Christmas 2012!

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." 
- Andy Rooney (1919-2011)

Even though we were all a little under the weather with colds we had a lovely first Christmas in our new home.  We stayed in pajamas for most of the day, ate way too many Hershey Kisses, and had a happy time.  And we made one glorious mess.

Christmas morning.  Pre-glorious mess.

They had to wait in the hall for a few minutes.  It's part of the fun, the Christmas morning torture.  Poppy woke up on the wrong side of the bed, can you tell?

Peeking around the corner...

Finding their loot!  See the BIG stuff off to the left?  Yeah, it took them both a full TEN seconds to notice that was over there!

At last, Lucas looked away from the Star Wars masks, Candy Land, and art supply tub and said "What is THAT!?"  He had found the dollhouse and fire station that Santa had left in front of the couch.

Then it was time to get down to the business of emptying stockings and opening presents.  Lucas was thrilled to find a new Iron Man toothbrush.  Ah, to be young and have the best gifts to come out of your stocking be new Angry Birds Star Wars underpants and a toothbrush.

Or in Poppy's case, legwarmers.  OMG!  Legwarmers!  Legwarmers!

And then MORE LEGWARMERS!  

Checking out their new toys.

Hot Wheels!

Princesses!

I'm so glad I had her hold the box up for a picture because she tore the crowns and shoes off  as soon as those princesses were free.  And I had no idea which crown belonged to which girl until I studied the picture.  

There's the glorious mess.  And Lucas hidden in the middle.  Poppy might have been in there too, who knows?

After her nap, Poppy ate her P-shaped candy cane (left by Dobby before he returned to the North Pole).  And she flipped the bird.  Don't know whether or not that was intentional.

The best of MANY attempts at a good Christmas picture.  Look at these cuties!

Okay, okay.  It's not the best, but this is Poppy's first French Braids.  Big news!  And I'm pretty proud, since my previous French Braiding has mostly been done on Barbies.

Top: Poppy on "Christmas" 2009 

(she was still in the NICU on December 25, so we had our 

Christmas the day after she got home from the hospital, on December 29)
Bottom: Poppy on Christmas 2012. 

Elf on the Shelf - Day 24 *Christmas Eve!*

For Dobby's last day with us, he decided to go out the same way he came in: by parachute.  Lucas and Poppy were so happy to see their little Elf friend was hanging close to the tree when they went searching for him this morning.  

I thought they would be a little more sad about Dobby leaving today, but they know that he is only here for a short time and when Santa comes on Christmas Eve, Dobby gets to fly back to the North Pole in a parade of sparkling elves following the sleigh.  Just before bed, they both told him goodbye and thank you for coming.  They blew him lots of kisses, and thankfully, there weren't any tears.  We'll miss you, Dobby!

Lucas and Poppy getting the carrots ready for the reindeer and the cookies ready for Santa. 

The carrots (and a bowl of water) were left outside "far enough from the house that the antlers wouldn't hit the door" according to Adam. ;-)

There are the cookies!  Santa's lucky, he's getting the best sugar cookies on the planet!

Elf on the Shelf - Day 23

Dobby Dangles.  "Dangles" is now his last name.  Seems a little festive, eh? ;-)

Tomorrow is the final day our Elf will spend with us for the year.  We've already had tears from Lucas over Dobby's impending departure.  Tomorrow night will probably be rough.

Happy 3rd Birthday to Poppy!

Today was wonderful.  Today, my precious Poppy turned three.  Three years we've had with this little ray of sunshine!  

Here we are, meeting for the first time. 

She had a rough start, but I think it probably made her the wild one she is today. ;-)

Birthday girl!  We woke her up just in time to tell her happy birthday at 8:26am, the exact time she was born three years ago.

This lucky birthday princess got to go for a horse drawn wagon ride through the woods!  What fun!

It's Snow White and a giant balloon!

Three!

Let's be clear about one thing, Honey Boo Boo has NOTHING on my girl!

*More pictures to come, it's 11pm and I'm exhausted from such a big day!

Elf on the Shelf - Day 22

Today our dear Dobby decorated for a special day: Poppy's 3rd birthday!  He was caught red-handed with scissors and a stack of paper.  There were about 35 snowflakes strung up around the dining area and more stuck to the windows.  

What a good House Elf!

Elf on the Shelf - Day 21 (plus Poppy's last day being 2!)

Dobby decided that if the world was going to end, he was going down in a blaze of glory.  With a stack of candy by his side, glowing necklaces for a touch of fancy, a snarky note to the Mayans, and his tinfoil helmet, he was prepared for whatever was waiting for him on December 21, 2012.

That's right.  Tinfoil helmet.  It's essential End-of-the-World Rave wear.

Tomorrow, my sweet baby girl turns three years old.  I say it time and again, but I have no idea how it has gone this fast.  She has such a big personality.  She is such a wild girl.  I wanted to get a few last pictures of my 2-year old this evening.  This is what she gave me.  I love my Poppy girl.

Look, it's Richard Nixon! 

Lucas got in on the action and they did a little Honey Boo Boo-ing.

Yep, there's the personality that's bigger than she is.  My sweet girl!

Elf on the Shelf - Day 20

 Today our adventurous elf has been dangling over the TV on a zip-line of sorts.

Not his most creative work, but the kids sure got a kick out of it!

And since you're probably dying to know what on earth is on the TV, it's Law & Order: UK.  The show itself is okay, but what makes it worth watching are those fantastic wigs they wear in the courtroom scenes.  And when they address a female judge, it's always "M'lady!"  

Elf on the Shelf - Day 19

Today, Dobby's lifelong dream of performing with the Rockettes came true.  Kind of.

He rounded up some princesses and they busted a move.  Look at those high kicks!  The synchronization! 

But it wasn't long before it became very clear that one of our princesses had hit the sauce a little too hard before arriving to dance in the show.

Go home, Little Mermaid.  You're drunk.

After a stern talking-to, she was back on her feet (or just foot, rather) and high-kicking in unison with the rest of the princesses and our darling Dobby.

That's one more thing this elf can cross off his bucket list!