Elf on the Shelf- Day 3- "All Things Through Christ"

This morning, Peyton found Mr. Jingles (her elf) who left her a little lesson on using our actions to be kind. 

He left her with cards to make and she did a wonderful job with them!

Tonight, the elf has moved once more and this time we are learning about how God makes everything possible :D

Elf on the Shelf -Day 2

First day finding Elf on the Shelf went great!  

Peyton loved decorating her tree and reading her letter from her elf. 

We have set up Day 2 and see how it goes tomorrow:) 

Cookies!

(How we wait for the cookies to bake in the oven-- forgive the singing;) ) 

Got to lick the batter !

Licking the batter off the spoon

She loved helping Mommy stir the batter and put in the different ingredients:)

Elf on the Shelf - Day 1

Our Elf is making his first appearance tonight (Santa brought him on his sleigh at the parade today), and he left the girls a felt tree of their own to decorate!

I am very excited to start this tradition with my girls, 

but I am being cautious that we don't get caught in the fictional part of the season. 

I want my girls to realize the real meaning behind the season, and because of that I have daily verses that the elf will bring to help prepare our hearts for Christmas. 

The letter our elf left

Set up a tree with a box of felt ornaments to decorate the tree with :) 

Santa Claus Parade

We spent the night at the local Santa Claus Parade.

What a wonderful night!  We had a beautiful walk to the downtown square down a nice local trail along the river, then we watched the parade (which Peyton loved) and finally went out for a coffee and snack at the end before walking back home.  

The girls both crashed when we got home, but a night I will never forget:) 

Peyton waved at every single person that passed (even those that just walked past and were not in the parade)

Funny Quotes November/December

P (counting fingers on one hand):  1..2...3...4...5...
(switches hands)
1..2..3..4..5..
FIVE FINGERS!  I HAVE FIVE FINGERS!


P (taking socks off A)
Mom:  What are you doing?
P: Taking off her socks
Mom: Do you have a reason to do that?
P: yes... gem (laughs hysterically)



(finishes reading a book)
P:  AMEN

Ashlynn - 2 Months

Loving her smiles she is giving us ! 

This month we have really started to see the little personality come out of Ashlynn. 

She is such an observant little girl, and when you do get smiles you know she really does mean it as normally she is very serious and just quietly watches everything going on around her. 

It is so neat to see the difference between the two girls. 

We have two nicknames for Ashlynn: 

"Our little piglet" - everytime she is hungry she snorts like a piglet (in the most adorable of ways)

"Ashwinn" Peyton always tells us "Ashwinn is so cute" and "mmmm.... Ashwinn"(while hugging her) so Wes and I have started to call her Ashwinn as well 

LIKES: 

• Bath time and swimming- LOVES being in the water -- there has not been one bath yet where she has cried 
• Listening to Music/singing 
• Her big sister-- honestly Peyton will talk to her and she will start smiling

DISLIKES: 

• The cold

NEW STEPS THIS MONTH: 

• Had her first swim (and did a dunk while at it!)
• Smiling lots (I think I heard a laugh yesterday as well, but it was very tiny so not sure if it was truly a laugh or a hiccup
• I don't want to jinx it but.... sleeping through the night! 

Peyton's First Haircut

Today, Peyton got her first haircut!  

She loved sitting in the Barbie jeep and was even given a certificate and lock of hair to help remember her first haircut. 

Up until now, we have been trying to grow her bangs out but finally they were long enough I decided it was time to get the hair cleaned up.  

She did such a wonderful job and loved her "Elsa braid" she was given at the end.