Our First Live Christmas Tree and Buddyzilla!

Let's get Buddy out of the way LOL.  Today we awoke to find Buddyzilla taking over my Christmas village.  At least he looks friendly while he is tormenting my poor villagers :)

Next on the docket: Our first live Christmas Tree!!!

I have never had a real tree before, but have always thought about getting one.  Last year, we donated our artificial tree to Goodwill after the holidays.  It was too big for the room we have, now that the kids toys and things are taking over the house.  The type of shape/size that I want was going to be really expensive, and I felt like I was being too picky - so we decided to get a real tree.  If I was going to get a real tree, we were going REAL...

So, tonight Superdad and I loaded the littles up in the Pilot and drove up to the Big Tree Plantation in Morrow, OH.  It was only about 15 minutes away, so very reasonable for a weeknight.  Plus - I had a coupon LOL.  Hey, every 10% off helps right???  So, we bundled up and headed up to the farm - because we were cutting down our own tree!  When we arrived, Jeff went to ask what we do - because we have never done this - and the littles and I went and hung out by the big warm bonfire....the kids were being hams for the camera:

Sweet Abigiail...

Handsome Ryan - I LOVE him in this puffy vest!

Once Jeff got our instructions on what we were supposed to do, we headed out into the big field of trees on our hunt for the perfect one!  It was a little challenging in the dark, but we didn't really have any other time this weekend - and well, I was being impatient (and a little tired of hearing Abby ask when we were getting one) so we decided to go tonight.  Thank goodness for the flash on our phone's video camera - it makes the perfect flashlight! **Note to self - bring flashlight if ever tree hunting at night again - or better, go during the day**   We walked for a little while, and then saw it - our tree!  It was perfect.....

Abby and Ryan with our tree!!!!!!

Here is Jeff with the first (of hopefully many) fresh cut by himself S Family tree....

The kids of course, had to help their Daddy pull the tree back - LOVE them!



When we got finished getting the tree to the people that shake it out (to get all of the chipmunks out per Abby) and wrap it up, we went to the gift shop and to explore a little.  The kids got to see live reindeer, and we even bought an ornament so we can always remember our very first live tree.  After we were done with that, we took a horse drawn carriage ride through the field of trees.  I will say that we were very impressed with the experience in all.  Here is a cute pic of Abby and Ryan and a very good, but SUPER dark family picture - which bums me out because it is a great one....

AND FINALLY - PRESENTING OUR TREE!!!

Yes, it is bare - we will be decorating it tomorrow....it was too late tonight.



Elves Making Coffee and Happy Tappers!

Today, we awoke to Buddy making coffee!!  I don't drink coffee at all, but it was a sweet thought on his part.  Maybe he can make me some hot chocolate tonight instead......



I finally started pulling the Christmas decorations upstairs from the basement today.  One of the kids favorite parts of Christmas is playing with the Happy Tappers from Hallmark.  They are basically snowglobes that have little figurines in them, and they dance to songs.  They can all be linked together, or seperate.  Pretty cute little things if you ask me!  Abby was at school, so I was enlisting the help of Ry-man.....he was helpful for about 5 minutes until he saw the tappers - then it was over!  He had so much fun, and played with them for about an hour consistantly.  It was so nice!!  Here is a cute picture of him with them, and if I can get it to

upload, there is a video of him dancing with the tappers :)

 



Wednesday Nov 29 - S'mores Anyone??

Apparently Buddy got hungry overnight - we found him roasting s'mores over a candle this morning!  What will this crazy elf do next??



Tuesday Nov 28 - Do You Know Where Your Elf Is???

Today we awoke to find Buddy hanging upside down from the blinds in the family room.  The kids are pretty convinced that he was swinging and playing - and when when came downstairs this morning we scared him and since he doesn't move in front of them, got stuck that way......yup - ok - sounds good!  Silly Buddy......



Buddy is the Best Elf Ever!!!

