Elfie's Baaaaack!

One of the highlights of Christmas time is our little Elf on the Shelf...Elfie! We were a little slow to get into the whole elf thing so this was our second year to do it. Both boys were eagerly awaiting his arrival. Ethan was so funny. He believes and he doesn't. He would say he didn't believe and then I found him on YouTube looking up videos of Elf on the Shelf and if they're real. Thankfully he showed me one that someone made and it looked pretty realistic! I'm pretty sure he doesn't believe in Santa or anything else like that but we're making him hold on to his childhood a little longer! 

The first day Elfie returned.

The kids would search for him every morning before school.

This year Elfie got some new clothes. Which added some pressure with all of the wardrobe changes! ;-)

Elfie brought Caleb a DVD for his birthday.

No crazy Pinterest stuff at our house...just a crazy Elf having simple fun!

Caleb's 8th Birthday!

We did a lot of debating on where to have Caleb's birthday and he finally decided on Alley Cats for laser tag and games. He invited a few close friends and they had a great time playing laser tag, eating pizza, and then playing games. Then his best bud stayed the night for extended birthday fun!

This is inside the laser tag area. It's all glow in the dark. He LOVED it as most little boys would. He was a sweaty mess when he came out. I just went in for the photo op. ;-)

I grabbed a quick pic when he ran by. They wear these vests with a laser gun attached and try to shoot the vest of the opposite color. Caleb's shirt was neon yellow...not a good color for laser tag! He stood out big time!

All cooled off and having some pizza.

Cake time! I didn't make that one...it came as part of the party package.

All of his little buddies (we sent Ethan with his friend to stay overnight at his house).

Opening presents.I love how the kids always crowd around. ;-)

Playing some video games.

Great group of kids!

His bestie Carson.

Big surprise....he picked Olive Garden for birthday dinner.

Could he be beaming any more?

A little collage I put together of our little man.

This was on his actual birthday. A little sugary birthday breakfast.

He had to go to school on his birthday so we brought him Chick fil a for lunch.

Then we stopped by the golf course and they gave him a birthday sundae.

Last but not least...eating his real birthday cake at Nana's! That's not the best pic but it's a Green Arrow cake that I made per his request.

Happy 8th birthday to the kid with the biggest heart who is wise beyond his years. He has definitely added some color to our world!  We love you Caleb-poo! :-)

Orchestra Concert and Christmas Caroling

I get so excited when I hear Ethan play his cello. I was happy to be able to go to his first orchestra concert! They didn't really play Christmas songs. Just the songs they had been learing...when they've only been playing since August so they were pretty good for being brand new! 

There's my baby in the corner!

This was the best pic I could get. He was being weird and getting irritated that I was trying to take his picture. Remember my boys and their hatred of photos...

Taking a bow when it was over.

Thanks to Momo (Mondo's mom) for getting me a decent pic!

Ethan and Momo.

Uncle Able (Mondo's youngest brother).

A few nights later we went to the annual Christmas caroling at Barnes and Noble. Caleb was super excited to put on a show.

It's a lot of kids packed into one little area! They sing by grade level.

My little caroler. He was so animated and really coming out of his shell! :-)

Thanksgiving

It seems I take less and less pics these days. I think it's hard because they boys are old enough now to dodge me when they see the camera come out. Anywho, here are a few pics from Thanksgiving!

All dressed up to go to Aunt Nita's. (I can't believe my begonias were still alive!)

Family photo time.

Boy cousins all lined up in age order.

My parents. :-)

Eating at the kid's table...

The kids getting wild and crazy.

Ethan being silly eating a piece of cheesecake.

Then it was back home to start our Christmas decorating!

Squeaker said "yes, I remember this tree..."

One of my favorite ornaments...from our honeymoon. :-)

Family Pics

Pretty self explanatory. My ex-coworker does pics as a side business so I hit her up from time to time for some new pics. I was happy we got any pics this day because it was super windy and I was afraid my hair would be crazy. They turned out pretty good. Mondo and the boys were troopers. All three of them hate when it's picture time and I think you can never have enough pics! ;-)