Make Something Monday- bubble skirt

It's Monday again and I've committed to making things on Monday. I really like it. Sometimes I need motivation to take something from "I should do this sometime" to actually making it happen. The bestie and I are forever saying "we could totally do that" but never do! So this whole Make Something Monday thing is pushing me to create and I love that!

If anyone decides to take a Monday and Make Something, send me a picture and I'll feature you and your wonderful creation! If anyone wants to join me on a Monday and Make Something, lmk we will do it. Creepy stalkers need not apply.

So here is what I made today,




Apparently a super shorty short bubble skirt. Marie-Grace is going to need to wear tights or leggings under this for reals. Otherwise I love it!
Goes great with the American Girl DC store shirt we picked up as souvenirs for Ella's birthday! (ag Post coming tomorrow)

Found the tutorial here

Not really sure if I went a bit overboard on the bubbling or if the numbers were wrong but I'll probably add a tad to the length next time. It was really easy and really fast. I think this will be my go to skirt for when the girls want me to make clothes for their dolls. Try it out for your girls! ( or I'll make ya one for $10:) )



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Happy Birthday Ella

Four years ago the brightest blue eyed baby I've ever seen came into our lives. From the moment we were born we were struck by her big beautiful eyes and long lashes. The nurses loved the blonde highlights through her dark hair. Little Ella has always been a beauty.

As she got older her eyes got bigger, wider, bluer ; her lashes longer, fuller and darker. The dark hair with blonde streaks became blonde and curly. People everywhere wanted to stop us and tell us what a beautiful baby we had. Nearly everyone said she looked like a porcelain doll and she did.

At four people still are always telling me how beautiful she is and she takes their breath away.

She's a petite waif little girl. There is just something ethereal about her looks, sometimes, even though I see her daily she takes my breath away too. Those crystal blue eyes edged in the darkest longest lashes I've ever seen, the cute button nose and rose bud lips all framed by the , now loose, blonde curls. She's a beauty. If only she would let me take her pictures in a real shoot I would be sure to get some stunning ones.

Even more than her beauty Isabelle is full of life. From the beginning her joy was exuberant and her anger fierce! I even nicknamed her Grisslebelle for those moments as I explained to her a princessy name as Isabelle does not fit with the violent fits she can throw. Also Griselda. As a toddler her bad moments were draining for us with screaming fits no one could stop but her happy moments were contagious and we couldn't help but laugh right along.

Thankfully she has become more even keeled in the last couple months but she doesn't cease to bring us smiles.

She lives in her own cotton candy colored world and often i wish I could go there with her. She sees things differently and makes our little world better for it .



I can't begin to detail all the wonderfully amusing moments she's brought us, though many are recounted in this blog, everyones favorite segments, but there are some things that are recurring that capture her unique being:

- she has named her tummy Pinky; she doesn't get hungry, Pinky says it needs food. She doesn't get tummy aches - Pinkh is sick.

- She loves all things PINK. Pink is Ella, Ella is pink.



- She doesn't walk around the house she glides and dances about humming as if she is dancing at an invisible ball only she can see.

- Princess gowns are casual wear to Her Royal Highness Isabelle

- She speaks her own language. I can't even give examples because it makes no sense to me but she has her own words for many things. I'm not quiet fluent enough to recall them now but I am enough to understand what she means when she says it. She knows the real words , for those who don't know her , and speaks perfectly well but finds the actual words too boring. Terms like "floopy" are Better in her world.
Also most normal words must be prettied up by adding a y or long ee sound to the end.
- She will break into dance anywhere that the music moves her. She has danced in every mall we've been too, through Disney World, during fourth of july fireworks,elven the zoo. I think she one ups Buddy the Elf's mantra of "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear " and takes it to the next level by spreading joy by dancing everywhere for all to see.

- She currently asks daily to go swimming. In the summer she doesn't ask about it but as soon as the weather cools the demanding to swim begins.

