What a FANTASTIC year we have had. We have thoroughly enjoyed this holiday season. I LOVE the ages of my kids right now. Everything is soo magical to them. We just had soo much fun preparing for Christmas! Carlie wanted to help Santa out this year by creating her own "list" to keep track of everyone's behavior:
But as you can see....Max was the ONLY one getting any tally marks on the "Annoying" chart--Tatum did get ONE "Naughty." So we had to come up with a more fair judge and that is how I came across "The Elf on the Shelf."
I had never heard of him before this year but my sister-in-law, Stephanie, and I found the Elf at the mall and we each brought one home to help us out this year--and for every year from here on out. The kids LOVED the elf right away and they named him "Buddy" just like on one of their favorite Christmas movies--"Elf." And every day "Buddy" would be somewhere new. It became a fun game to be the first to find him every morning. And every night "Buddy" would return to the North Pole to report back to Santa on the kids' behavior. So this new experiment has now become a new family tradition! The kids can't wait to see "Buddy" again next year!
Grandma Donna came up on Christmas Eve. We opened our traditional Christmas Eve PJs and then we were off to do some cookie ditching and Christmas light seeing! I wasn't planning on cookie ditching this year but the kids just had to! It is hilarious to watch them do it! They pick the houses, ring the bell, and run like mad! Max wanted in on the fun this year except when he ran, he yelled! We tried to explain to him that he couldn't yell because that could give us away. We had a good laugh this year! We found some amazingly decorated neighborhoods this year. We had a great time. Here are the kids in their PJs:
On Christmas morning, the kids were knocking on our door at 6:30 a.m. We were all up and at 'em and opening gifts by 7. Carlie got lots of clothes, a new softball bat, and a digital camera. Ethan got his Ninetendo DS this year along with some games for it--and clothes too! Max got his "Rocky the Robot Truck" which he soo desperately wanted! Nothing else mattered to him. Tatum got some more puzzles, clothes, and fun toys. All the kids got socks and underwear from our most thoughtful dogs--Bubba and Minnie:) My sister also got all of them cowboy boots so they would have them to work on the farms back home in Deming, NM. So all in all it was a fantastic Christmas! We had a huge lunch and then went off to a park to enjoy the beautiful weather and try out some of our new gifts. It was a perfect day for the Meeker Family!
This is Max at the park. We call
him our "Luchador" (Mexican wrestler)
He was scaring the other kids away!
We have one of those elf's that was my husbands tree decoration when he was younger. It was always so annoying to try and get on the tree. I think I am going to steel your idea and use it next year to watch the kids behavior! That is just to great of an idea to not copy! Looks like you had a great Christmas. Hope you have a good new year! Stephanie Schiess
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