The Christmas Season is Here!

Last year I read some very funny, cheeky blog articles bashing Elf on the Shelf mommies for over-achieving. I laughed and admitted the absurdity of it all. I wouldn't be caught dead making flour footprints all over the floor or drawing mustaches on family photos and blaming it on our elf (Sugar). I did create a lot of work for myself with a 12 days to Christmas Countdown (examples here), but I tried to tell myself that was different...

Fast-forward to Sugar's arrival this year. She made her grand appearance on Thanksgiving day when she turned up in our car while we were having dinner with my family. The next morning she was slyly observing us from the wreath hanging on our coat closet...

November 29th - Hiding in the wreath

I was looking for something fun to do with the girls when I picked them up from daycare/K-prep on Friday and remembered that last year I never took the extra step to buy our girl elf one of the sweet little skirts they sell for them. I suggested going to look for one when my extremely bright little bug suggested that we could MAKE her a skirt instead. We headed off to Hobby Lobby and purchased a piece of felt that I quickly and easily turned into an Elf skirt. The bug was so excited last night to leave the skirt out with a note she dictated to me and then signed. 

This morning Sugar was proudly wearing her new skirt and the bug was thrilled. I'm hoping I can stick to simply moving her around for a few weeks without any major hi-jinx or projects to undertake...

November 30th - Hanging out in her new skirt on top of the light in the dining room

Tis the season...

If you hadn't guessed by my prolonged silence after the last pregnancy related post...our second baby was born! Although she came 5 days later than my due date and I had the joy of two days of non-productive contractions, the labor and delivery were a breeze once everything got going. My recovery time was minimal and we all settled into a routine as a family of four without issue.

As I sit here typing this (almost exactly 6 weeks following her birth), I am feeling great. I've been back to work for 2 weeks, am 2 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight, and am in the midst of my usual holiday baking/cooking/crafting craziness.

There is another thing that is new to our house this year for Christmas - we have our very own Elf! "Sugar" has been here keeping tabs on our little bug and reminding her to be a good girl for Santa. Sugar has been leaving the bug special treats each day to count down the 12 days until Christmas. Below you can see what we've been up to so far...

To kick-off, Sugar and her friends decorated bug's room with snowflakes and paper chains

12 - The first day featured a cup with hot cocoa mix and two new Christmas books

11 - Sugar left all the ingredients to make tree shaped pizzas for dinner

10 - Everything to make cinnamon ornaments

I didn't get a photo of Day 9 in time, but Sugar left her lots of silly dress up items to play with and pose for a silly photo shoot. Props included a singing tie, multiple headbands with bouncy Santas or snowmen, bead necklaces, and feather boas.

Christmas Countdown

Current Mood: Sleepy
What I accomplished today: Haven't finished yet, but will address all of my Christmas cards when Maddie goes to bed

I don't know about anyone else out there, but I don't just like the holiday season, I LOVE it! Lights, trees, wrapping paper, Christmas music - I love it all! This year is especially exciting for our family because it is my baby girl's very first Christmas. I'm hoping to carry on as many family traditions as we can as well as starting some new traditions of our very own.

Family traditions:
- Watching holiday movies together
- Advent calendars (although Maddie is too young this year!)
- Decorating the tree together
- Christmas eve gatherings

New traditions:
- Watching the first holiday movie of the year on Thanksgiving night
???

Please share some of your favorite holiday traditions in the comments!