- She absolutely hates kissing. She always turns away screeching as though her eyes are burning. New years eve was fun. I had not thought about how traumatic Dick Clarks rocking NYE may be for a kiss a phobe - after all everyone kisses. So at midnight as I kiss my husband I hear a scream followed by rapid fire commentary

"Oh no they're kissing! everyone every where is kissing. Aaah even mom and dad are kissing !!no no stop it everyone stop it everywhere what is happening?!?"





More recently she ripped off her 3 d glasses and burrowed herself into my arm pit just before Beast and Belle locked lips. Nothing worse than seeing all of NYC makeout than to see a kiss in 3d on the big screen.

- she creates characters. Her current favorite to be is Dr. Makeup. Apparently a doctoral degree does not include teaching one to open their own penguin make up case because I always have to assist the good doctor on this.
Another character is Buffalo Nookins who was formerly known as Bitty Bear as names by the American Girl company, however has been renamed by Ella when she reads me his adventures.

- She is a hard core Barbie fan. She has been since she was 1. She has never seen a Barbie she hasn't needed 3 of. She even named her new bitty baby Barbie Grace and Barbies bear is named Ken. Sadly her love for Barbie has not saved them from multiple limb amputations and decapitations. I'm nit sure what goes down but I find a lot of body parts.

She always has some crazy, quirky down right adorable things to say each day. I love talking with her because we have conversations like this:

Ella-" Can we get another Doggie?"
Me:"We just got this doggie. Don't you like her? "
E:"Yes but I want her to have a mommy"

Because everyone needs a mommy and if they don't have one you can just buy one.


I love you Ella Bella. You are so very , very special to all of us. You bring me so much happiness every day and I enjoy every moment I spend with you. I love you more than pickles Isaboo.








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Make something Monday- yes I have a calendar.

I know it's Tuesday but here was my make something Monday.

Tonys cousin and her family just loved to L.A. And they got the girls American Girl Place tshirts and for their dolls to match. We are headed to D.C. this week for ella's birthday and the girls wanted to wear the shirts. Works out fine for them because they have pretty pettiskirts thet will match but the dolls have nothing to match! So I'm making skirts for them. This is Ellas. I have yet to begin to start Laci's!!



Poor felicity has seen better days. She isn't snorting cocaine either. I tried to give her a baking soda facial scrub and apparently missed a bit.
I'm thinking of paying for the salon for her while we are there. She needs help.

If anyone wants AG clothes lmk. Im going to be an AG undercutter :) $30 for doll clothes? Crazy!!
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Stop being stupid Saturday

These little blocks are stirring up the toy community. Why? Because they're pretty, oh no! We are reinforcing that girls like pretty colors and well Girly things. We are squashing out decades of womens lib (the movement that has most damaged women btw) . Girls wanting Girly things somehow makes them inferior to boys apparently, boys who btw have shelves and shelves of very masculine themed (ugly) legos to reinforce their stereotype without one outcry being heard.

Since when did different mean we aren't equal. Men and women; boys and girls have differences. We aren't supposed to be the same. All this relativism makes me so irritated. Just because someone says we are the same because that's their view of how if should be doesn't make it true or change a thing.

Why are we so threatened by girls being feminine. Why is femininity bad. I know the women in our society our obsessed by proving their equal to men. How does taking attributes of woman hood to make us more masculine prove that? Doesn't that make us weaker? That to prove we are equal by shedding what characteristics make us different from men strips us of not only natural identity but power. It makes us seem weaker because women are acting like men to seem equal. Hillary Clinton... Do you hear me? Put those ugly pant suits away.

What is wrong with a girl loving pink or princesses . What is wrong with her wanting to build a house with pastel colors insread of the primary colors of a standard Lego bucket?

Why didn't Lego do this before? I got so tired of the same primary colored blocks plus green. I'd have loved not just pink but other hues of blue to play with. I imagine I'd had have played with legos a heck of a lot more had I been able to expand on the color palate. I wasnt even a Girly kid- I hated pink! ( now my favorite after three baby girls)

So stop being stupid America and let the princesses have their pink blocks. I'm almost positive it won't stop them from becoming successful in life.

I'm buying some tonight for Ellas birthday. Just to fight the stupidity.


