I just feel like my heart is breaking - breaking for him and breaking for his family. We had some really amazing times together though, so I'm trying to focus on that. I remember his smile, and how he hugged everyone every single time he saw them. I remember a New Years Eve many years ago where we sat outside by ourselves, while our significant others were inside, and just talked and laughed together. I remember the many times we drove hours to watch him race snow mobiles. And man, he could race!

I am so sad that he is gone at only 28 years old. I am so sad that we haven't talked and laughed together in years. And no matter how much I think about it, I can't really process it. It doesn't seem like it could possibly be real. I'm sure it will be on Saturday when we attend his services. But for now, I'm just filled with a lot of sadness, loss and regret...

Audrey - 23 months

Hi sweetie!

23 months. Wow! I say it every month, but I can't believe how quickly you are growing. It doesn't seem possible that you'll be 2 next month. Besides our vacation, I hardly took any photos of you this month, not that it bothers you any. But Mama likes to document everything you do and it's disappointing when I get to the end of a month and realize I didn't pick up the camera much.

Anyway, we started this month out with Halloween and you were the cutest Cabbage Patch Kid ever!

You've been sick almost the entire month. We started the month off with a 24 hour stomach bug, and then you had a cough for a good 3 weeks. The cough then turned into a full blown cold, complete with stuffy, runny nose, cough and fever that you have now. I hate seeing you sick, but the doctor says it's viral, so there's not much we can do besides wait it out.

You had your first voting experience, and came with Mama while she voted. You were more interested in the guy at the sign-in table than what we were doing there, but I guess we have to start somewhere.

It's getting much colder here now and after playing outside one day, we came in and shared your first cup of hot cocoa! It was a big hit, as I expected, and you say it in the cutest way!

We went on vacation to Turks & Caicos and you flew on an airplane for the very first time! You did great and we had a wonderful, relaxing vacation! We swam in the pool and went to the beach every day. We built sand castles, searched for seashells, found starfish, flew a kite and enjoyed time together.

We came home from vacation and had a nice Thanksgiving with family and enjoyed another week and a half with Titi, Uncle Ry Ry and Blake.

Your vocabulary and language skills continue to exceed even your doctor's expectations. When we took you on Monday to check out your cough, you answered her questions yourself and had a full conversation with her. She was amazed and Mama was so proud. Two of your favorite phrases this month are "Yucky!" and "No way!" In addition, if anything hurts you, it "hurts real bad."

You are the sweetest little thing, and I love watching your personality develop. The next month is sure to be filled with lots of adventures, birthday party fun and tons of Christmas activities! We already started reading Christmas books and had a picnic on the living room floor while watching the Polar Express. We also went to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in town, and went to pick out our Christmas tree! I can't wait for all the other fun holiday adventures we'll have! I am so proud of you and everything you are becoming!

I love you to the moon and back, baby girl!
Love always,
Mama

See this...

This is going to be my view for the next week.

If I don't return, you know why!