Elf On The Shelf

Well it finally arrived today!!  I ordered it back on November 27th.  It was stuck in customs for more than a week.

I was planning on opening it and putting out "Elf to be named" but we are leaving for SK tomorrow so I don't really see the point.  Finley saw it and by next Christmas she will have forgotten, so we will bring it out and start the tradition then.  I am going to try to find a vintage elf friend so that the girls each have one.  If I can't, i have a cute stuffed elf that will do the trick just fine.

We tried to get Finley to name the elf but were not successful.  At all.  She doesn't really get it despite watching the tv show "Elf On The Shelf" numerous times.

So in lieu of our elf getting a name, I googled "What's your elf name" and came across a site that gave us the following names:

FINLEY = Daffy Candy-Lips

PENELOPE = Zippy Candy-Lips

Greg = Sparky Candy-Lips

Becky = Bouncy Candy-Lips

Maybe next year the Elf below will have a super cool fun name like the ones above:

Christmas Favorites

Every year I have Christmas "favorites" that I need to see, hear, do or watch in order for it to be Christmas for me.

I thought I would share my favorites in various categories:

Favorite Christmas TV/MOVIE Programming
Elf
The Grinch (cartoon)
The Grinch (movie)
Charlie Brown's Christmas
Elf On The Shelf (new this year, still waiting for our elf to arrive...stupid customs)
Mickey's Christmas Carol
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Home Alone
The Muppets: Letters To Santa
Merry Madagascar
Prep + Landing Various Christmas Specials

I think that it is all the Christmas specials that I absolutely must watch each Christmas.  Finley's favorite is the cartoon version of the grinch.  She watches it a few times each day.  Greg's favorite is Elf.  Penelope doesn't have a favorite yet!

Christmas Music
This is a tough one because there are SO MANY great Christmas songs so I will only name a few.

A Very She & Him Christmas by She & Him.  Fantastic christmas album.  My friend introduced me to this album and it is fantastic.  I even bought it on itunes and I never buy Christmas albums.  This music was also featured on the Christmas special of The Office this year if you watch that.  The 'She' in She & Him is Zooey Daschanel whom I just love.  We almost named Penelope Zooey after her :)

I love the Boney M Christmas album but really doesn't everybody?  I am almost embarrassed to admit this but I LOVE Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson's Christmas albums as well as Celine Dion's.

I have nearly 500 different pieces of Christmas music in my itunes so as you can tell I LOVE Christmas music - Cher, U2, Eagles, Raffi, The Pogues, Paul Brandt, The Pretenders, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Destiny's Child, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Brenda Lee, Bing Crosby, Michael Buble, Justin Beiber (i know you are all laughing at me), Britney Spears, Elton John and I could go on and on and on but I won't.  Just know I love almost ALL Christmas music!!

Christmas Baking
An absolute must for Christmas baking is my Aunty Sandy's whipped shortbread, butter tarts and butterscotch confetti.  I always get sent home with loads of extras as well as her cabbage rolls - we look forward to this every year!!

I also bake Gingerbread Cookies and Greg does his mom's sour cream cookies.  They are a must!!  This year Greg also made Poppyseed Rolls that he is taking to the Diederich's Christmas celebrations on the 26th.  Grandma Erna makes them every year for her grand son's and they all fight over them.  I really don't get it.

Christmas Activies
Well obviously visiting Santa Claus ranks high on this list.  My girls love him which makes me glad because I don;t want to be the mom with the super screaming kids although that is kinda cute too

Putting up our 2 Christmas trees is the true kick off to the Christmas season.  The girls both love putting on the decorations!

Putting up the outdoor Christmas decorations is also really fun although this year only some of them went up and they were broken by the crazy wind storm we had.  Greg was too busy working on our floors to put the ones on the house up.  But we usually go all out.  I am sure we will next year!