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Santa, I KNOW him!!!

Christmas eve as I said before is my favorite part of Christmas. The expectation and excitement, the beauty of reflecting on Jesus birth...

I love Christmas day but find it anti climatic. The kids rip open Presents and it's over. The pageantry is in the eve prior.

After reading Twas the Night Before Christmas, the kids went to bed but did not fall asleep til 2 AM. This was problematic as we let them sneak down to see Santa. Our bedtime was determined by their falling asleep- Santa won't come if your awake afterall- putting on this Santa charade, the kids falling back to sleep and the time to put out the presents.

We cleaned the house biding our time until finally movement ceased upstairs. I helped Tony get into his outfit. Usually I'm with at least one kid in bed but this year Layla had already fallen asleep. It was fun transforming my husband into Santa. A little odd but overall sweet. I wish I had a picture of me kissing Santa. Why didn't I think of that.

It just made me reflect on what an incredible daddy my kids have.






Santa suited up I went up and rang a sleigh bell in the girls room to wake them and stealthily tossed it back out of their room. They stirred but didn't quite wake so I whisper yelled "did you hear that ?"
Groggily, wiping sleep from their eyes they both simultaneously whispered
"Santa, Santa"
But they didn't move.
I had to say yes Santa and then laci sat up like electric and rushed the door. Ella still lifeless was being scooped up in my arms. Laci was already down the Hall.

I finally caught up to a delirious Laci- she's very odd when woken up from deep sleep and managed to both wake her into full consciousness and stop her from bolting down the stairs.
We scooted quietly down the stairs , aside from my alert cough to Santa- we need them to be sleepy so they arent alert enough to catch on. At the bottom I assigned posts. Ella and I would sit on the floor hiding behind the side of a chair while laci would stay on the stairs peeking Around the wall and using the back of the same chair for cover.

Ella clung to me fiercely while laci popped up and down from behind her furniture fort with skills honed from using her spy gear that made up the bulk of her presents last year.

Suddenly she decided shed seen enough or had been seen, and bolted up the stairs despite my shouts to stay. Santa had put out presents she had seen what she came to see. This triggered a fear response to the clinging Ella who now buried her head in my neck long lashes scrunched tight as she willed her eyes to forget shed seen anything.

I kept trying to turn her head and pry open her eyes - yes I did- to no avail. My poor husband was putting on a show for no one. I sat back against the wall and watched, smiling to myself how blessed I was to have such a family and such moments- even if they didn't go as intended. As Santa picked up a snow globe in his gloved hand, turning it around and holding it high in the air ( everyone who has seen The Santa Clause knows snow globes are important to Santa) I got sucked into the illusion forgetting that I tightened that big black belt over a pillow on my husbands stomach and believed for a moment that Santa was here. How I wished my kids were watching that with me.

He was finishing up the presents and I got sad knowing he was about to his dancing Santa routine without laci to watch her favorite part. I was able to get Ella to take a brief peek of him eating a cookie and as he downed some milk that had sat on the counter far too long I heads creaks on the steps. Laci had returned.

I waved her to hurry up and whispered "he's eating your cookies"

She told me to be quiet - her presents were at stake- and reassumed her position.

Then Santa examined a singing snoopy decoration and laci bounced a little. We giggled knowing he was going to finally do a christmas jig. I watched her face light up and the attittude and skepticism of whatever stage this age is considered wash away as the magic of Christmas filled our downstairs. And of course, I started to cry.

I giggled again to stifle the tears and she sternly shushed me finger to lip with a big smile. We watched together, as Santa danced about our kitchen to a hallmark toy. I watched , perhaps For the last time, my baby girl for whom this tradition was started, stared in awe struck wonder at a large red velvet cloaked stranger dancing loving every minute, believing whole heartedly santa was in our midst.

I started to break down and was glad that Santa ho ho hoed and made his exit so laci wouldn't see me too busy scurrying back to the safety of bed - in case he flew by the window to check sleep status. Glad for the dark I sucked back sobs As u pried ellas gripping arms from my neck, lashes still clenched shut, And tucked them in.

