Our Beautiful Mess

Week 2 with Sally 12.9 to 12.15

This week has been super fun though it ended with a sad weekend. As a side note, I still wonder if Eleanor is a little young to get the true meaning of Christmas all wrapped up in all the traditions we are throwing at her but we thought what I am about to describe might be a teaching point so we went with it.

Andy's Christmas party for his coaching staff was held at our house and our friends' who also coach with Andy and live down the street on Saturday. Eleanor had so much fun playing with Addisyn and Brooke, daughters of two of the coaches who are also a few years older than her. Apparently, Eleanor touched Sally and the girls, who much better understand the concept of the Elf on a Shelf and who I guess are also much more strict rule followers than Eleanor because they were appalled at her actions.

Because of this, Andy decided (I was on the fence about it) that Sally wouldn't visit on Sunday. I was very conflicted about this because one, I don't know that Eleanor truly understands why she can't touch Sally because she is completely taking the concepts of Santa, mystical elves, and the North pole along with connecting them to Jesus' birth for the first time. I also really love elf on a shelf days on the weekends because Sally usually leaves us a fun activity to do as a family. We didn't get that on Sunday. Sad sad day. Eleanor wasn't too effected by it, once again why I didn't think it was the best idea. She just said she would see Sally tomorrow ha!

So here are some pictures from Sally's visits this week. My favorite being probably our Sunday Gingerbread Cookie baking! So fun and they turned out great!

Sunday - We found Sally covered in flour and she had stamped gingerbread men in the flour with the new cookie cutter she brought us. We inferred from all the clues this weekend that we should probably make some gingerbread cookies and so we did! Later that evening, after getting back from looking at Christmas lights, we decorated the gingerbread men we made with Sally's gift!

Monday - Friday I hate to say but I was terrible about documenting with pictures! Sally was found kneeling by Jesus' manger, hugging on one of our angels, inside Eleanor's coffee pot, in the family room tree, and perched in the garland on the bannister.

Saturday, Sally was found in Eleanor's tree in her room. She received a new skirt from Santa and decided to bring Eleanor a skirt for her tree. Sally's being in such a low place along with the fun of having people over for Andy's party I guess tested Eleanor's self control and she touched her! All you Elf-on-a-shelfers know that is a no no...

Sunday - Sally had to re-coop in the North Pole because she needed to build up some more magic to return...

Elf on a Shelf/Advent Week 1 12.2 to 12.8

We have begun the tradition of "Elf on a Shelf." Ours came to us on the first Sunday of Advent. She was waiting for us in our chandelier in the kitchen looking over the Advent brunch she had prepared for us complete with candy cane confetti, red and green m&ms, a little wind up walking Santa for Eleanor, Christmas plates and napkins, red and white straws for our OJ that filled cups we got to decorate with Christmas trees that also came with stickers to adorn our trees while we waited for the cinnamon rolls to finish baking. We lit our advent wreath for the first time and read the story of the "Elf on a Shelf."

--------------Eleanor's Look when she saw Sally for the first time!

When the time came in the story to ask Eleanor what she wanted to name her elf, without thought or any guidance from us, she blurted out, "Sally." So Sally has stuck and we are so happy to find her in a new place every day.

On Monday, she got into our sprinkles as she tried to make Eleanor an ice cream sundae which she indicated in her note to E is BOTH their favorites. She brought Eleanor an ice cream ornament since that is something they share a love for and she put vanilla ice cream in our freezer for Eleanor to enjoy after her dinner. We had pork roast, green beans, and mashed sweet potatoes that night and boy was that ice cream a motivator for Eleanor to take a "no thank you bite" of her potatoes. She of course gagged the whole time it was in her mouth but didn't spit it out! So proud of her!

Tuesday brought a new location for Sally. She left her place in the kitchen and we found her taking a marshmallow bubble bath in Eleanor's sink complete with her rubber duckies and a towel for relaxing with. Silly Sally! Momma also wrote the wrong date in the calendar for St. Nicholas Day. While it was supposed to be on Thursday, November 6th, we celebrated it on Tuesday. Eleanor put her "cinderella sparkle shoe" out on the fire place on Monday night and found in it when she awoke, her night gown for Christmas Eve night, a Santa book, a Cinderella ornament, a hat and gloves, and some Santa stickers. What a treat and how generous St. Nicholas was!

Wednesday she was found diving in our M&M bowl! She and Eleanor are "Em-numn" lovers at heart!

Thursday we found Sally ziplining from our bannister to our shelves with Christmas ribbon. What a crazy girl!

Friday she was found riding Eleanor's Christmas moose that she calls her "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" in our shelves.

Saturday, Eleanor came downstairs in her gingerbread outfit (how perfect) to find Sally in the tree with a new gingerbread ornament for Eleanor. She couldn't get over how she and Sally both had gingerbread men on that day!

What a FUN first week with Sally, our new elf!

Thanksgiving 2012

Growing up on "the Farm," one of my favorite pasttimes was learning to drive at a very young age. At first, Grandpa would let me steer while he pushed the pedals but as soon as I could reach and see over the steering wheel, I was doing it by myself - like at an elementary school age. We all did. I always worried E wouldn't get to have that experience as I worry how much longer the farm will be in our family. Luckily, she got to "drive" the UV to her heart's content and she did love to ride in it!

This Thanksgiving we were so blessed to not have playoffs and get the entire week off. That allowed us to go to College Station first and then to Grandma and Grandpa's for a couple of days for the actual feast. There have been many a picture of men I love on the farm in this exact pose...I had to capture it..beer in hand and super relaxed!

Looking down "the lane"

Our first day was just us three, Grandma, Grandpa, and mom. Grandpa and I went to Angelo to brave the HEB and get all the Thanksgiving groceries. It was so special getting to spend that time with him even in the craziness of that store! That night, we made Cauliflower Pizza Crust Pizzas for Grandma who is watching her carbs due to diabetes and they were a success!

On the second night, everyone was there and we enjoyed Grandpa's smoked brisket, pork, a pot of pinto beans, twice baked mashed potatoes, and green beans almondine YUM! Eleanor was a very meticulous and helpful table setter!

Thanksgiving Morning...Marmi and Pop Pop are relaxing as we start to prepare the feast!

Katie and I worked in the kitchen all day - it is so wonderful having her home and I do LOVE to cook with her!

Eleanor and everyone else enjoyed the traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa!

Pop Pop even came in to help with the dishes - I had to capture this shot!

Eleanor helped peel the deviled eggs with Aunt K...

...and got a little goofy with "Mrs. Benjamin"

Love them!

We tried to put E down for a nap and this was how we found her..

Dinner is served, now to fit in the quick family pics before we eat...

Grandpa's best childhood friend, Bill, and his wife Ginger came to join for dinner!

The spread...

Eleanor was so excited to eat on her place mat she made at school.

Grandpa's speech to start off the meal was so sweet though it makes me so sad to see him cry :)

Someone is ready to eat...

Clean Up Clean Up Everybody Everywhere...

Well maybe not the men....

Ben eventually did chip in and put Grandma's silver away!

It isn't a holiday at Grandma's without some piano playing...

The meal ended just in time for Cowboy's kickoff. Yes we plan it that way....and during halftime since the game was such a joke, the men took out some agresssion at Grandpa's country backyard driving range. This was Andy and Ben shooting in unison...