Every year on Christmas, after supper we all get into 2 or 3 cars, stop at 7-11 for snacks and drive through the Enchanted Forest and through certain streets that go all out.  We sing Christmas carols and have a great time.  I think Finley will really like it this year if she can stay awake!

We love to do Christmas crafts especially ornaments that the girls can give to their friends and family.  This year we painted a canvas, did a hand print wreath and made salt dough ornaments.

Every night in December leading up to Christmas we watch some type of Christmas programming.  We cuddle up on the couch and watch it.  I love it!


I think that's it for favorites - what are some of your favorites??

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Card Photos

In September, our family plus some of our extended family got our photos done by my good friend Virginia at Sweet Ginger Photography and as usual she did a FANTASTIC job!!

We used her photos for our Christmas card which I hope you all have received by now.

These were the photos that were consideration but not chosen: 

The ones that were chosen for our Christmas card is as follows:

Thanks Vee for the wonderful photos!!  

Happy Holidays!!

Christmas #2: Our Christmas

Yesterday the 4 of us celebrated our second christmas celebration at our house.  Santa brought us so much for our stockings that he and the elves had to take them off the mantle and leave them in front of the fire place!!  Even the kitty's got lots :)

Luci was eyeing up the stockings just waiting to get her hands on the catnip pillows and tinkly balls Santa brought her.

Santa brought the girls a doll house for Christmas.  They loved it.

Penelope opening her stocking stuffers.  I think Santa put the headband in the wrong stocking but Penelope loved it none the less.

Penelope's favourite stocking stuffers were the mickey and minnie candy canes which she can't even eat.  You can see the excitement in her eyes.  Loved it!

Finley very impressed with her Jessie Pez Dispenser.  It's undecided whether she will actually get to eat the candy or not.

She loved her recorder.  She drove me crazy with it. Silly Santa, what was he thinking?

Santa must've known that Greg always runs out of deodorant because he brought him a years worth of Old Spice.

After stockings we ate breakfast that consisted of gingerbread french toast and turkey bacon.  Finley just had to have her recorder with her.

Finley wearing a very cute outfit while waiting to go for a quick trip to Superstore and Toys R Us.

Greg prepping our Christmas dinner.  He was making the crab filling for  his stuffed shrimp and wrapping bacon on the scallops.  We then headed upstairs to watch some football while Penelope napped.  It was a nice relaxing afternoon.

One of the appetizers are ready: bacon wrapped scallops.  I love bacon wrapped scallops.  Seriously love them.  Both of the girls love them too.  More so the scallops than the bacon part of it.

Finley enjoying her 'egg milk'

The monsters!  haha that is what Finley calls lobsters.  No idea why but overtime she sees them at Red Lobster or at any grocery store she calls them monsters.  They really freaked her out.

Part 2 of the appetizers: Shrimp stuffed with crab.  They were pretty good.  I think they could have used some lemon juice and garlic but were still tasty.  Finley didn't like them much but Penelope sure did.

Eating her appys!

Penelope eating hers.  She really just wanted to open presents.

Supper getting ready to be cooked!

In they go!!  It's our Christmas Tradition to have a seafood feast for our Christmas dinner

Time to open presents.  Greg got a new camera lens

Finley with her new barbie.

Finley helping her sister open her new cabbage patch kid.  Finley was thrilled to see it.  She has her own that i had just brought out that morning that she got for her first Christmas 3 years ago.  She loves it so much!

Penelope playing with her Elmo piano.  She loves Elmo!

Finally her very own camera so I don't have to share mine with her!

The most excited I have ever seen Finley with a gift of any kind.  It was Cookie the Fur Real Pup.  She absolutely loves it.  She even remembered that her name was Cookie.  It surprised me since it has been more than a month since she was introduced to her by her friend Michelle.

Penelope trying to feed her doll

Finley thrilled with her Minnie Mouse dress

So excited with all that is Christmas.  Finley associates presents with birthdays and not Christmas so she she said "Happy Birthday Christmas Tree" and "Happy Birthday Santa"  it was pretty cute

Who needs presents??  Just give Penelope a box and some paper and she will be happy!