" he did it again mama. Santa danced. I love that."
"maybe he does it just for you Laci. "
"maybe "
I kissed and tucked quickly the emotions catching up to me. I barely had my bedroom door shut when the sobs came.
I was tired so emotions were exaggerated, perhaps not, and k cried and I sobbed. I replayed the look on her face, the glint of sheer joy and excitement in her eye and realized I may never see that on Christmas eve again. That magic was hard fought for this year, and I am no match for age and maturity, for the cold hand of worldly reality that steals away childhood fantasies one by one.

I cried, sobbed for twenty minutes. I love the magic of childhood so much. Seeing it through their eyes is beautiful and I hate that is being taken from her, even if it is only natural.

As sad as I was that this was likely our last Christmas like this with her, it was our best Santa moment together, maybe for that very reason.

"Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know
I'm not the same one
See what the time's done
Is that why you have let me go"<\blockquote>

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Christmas Eve revisited

I know Christmas is so two weeks ago, but I spent my holiday season with my kids so I'm behind on archiving our memories for this time.

My last post was about the wonders of Christmas Eve candle light service and guess what. We didn't even go
Layla screamed all day. Just all day. I didn't see a point in going to just sit in the nursery all night. She was rotten too. As I cleaned my phone got lost and I spent half an hour digging through trash because I had to reply to a text from our pastor before service started. She screamed the whole time. That kind of made the decision for me. We were skipping the candle light service.

I hated it , but I hated the thought of us going more. What makes it special is the time together, the little kids faces lit by the soft glow of candlelight and that was just not going to happen with me Layla and Ella in the nursery.

Instead, we stayed home and ate sandwiches from our deli platter that we buy every year for Christmas. We opened Christmas eve gifts in a leisurely manner- even taking pictures together in our matching christmas pjs. Yes we did.


I like to watch Polar Express on Christmas eve with the kids and this year with Laci's wavering belief it was a must.

I cried. Alot. At strange moments too.

Shortly after the main boy gets on the train they pull through a small town with decorated store windows. The kids look in Awe as they pass by Christmas themed displays, especially moving Santa. All the kids gasp and smile At the sight of this Santa, including the main character boy- until he, and we through a zooming in on a gear, sees that it's just a wind up device.

I've never noticed this before somehow. The camera zooms in on a gear and then as it pans out we see an old style turn key As Santa turns to the side. The boys smile falls as does his belief.

This one scene summed up this year for Laci to me. She still had that child like belief lingering, but her eyes were opening to the world around her and zooming in on reality. It just made me think of all those zippers on the Disney characters this year.

So I teared up.

There were cookies to be selected and left out for Santa, reindeer food to be spread the real Christmas story to be read from the Jesus story book bible yet so we didn't finish the movie sadly.

Laci did sit with her bell Santa left her years ago,throughout the movie and traditional activities and declared she can still hear it ring.

I hope, in some way, she always does.



-
Tony reading Twas the Night Before Christmas, the last thing as do before bed on Christmas Eve every year. I love traditions.
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Looking Back and Moving Ahead

Another year passed- in lightning speed.

As I look back, as is obligatory for this year, we had a pretty even. Nothing exceptional - good or bad, just a nice even stream of contentment producing circumstances. To me, that is an excellent year.

Individually , it was a year of growth for all the kids.

Laci is doing much better focusing on school and math is coming much easier for her. She's still enjoying clogging and this year the foot work looks like complicated clogging not just tap. She's been a great help with the baby and a loving big sister and best friend to Ella. The thing I love about homeschooling is the strong family bonds it fosters.
She learned a lot about life through her beloved Cat Deely running away. She lived in our barn, not sure where she went. Also one of her kittens died. She's still sad about both. She started seeing things through eyes of reality and not so much through child like faith- zippers on Disney characters, tags on our elves... Of course all that makes me terribly sad as my blog shows, but her desire to still believe in all these things gives me hope for another year of magic with her.

