Merry Christmas ~ 2012

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This is the Christmas tree ornament that Aaron made for me at school.

I love it.

Star light, star bright.

Aaron sewing something for me for Christmas.

Our stockings and the Nativity.

The Nativity ornament that Aaron got from Grandma and Grandpa Higginson.

The two snowflake ornaments were also from them and we each got one for Christmas.

They sent all of these from their mission and they made them by hand. So great.

 This is the leather bracelet that I made for my mother in law for Christmas.

Aaron was Joseph in the Nativity.

Harkness cousins in the Nativity.

Aaron with his great Uncle Kenny.

We all brought a contribution to make little goody bags for children in need.

Then the cousins all put the bags together for the kids.

Then the cousins played Santa Bingo.

Harkness cousins.

Harkness cousins.

We sure missed April and her family.

 

 Our tree before we opened any gifts.

 Aaron with his two stockings.

I gave Aaron this hat for Christmas.

He loves it.

 These are the outside of the gifts that Aaron wrapped for me.

These are two pillows that Aaron made for me.

They both have the name MOM stitched onto the front.

He needed my help along the way, but didn't want me to see the gifts,

so I had to pretend not to look at them while I helped him.

He did a lot of it on his own though... what a sweet boy.

I love these pillows.

Aaron painting with his paint set that I got for him.

Zach playing with the legos that he got.

Painting.

Finished painting.

 

 Aaron making a pot on the pottery set that I gave him for Christmas.

My mother in law gave me an Ebelskiver skillet for Christmas.

It is a Danish pancake skillet.

I have Danish ancestors, so it is so much fun to start a tradition making these pancakes with Aaron.

I think this was my first attempt.

 And I totally bombed. The learning curve was greater than I imagined.

So, I decided to try one at a time at first. :)

 

Success!

 

Mmm...

Aaron loves these as well.

Teresa and Robert both tried some as well.
I only got a photo of Teresa though. Sorry Rob.

 

Success.

Robert, Teresa, and Zach spent Christmas morning with us,

then went to Teresa's parents for the rest of the day.

Then Mark gave it a try that evening. He also had success. :)

Mark, Suzy, Evelyn, and Greta came for a couple of hours in the evening to spend some time with us.

It was so thoughtful for Robert's family and Mark's family to spend some time with us on Christmas day. It was a lonely day otherwise... wish my parents on another mission, my siblings were spending Christmas mostly with their own families. I wish I had gotten photos of Robert, and Suzy and Evelyn and Greta.

Thanks for spending time with us... we love you all.

Mmm...

Thanks for the gift, Sue. We love this skillet.

I love this boy.

  

Here are the candles we lit for Aaron and my brother Bruce for Christmas.

They are missed.

We sure missed my Mom and Dad / Aaron's Grandpa and Grandma.

They got home a little more than a month later and we are glad they will be here next Christmas.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

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Elf on the Shelf

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My friend, Lisa, gave us an 'Elf on the Shelf' at the beginning of December, so Aaron and I had fun together figuring out each day what our Elf would be caught doing. Thanks Lisa. It was fun.

Here are photos of what our Elf was doing December 1st through December 25th and the captions are what I wrote each day on our facebook Elf group page.

 Aaron decided that our Elf would be named Aaron like he is named after Daddy and then the Elf is like Aaron Jr's son.

So, introducing Aaron the lll.

He decided to go for a JOY ride on Aaron's new skateboard.

Getting in the car to go to church this morning... he gave me a fright.

He doesn't even have a learners permit.

Silly Elf.

 Aaron lll has been a little obsessed with our fish today.

Don't ask me.

 Ok, our elf was extra naughty today and he was in disguise to try to escape a time out.

I can't be fooled.

 Aaron lll wanted to take a peek.

 Aaron lll asked Aaron Jr to teach him how to shoot,

I'm a little skeptical about what he's up to.

Why does an elf need to know how to shoot?

 Aaron Jr introduced Aaron lll to angry birds Christmas version.

He's a little obsessed now.

 A little late today.

Aaron lll is helping me prepare my relief society lesson for tomorrow.

 I was filling up the washer to wash some jeans and colored clothes and I found our little elf getting ready to pour in some bleach.

Good thing I caught him... I was having flashbacks of acid washed jeans from the 80s. 

 

Aaron Jr wanted Aaron lll to join us for prayer tonight.

 Found Aaron lll literally rolling around in the money from Aaron jr's piggy bank.

 Our Elf is getting pretty brave to try the firefighter pizza at Pizza Pie Cafe today.

Whewee!

 Aaron lll is helping Aaron Jr wrap presents tonight.

 Our Elf was nervously watching out into the snowy night wondering if we would make it home safely.

Whew! We did.

 Aaron lll is sewing a pillow for us for Christmas.

 Aaron Jr desperately wanted a photo of Aaron lll in our tree, so here you go. :)

 Our Elf sees how much Aaron hates to do his homework,

so he wanted to help out a bit. Thanks Elfy.

 

 I was too lazy to think of something tonight,

but didn't want to miss a day,

so here is my photo of our Elf taken from my recliner.

He's just chillin'.

 Aaron lll wanted to play monopoly junior with us today.

He's pretty greedy, even with monopoly money.

 

I found Aaron lll telling himself his daily affirmations in the mirror.

'I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and people like me.'

It was a little awkward when he saw me watching him.

We promised never to speak of it.

(I had my fingers crossed.)

 Our Elf met Molly for the first time today.

She is here for Christmas.

Molly took him for a ride.

  

Our Elf was feeling neglected because I forgot about him yesterday,

so he took a self portrait of himself with Santa.

Just found it on my phone today.

 And then today playing Peek-a-boo with our fish, Bluin.

 Aaron lll read to us from Luke chapter 2.

 And last, but best of all...

Our Elf wanted to hold baby Jesus today in honor of His birthday.

Merry CHRISTmas everyone.

 Aaron Jr and Aaron lll Christmas evening.

Good night.

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