Santa brought this to us.  Cannot wait to try it!!  I super duper heart Gordon!

They were totally mesmerized by all of this

Perhaps a bit overwhelmed?

Penelope with her new Coach bag.  Finley got one when she was her age so we got Pia one too since she LOVES anything with a handle.  It was super cheap at the outlet too.  She's been carrying it around everywhere since she got it.  Not gonna lie, I would like a bigger version of this bag....

A terrible photo of myself wearing my new lululemon jacket while opening my gorgeous new Coach watch.  Now I an uber cool casual watch and a dressy one.  I am very happy :)

All in all it was a very fun day!!  I love that we have our little Christmas before heading back to SK for our super big Christmas get togethers.  And it sure beats hauling the same gifts back and forth that is for sure!!

Christmas #1: Grandpa Don + Grandma Jen

Yesterday we headed over to Greg's dad and stepmom's place to celebrate Christmas.  It was the first official Christmas celebration that we went to and both kids were super excited.  I am glad they had a great time because we have 6 more to go!!!

Trying to get a good photo of the girls before we left.  It didn't turn out so well - as you can see.  I am really glad that the dress Penelope is wearing still fits her.  We bought this summer in the States for her to wear to Kristen's wedding.  It fits really well and still might fit for Easter too!!  Finley's I bought on the Mahogany + SE Calgary Buy N Sell site.  The skirt was a 3 and the top was a 4 both from the Children's Place so I thought we would be ok but the top was too short so her belly constantly stuck out.  I have to find something for her to put underneath by Christmas Day when she wears it again so her belly isn't constantly sticking out.

The dining room table all ready for Christmas dinner.  Jen had just bought the red chargers that morning. I love them - I absolutely need a set for my house!!!  The table looked really good!

Penelope giving Uncle Aaron a big hug

Looking outside for bunnies

Playing the piano.  Finley did not like the idea of having to share playing time with her sister.

Playing with Uncle Neil's old dolls

Penelope checking out the presents

Finley waiting under the stockings watching Uncle Neil play his video game. Santa came early and left some presents for us

All Christmas'd out???

Tormenting Grandpa by trying to empty the tupperware out of the cupboard.  Check out the new stove in the background.  It's magnetic induction or something like that.  Basically the stove top is all magnetic so you never ever burn yourself.  It's really cool.  And the bottom of it is a warmer instead of storage for cookie sheets and stuff.  They also got a new fridge that I want in black!!

Finley and Grandpa Don playing with the advent calendar.

The Christmas Tree all lit up full of presents!

Finley and Penelope gobbling up the french bread.  Having white bed is like most kids having sugar.  They absolutely LOVE it.  It's a special treat when all they get is whole grain at home

The Christmas Crackers this year had magic tricks in them.  Finley loved them but soon figured this one trick out.  Check out the hats - Finley loved hers this year - she loved her crown!

Time to open Christmas Stockings.  The girls were SO excited!

Finley playing with her new spinning top.  I am having trouble getting it to spin properly.  I suck!

Opening presents

Penelope was semi interested in opening presents but loved the gifts once they were open

Uncle Neil opening presents

The girls playing with Penelope's Penguin stacking toy that Santa brought her.  Another Melissa and Doug toy!

Penelope trying to open Finley's Abby Cadabby activity kit.  She loves anything related to Sesame Street especially Elmo + Cookie Monster

Finley and her new bear hanging out in the kitchen with her lil belly sticking out

Everybody interested in Uncle Aaron's angry birds game.  The girls loved it

Santa Finley

Both girls in their Christmas PJ's and Santa hats

Finley playing her "Upin Down" game.  She can't say upside so she does Upin.

Story time

All done for the night!!

We had a fantastic Christmas celebration with the Grandpa Don, Grandma Jen, Uncle Brad, Uncle Aaron and Uncle Neil.  Looking forward to our next celebration!!!