Ella, being in her third year has transformed from baby to little girl. I always hate that. Her face last year was still round, she had just been forced to stop using pacifiers and diapers and slept on a toddler bed in our room.

Now she has a best friend, loves to get manicures and rooms in with her sissy most nights and sometimes in her own room alone. She loves her baby sister but they fight over mommy time. Despite all her big changes, she's still little and still needs snuggles. I love those moments.

She's learning phonics and letter recognition, but spends most of her days playing Barbies. She lives for it.

Layla being a 2010 September baby experienced all her firsts this year. I kept thinking through the Christmas season that last year she was just a tiny little newborn only a couple months olds. Since then she's grown considerably, walks, talks and does some sign language. She plays like the big girls with dolls and barbies and when she's not having a bout of separation anxiety will spend a good portion of her day with her sisters. She loves to make messes and do everything she's not supposed to and will do anything for attention. She keeps us all on our toes and rolling in laughter.

Tony finally has some seniority and can hold decent jobs within CSX. This has allowed him to work a local job and stay home with a real schedule rather than being on a train and staying in hotels at the beck and command of the railroad. This has made us all happy! He also became a Master Retarder - I'm not being mean that's his real title- which allows him to hold a job not many Are qualified for- always a plus in the railroad.

I adjusted to the demands of a toddler and managed to learn to sew within the few free moments she gives me. I found I love zumba and plan on getting back to it , even if it's just in my living room most times- this week now that the busy fall-Christmas period is through.

Probably our favorite point this year was our Disney trip ( I'm finally making headway on my trip account of that and will post soon, in segments) . There is no better vacation than taking our three princesses to the most magical place on earth. I count time in terms of disney trips and Tony has taken to helping me get over the post Christmas excitement let down phase with the mantra of "one day closer to Disney".

We are so thankful for all our blessings and just the everyday beautiful moments as experience. I can look back on this year as one of comfort and happiness and couldn't hope for anything more in the coming year.


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Silent Night

Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright

I've always loved Silent Night. Even as a child it felt special when we sang it in church. Somehow the words of that song captured the essence of that night.

Of course we have no idea what Jesus' birth was like . From the accounts given in the gospels it would seem we have idealized and romanticized the event. Without a place to stay, birthing among braying livestock does not evoke calm in my mind.

Still the song brings with it a sense of reverence and awe that is palpable and penetrates the heart if you truly reflect on it's meaning as you sing.

Christmas eve candlelight service has always been my favorite part of Christmas. As a child (and now) of course I loved the presents and Santa but Christmas eve service holds its own magic.

All the holiday frenzy ceases and we reflect on that silent night. There is such a beauty and a peace that surrounds as people gather together, faces lit by the soft glow of candles and sing. True magic.



Tonight, whether in a church or at home with your family take time to appreciate the beauty of the Silent Night.

Merry Christmas.

8And there were shepherds
living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.




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Insta Friday- the week before Christmas

Scouty practicing for Christmas eve!







Layla had the honors of breaking the 20th Christmas ball of the season. I believe her count alone was 15.




They decorated the barbie house and then passed out .





She likes to throw out her toys now and make room for herself.





Then she lays down.





My beautiful Christmas angel. She left the manger scene came running to me and then hid under the pastors desk with his daughter for the remainder of the play.




Look behind Ella at Joseph pinning down an angel.



Dance Christmas party. Neither of my girls would sit on santas lap or even go see him. They said they already text him and video chatted so they were good.
Darn Santa apps







Helping me wrap and making crazy faces. She smooshed herself behind this box. She loves small spaces.

Son of a nutcracker

I spent the last two days wrapping an obscene amount of presents. I finished and breathed a sigh of relief . A huge Checkmark added to my mounting pre Christmas to do list. This one also meant no 4 Am Christmas eve bedtime. I could hop in bed before Santa was rounding Denmark this year.

We hurriedly hid all the presents and carefully picked up scrap wrapping paper- Santa has Santa paper, can't let the kids see it! We rushes because we were heading out to meet Ellas bestie to ride a Christmas carriage that looks like Cinderella's coach all lit up.