The kids were SO excited to wake up Sunday and find all of the suprises in store for them!  Little did we know that Abby was going to come wandering in our room at 5am.  She was quite impressed with the tree, but we just played it off like she was a little crazy and told her to go back to bed.  How awful are we?  When she woke up that morning for good, she was still going on and on about the tree - we just kept playing it off and changing the subject.....finally, she got a little peeved and pulled me by the hand into the hall to show me.  She and Ry were SO excited!  They just kept oooing and aaahhing over it.  Of course, they made me take their picture with it.

When we went downstairs - they were all confused at first.  Then, Abby spotted the presents and the letter from Buddy and she was even more excited!  They of course wanted to open all their presents before eating, and who am I to say no to that?  They love their elf presents!

Abby reading the letter that Buddy wrote to them.



Abby checking out all the Prep & Landing gear...

They are big fans of the 'night vision goggles' aka sunglasses with a light up ring lol.

I will try to get a pic of all the stuff that Buddy gave them, but right now it is hard to get it away from them for a picture.  Where will buddy end up next????

Our Elf Buddy Has Arrived!!

Buddy is here!  Superdad and I came home on Saturday night and found a familiar little elf all dressed in his finest red outfit.  Buddy was back!  He was telling us his grand plan - he brought a tree for the kids to keep upstairs, breakfast for the family, and presents for the kids.  I thought it all sounded marvelous!  Buddy wanted to help the kids understand all aspects of 'elfism' so he picked up some gear that his friends over in the Prep & Landing department gave him.  The kids were going to learn how to help prepare the house for Santa's arrival on Christmas Eve!  In his gift bags, he was supplying them with night vision goggles, landing lights to bring Santa in (like in the airports), a scanner to make sure there are NO creatures stirring, and a special outfit!  They will love them.  Here are a couple of pics that I got of Buddy getting everything ready for the kids in the morning:

Here is buddy hanging the ornaments on the mini tree he got the kids for upstairs!

Buddy wrote each kids name on their own bag - he knows how much Abby likes finding her name!



Here are some pictures that I took of the table that Buddy set up for the kids - they are going to love it!

Buddy made sure he had everything done, and then thought that he would have a little rest and a snack.  He told us that he wanted to have a front row seat for the action tomorrow.  This is where he chose - a candle on the wall in the kitchen!  Of course, he had to have a donut for himself :)

Finally, I took a picture of the tree upstairs all lit up and decorated waiting on it's little observers in the morning.  It looks so pretty!





November Already?!?

Well, it is hard to believe that we are already three days into November. That means that we will have a new niece/nephew in about 2 months, Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the bend, and it's getting cold. I love hoodie weather! I have some big plans for the month, some personal, some family related, and some just plain fun. Make sure to keep reading to see what is going on!

Now, since it is November and all, I can finally post one of my favorite things about the season.....

That is right - I am crazy, and talking about Christmas music!!!!  I don't know why, but it motivates me to no end to get things done.....I will post tomorrow about the project that I completed today - I forgot to take a final pic and it is hanging in a sweet little girls room, that is currently occupied for bedtime.  I have had the stuff to make it for two months, but for some reason - today, put on the music - it is done in an hour.  Why?  Who knows - Christmas is magic.....

It also means that it is time for me to get Buddy (that is the name that Abby gave our Elf on the Shelf) out soon.  In a couple of weeks, we can expect better than usual behavior - because he is watching and reporting to Santa every night!!  I will talk about Pinterest 100x over on here, because it is amazing.  I highly suggest you check it out.  That is where I saw this: 

It is a breakfast celebrating the arrival of our elf!  It is set up the night before as to appear that your elf did it.  Abby is soooo getting into this kind of thing, that this is an absolute must for us.  The only thing that I would need is to get mugs and socks....I have plenty of fun dishes and decor to make sure to keep it on the cheap!  I will make sure to post when this goes down.....  I will also make sure to let you all know where Buddy can be found hiding around our house - he is a sneaky little elf!