Elfin around

I'm not sure who has more fun with Toby...

Oh what fun it is!

 

December 1st marks the beginning of a very busy fun filled season for us!  I wanted to start it off in "style" with our North Pole Breakfast to welcome back our friendly house elf Toby.  It is also very important to me that Allie (and Lindy too)  know the true meaning of the season and grow up to know how imprortant it is to give to others and not have Christmas be all about presents or Santa. So we also started our "Advent" bags on the 1st as well... each day there is an activity for something for us to do- to spend time together as a family- or give to others who are less fortunate! 

Some examples of activities: Decorate ginger bread house, go ice skating, take food to the food pantry, cut out snow flakes, purchase a gift for an angle tree, bake christmas cookies-

you get the idea!

 

 

 

 

 

This picture was from Day 2- where we went to Grandmas house to decorate a gingerbread house!  This is such a fun tradition we have done for about the last 4 or so years-

 it wass really fun to include Allie this year!

  

 Here is my gingerbread house, I was going for a "castle" look-

it was harder than it looked on "Pinterest" !

 

 

Here is our "village".

 

 

 

We also decorated our Christmas tree!  This is my favorite tree so far! 

 I just love the way it turned out!

 

 

 

Day 4 was have your picture made with Santa! I think it turned out cute! Allie was NOT afraid of Santa at all this year!

 

This has to be our "picture of the year"!  I just love how cute her little imagination is!

 

Allie & her Prince Daddy dancing in the Kitchen. 

 

Lindy turned 8 months old a couple of days ago! She is still just the sweetest happiest baby I've ever seen!! (SO happy about that!)  BUT, I can't believe it is going so quickly!  I know all parents say that when talking about how fast it is going- but I really mean it!  I knew it went by fast with Allie- but I think it is going even FASTER with Lindy!! Its prob bc we are even more busy this time!  Lindy can sit up, reach for things roll back and forth etc- she is not quite crawling or pulling up on anything and I am A-OK with that!  I'm not sure how to "baby proof" with Allie around!! She is also eating like a champ! "Gravy Baby" is her nick name bc when I was pregnant I wanted gravy on everything- biscuits, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes- you get the idea- well she is living up to her name!  She eats EVERYTHING we give her!  (and doing great with table food too!)

 

Allie, Lindy & Baby Natalie (who is not really a baby anymore) went to the mall and got their pictures taken! Here is just a picture of them in their matching dresses! Such pretty little girls! :)

 

 

The Adventures of TOBY!

 

 

 

 

Look at what I made! My sister has had my embrodery machine on and off for the last year!  I got it back at Thanksgiving and learned how to do Applique!  I'm so excited- its like I got a new toy!!