It was a nice 58 degree December evening (what is with this crappy non Christmas weather?!) and the girls had a blast.

We returned and were watching Elf for the tenth time today when laci says "hmm santa uses Santa paper" and dangles large scrap of her paper in my face saying " none of our presents better say 'merry and bright' on them"

Son of a nutcracker!

Not only did she find Santa paper but her own, which was the cutest and will now just be unused but she made note of the words written on it ensuring there will be no " laci no it's not the same the art just looks similar" to convince her it's different. No I have to unwrap and rewrap all of her gifts and of course she had
More Santa gifts than parent gifts. 20 presents to rewrap plus I have to rewrap the joint gifts for all three girls because they had a little bit of everyones paper on them.

I'm convinced that people who don't do Santa deny his existence for not high and lofty ideals of morality and truth. Not because he steals baby Jesus limelight for the day or To fight commercialism and materialism.

No they just don't have the energy to keep this Ruse up. It's constant work, this Santa gig.

Off to wrap presents again, sneak elves into my crazily parked car Because I had to come up with some ploy outside of the house since I only just moments ago retrieved them from yesterday's spot and have to create elf hijinks with awake, not sleeping children about, and clean and press Tonys Santa suit.

Why am I blogging today? I have a magical childhood to create...

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Life, video games and bandaged devils

I'm never sure what to expect when Laci starts a story . They are always very detailed and I am pretty sure half the tome she is improvising along the way gauging my reaction and adjusting as needed.

Last night we were making snowflake ornaments and she started with:

"sometimes when I wake up I feel like my life isn't real"

"what do you mean?"

" like it's a dream ... Or a video game.... And Jesus is playing the video game against the devil.....and with every act of kindness we help Jesus win."
(ellipses denote her slight pauses in which I think she's determining which way to go with this)

Me: " thats pretty deep Laci"

Ella: ( loudly because it's her default volume) " but the devil is dead right?"

Me: " no "

Ella (slightly concerned): " oh I thought he was dead"

Me: " no. But .. Uh.. Jesus always wins against the devil"

Ella: (quietly in a tiny voice and looking out the corner of her eye quizzically)
" is he injured?"

Again Ella causes us all to snort with laughter with her unique view on all things in all situations


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Ramblings of a 3 year old mind

I don't get much time with Ella let alone one on one time. I'm acutely aware of how grown up she's getting even already and I so often feel that in chaos of meeting the needs of a very demanding baby I am missing out so much on the preciousness that is little Ella.

This past week layla and I dealt with a virus again and it left her pretty much passed out for the day. Capitalizing on the lack of baby hanging off me I tried to clean.

Ella came downstairs and seeing mommy unencumbered by a clingy, possessive baby decided to hang around and help me clean. What followed was wonderfully silly conversation that I treasure because it speaks to the essence of Ella.

I asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She repeated the usual mantra of barbie camper, American girl doll and added - new singing rapunzel.

Gah. I didn't buy one. They're 30-40 and last years ended up leg less.... Scary things happen to our barbies.

"mommy cant get one now and it's too late for santa to add on his list. The elves are already packaging things. "

Fallen baby face of sadness

"how about for your birthday next month. I'll start looking for one"

"you'll check amazon right mom?"

- obviously I have an online shopping problem. But ah prime shipping...

I asked her what else she wanted.

" A turkey "

"a turkey? To eat?"

"yes and one to play with . I decided to call him Hammy"

"a turkey named Hammy"

"yes. Hammy needs to be here for Christmas"

- I ordered a turkey that night... On amazon.



She spotted a marshmallow circus peanut- Those orange disgusting ancient candies.

"people can peanuts right mom...."
"mmhmm"

"..... Not just elephants "
"No not just elephants"
" I thought so"

"is Leigh anne your sister?"
"yes"
"how is Leigh anne your sister? You don't live in her house."
" we have the same mom and lived in the same house when I was younger then I married your daddy"

"oh well I want to live with you forever "
<3

"well one day you will meet someone nice you will want to marry"

"ok. Will I know how to buckle myself in then?"



