Ugly Sweaters

It's been an annual tradition for years (Well, at least the years we are home.  See previous entries here, here, here).  And this year was no exception, though we were a little late to the game.  But we got it done, and I think we got it done in spectacular fashion.  You be the judge.  Who had the Ugliest Sweater Cookie?

Will you be my...

We started celebrating Valentine's Day a little early this year.  

On the 1st of February, I put up some red fringe and the words "I love you because" on each of the girl's bedroom doors.  Then, each morning, I added another heart with a reason why I love them so.  I steered clear of the cliches and tried to come up with some empowering statements (and some silly sentimental ones too).  I think I succeeded because the girls couldn't wait to read what I had written each day and I love that it made the day more than just about chocolates and flowers.  I think we have found a new tradition for Valentine's Day! 

Stinkerbell's Door

MadHatter's Door

School Photos

As a photographer, I have many fantastic pictures of my girls.  Downright professional quality if I do say so myself (I jest).  I have captured them in candid moments; I have posed them for formal shots; I have snapped photos of faces that only a mother could love.  In other words, I in no way lack for pictures of what my children looked like at any particular age.  And yet, I always, always purchase their school photo.  Not because I need another picture of them.  Not because I think their photos are any better than the ones I already have.  Not because I feel guilty for not buying them.  Nope, I do it because it is tradition and no matter where we go in the world I know that I can count on their school photo to be - a school photo.

I grew up with one of those school photo frames hanging on the wall.  You know the one - it has 12 (or 13 if you have the kindergarten one) spaces for 12 faces.  One for each year you are in school.  The large center oval is reserved for your senior picture.  Yep - cheesy as all get-out.  And yet so fascinatingly sentimental.  I may not get a frame like that for the girls but I sure as shootin' will have all the pictures necessary to do it if I choose to.  Which I won't.  Not me.  I will decide to do something much, much cheesier.

I give you - 4th and 5th grades.

Fidget and her sidekick Mistletoe

Fidget, our elf,  has visited us a total of 168 times in the past 7 years.  Let that sink in - One hundred and sixty-eight nights of mischief, pranks, and setups that Mom gets to clean up in the morning.  168 completely new ideas that must be thought up each and every year because Fidget never repeats her antics.  168 mornings of excitement and glee when the girls finally find where she is and what she has been up to.  I thought this year would be my last.  I was hoping that this year would be my last.  But after planning and executing the final goodbye this year, I am rethinking the decision. The girls are obviously still in love with her and I wouldn't want to take that away from them.  And who am I kidding?  I get a kick out of it just as much as they do.

{I have compiled all 24 nights of Fidget into this one post.  I have put it here on December 1st even though she doesn't leave us until the 24th because it is a lot less busy at the beginning of December than at the end - where this post would get lost in the shuffle}

December 1 - She certainly knows how to make an entrance.

December 2 - Youch!  Duct tape does not make good toilet paper.

December 3 - Trying out the new tube and warm clothes the girls got her for sledding.

December 4 - Hanging around while she dries her laundry on the foot of MadHatter's bed.

December 5 - Sexiest Elf Alive???

December 6 - She didn't steal stockings this year but she did bring elf-sized gifts for the girls.  So small that they needed magnifying glasses to read the addresses and notes inside.

December 7 - Walking on the ceiling.

December 8 - She left us a huge pile of Hershey's Kisses (and turned herself into one too)!

December 9 - Donuts for all!

December 10 - Beating Mistletoe at Tic-Tac-Toe

December 11- Selling "Lemonade" from the outhouse stand.

And my crazy girls drinking it!

December 12 - Keeping toasty with a warm blanket of bread.

 December 13 - She noticed that we did not have any ornaments on the tree this year so she took it upon herself to use all of the girl's socks and my bows as ornaments.

December 14 - To Go cups, hot cocoa and 3D glasses to go see the lights in our PJ's.  Sadly, we got sidetracked that night by a visit from Santa and never made it!

 December 15 - Replacing my coffee with nerds "beans" and fruit punch!  Way too sweet.

 December 16 - Going for a spin in the dryer.

December 17 - Fidget made a Ginger-Bread house the day we were going to make Gingerbread houses.

December 18 - Recreating my flamingo pool picture on Stinkerbell's unicorn can coozie...

December 19- Turning a dollar bill into pennies.

December 20 - They brought us a snowman but forgot how warm Florida can be.

December 21- Holding a Garage Sale with all of MadHatter and Stinkerbell's toys.

We are missing a photo of the 22nd!  And in all of our years this has never happened!!!  And now not one of us can remember what she was doing that day - though we know she was doing something!

December 23 - Playing in her own ball pit.

December 24 - Creating a winter wonderland the girl's hallway that included snowflakes, powdered snow and tons of hanging snow.