This is her random thought patten. I love it. The conversation may be mundane to some but just the fact I got to have the conversation with so many thoughts coming from her crazy mind without a baby screaming or an older sister butting in was priceless to me. I love that crazy little thing.

*Edited to add - I broke down and got the singing Rapunzel too. Darn you Disney and your daily emails to me.
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Grinches who steal Christmas don't get presents!

A few nights ago we were watching The Elf On The Shelf special. Santa dispatches elves and one elf goes to a home with pre schoolers and a cynical pre teen who finds the elf dumb. 

While we were watching I made a comment about Laci being like the boy and I wonder if their elf would leave too.  She answered with " so and so doesn't believe in Santa." she was referring to a teen aged family member.

"how do you know " I inquired.
"she told me he's not real and she doesn't believe in him"

Of course I go into immediate damage control mode

"well her mom just never gave Santa credit for the presents he brings. Like Papa elf told Buddy on Elf, some parents say they got all the presents and so some kids don't believe in Santa" 

Meanwhile I'm seething. Here we have had this whole scouty mcwinkerbean fiasco and me crying that I thought we had one more Christmas with her buying into it all. Wondering if it was just the seriously creepy and obviously plush elf that she didn't  believe in or Santa too. Had she figured it all out or was she questioning but wanting to hold on to it yet. 

It didn't matter her belief status  because someone filled in the blanks for her. It made sense now. The  Elf crisishappened a day or two after she had been with this Santa denier.

I shot off a few irritated emails. I asked Laci for the full story.

"well she asked me what I wanted for christmas and I said you were getting me American girl stuff and I asked Santa for a plush snake and a fijit. Then she says 'hmmmph I don't believe in Santa because hes not real' "

I was livid. So there was no asking on lacis part of Santa's existence, no catching  one off guard . No reason to mention his reality or not it was superfluous to the conversation. Just thrown in there  dismissively.

Had it been a child her age I could get it. They tell each other these things and look down on peers who still believe. They whisper theories back and forth trying to figure out how it works or find proof that their hunches are correct. 

But this was no 8 year old. This family member is going to be 14 in a couple weeks. I can't figure out just why a 14 year old say that to her in a condescending tone no less. How a 14 year old couldn't know to play along. That wasn't even necessary considering the validity of a real santa claus wasn't even the discussion , it was a simple listing of presents. No need to throw in he's not real.

That's the part that makes me mad. What right does this person have to take a little girls belief away before she's ready. Fellow 8 year olds don't know better 14 year olds do. It made me sad because despite her elf issues she still does try to believe in Santa. 

After watching the rest of the elf movie , during which Ella screamed "don't touch the elf he will lose his magic!!" and jumped into my lap (a welcome wave of belief in a sad moment) Laci showed me a letter she had written her new elf. I think she wanted to show me she believes.

It made me cry. 

Not because I was so happy she believed but because I know she is trying to believe.

Trying- no matter what the grinches tell her. 







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A few nights ago we were watching The Elf On The Shelf special. Santa dispatches elves and one elf goes to a home with pre schoolers and a cynical pre teen who finds the elf dumb.

While we were watching I made a comment about Laci being like the boy and I wonder if their elf would leave to. She answered that " so and so doesn't believe in Santa." she was referring to a teen aged family member.

"how do you know " I inquired.
"she told me he's not real and she doesn't believe in him"

Of course I go into immediate damage control mode

"well her mom just never gave Santa credit for the presents he brings. Like Papa elf told Buddy on Elf, some parents say they got all the presents and so some kids don't believe in Santa"

Meanwhile I'm seething. Here we have had this whole scouty mcwinkerbean fiasco and me crying that I thought we had one more Christmas with her buying into it all. Wondering if it was just the seriously creepy and obviously plush elf that she didn't believe in or Santa too. Had she figured it all out or was she questioning but wanting to hold on to it yet.

It didn't matter her belief status because someone filled in the blanks for her. It made sense now. The elf scenario happened a day or two after she had been with this Santa denier.

I shot off a few irritated emails. I asked Laci for the full story.

"well she asked me what I wanted for christmas and I said you were getting me American girl stuff and I asked Santa for a plush snake and a fijit. Then she says 'hmmmph I don't believe in Santa because hes not real' "

I was livid. So there was no asking on lacis part of Santa's existence, no catching one off guard . No reason to mention his reality or not it was superfluous to the conversation. Just thrown in there dismissively.

Had it been a child her age I could get it. They tell each other these things and look down on peers who still believe. They whisper theories back and forth trying to figure out how it works or find proof that their hunches are correct.

But this was no 8 year old. This family member is going to be 14 in a couple weeks. I can't figure out just why a 14 year old say that to her in a condescending tone no less. How a 14 year old couldn't know to play along. That wasn't even necessary considering the validity of a real santa claus wasn't even the discussion , it was a simple listing of presents. No need to throw in he's not real.

That's the part that makes me mad. What right does this person have to take a little girls belief away before she's ready. Fellow 8 year olds don't know better 14 year olds do. It made me sad because despite her elf issues she still does try to believe in Santa.

After watching the rest of the elf movie , during which Ella screamed "don't touch the elf he will lose his magic!!" and jumped into my lap (a welcome wave of belief in a sad moment) laci showed me a letter she had written her new elf. I think she wanted to show me she believes.

It made me cry.

Not because I was so happy she believed but because I know she is trying to believe.

Trying- no matter what the grinches tell her.

Insta-Friday dec 9-15

Last weekend we headed to Hershey to visit my cousin. The girls woke to an early Christmas!



Then we headed to Hershey park for Candy Lane. This is a giant gingerbread house made entirely from Hershey products.



This is one of the two rides they rode... Not worth the ticket cost...


Stopped at the Disney outlet and this is what Laci had to have- Jack Skellington. She kept scaring kids just by walking by. One little girl kept screaming " no no no". I had to buy Sally for Christmas too. So creepy.







They had these cool globe lights in the trees. Walking underneath, it looked like the burning lanterns from rapunzel.





The advent calendar surprise for the day was a new ornament for their trees. Laci got a sock monkey and Ella some weird flamingo. She loves flamingos.








My sister came up on Monday to help me make hand print trees with the girls. It was messy. Layla decided to paint with her feet.


The elves tp'ed the play room.





She has candy in her hand but is choosing to eat broccoli !




A letter to the elves.




A traditional elf breakfast - spaghetti with syrup with a little candy sprinkled in for good measure. Scouty came over for breakfast. The girls were happy to see him.




Layla trying a traditional elf breakfast.


She shopped at target like this!



Laci moving Scouty from the table so they don't accidentally touch him and cause a loss of magical elf power.



Daily amazon delivery.
Today Ella was telling me again how she wants a new singing rapunzel. She had one from last Christmas but that one tragically lost her legs (the tenth tragic barbie fatality this year including 5 decapitations....) I told her I can't get one and it's too late for Santa to make her one probably. ($40 for a barbie right now... No. She's already blown past her limit!) I said maybe for your birthday (January) I'll look for one.

" you'll look on amazon right mom?" yes amazon lol.




Decorating our gingerbread house!
Preceded by dancing to the Michael Buble Christmas special. :)









Pinecone reindeer. Laci insisted hers was a girl so no antlers. Unfortunately antlers are the only thing making these pinecones vaguely resemble reindeer...

Make Something Monday-Dec 12

I finally got back around to Make Something Monday. Things have not been going my way at all lately!

Tonight we managed to make handprint Christmas trees.



I saw them several years ago at my best friends house, her son had made one at school. She Hangs it up every hear and of all her beautiful christmas decorations- its my favoriteIt's such a sweet memento of their childhood.

I have always gotten busy with other things and had failed to make them. I was determined to have them made and hanging by now but like many things of late I've had to let that notion go.

we are going to decorate them tomorrow with shiny pretty things for "ornaments".

But tonight we finished with our usual mess. Layla explored toe painting while I was telling Ella to please stop finger painting the entire drop cloth because we wouldn't be able to keep our paintings nice on it



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