Hank & Christmas

Hank the Elf finally made his debut late last week. The weather had been horrible at the North Pole so he wasn't able to travel before then.

He hasn't done anything too crazy...but has made Bella laugh a few times.

She really liked the snowflakes he made...

And when he decided to prop himself up on the rooster...

Yesterday he made a grocery list for us, or should I say for him!

He was hanging out in the tree this morning. Bella still loves to get up and see what he's done each day.  One day earlier this week, he hung himself upside on the Christmas bell hanging in the doorway.  Bella said, "mom, he did that last year" in a tone like she was appalled he hadn't done something new.  I told her that he probably just likes hanging upside down...gives him a new perspective on things, sees things differently.  She was okay with that.

Christmas is drawing closer and I am very, very close to finishing my shopping.  I have the kids done but still need something else for my sister and a gift for a friend.  I really wanted to do something different for both but I'm finding out that "something different" is harder to find than I anticipated, especially when I don't know what it is I'm looking for.  ha! I also need to quit thinking a gift is not enough and that I need to add more to it.  It is enough.  It's perfect.  I'm trying but while my heart wants to give, give, give, my pocketbook is screaming no, no, no!!  

Other than that I am super excited to be off for a glorious 10 days.  I want to cook, bake, watch Christmas movies in my jammies with a sweet girl snuggled up with me, eat popcorn, look at Christmas lights, sleep in, be lazy...all of that and more.  Just to be away and have some down time will be very nice indeed.    

Hank's Shenanigans

Tis the season for life to become extra crazy!

Hank has been all over the place this year...nothing too crazy but silly enough to keep Bella laughing.  Every morning this child wakes up wanting to know where Hank is.  Some days I tell her I can't find him and others (when its obvious) I tell her she just has to see for herself.  

Hanging out on what I call my kitchen Christmas tree....

Sprinkles Angel

Hiding in the holly.  He liked this so much that he stayed there for two days!  

He finally moved on to stand tall with my nutcrackers.  

The nutcracker Hank is next to is our newest edition. 

He really likes hanging out this year....

Jousting with Elsa...

This fish was a gift to Chris from Scott when we were dating.  

Hank liked it so much he decided to go for a ride.

The next day Hank found himself in our Christmas card holder but I forgot to get a picture of him there.  He also liked it so much that he stayed there for two days.  

Friday, the kids and I went to Hobby Lobby to see if we could find something to go with a gift I had already ordered for my sister back in July.  I was shocked to see that most of the Christmas was already gone.  Christopher ended up finding something else for his Godmother so I will put back the other thing for her birthday.  We were also on the hunt for a small Christmas tree for Christopher. We have talked about doing a fishing themed tree for a while and he finally decided to do it.  Hobby Lobby had one tree we liked but it was still pricey for the size.  After filling our bellies at Fuddruckers, we ventured over to Target where we found this beauty for $21!  

  

That picture wasn't very good so I took one with the flash on.  Chris did pick up a couple ornaments at Hobby Lobby and then added some fishing lures he had at the house.  We'll add to it as we come across some ornaments. Needs more lights for my taste but its super cute.

Sunday we once again found Hank hanging out, this time in the kitchen window.  Pardon the dishes in the sink.  I hadn't cleaned up yet when I took these.  I have to take the pictures when I think about it otherwise I will forget.

Yesterday he joined the elf in our tree :) 

And this morning I walked in my kitchen to find my knives sitting on the counter.  What the heck?  So I opened the kitchen drawer to find this....that crazy elf!

So there you have it....Hank's shenanigans through today.  

Almost forgot, last week Bella rang the bell at Kroger with my dad after she got out of school.  Aren't they cute?

and I have to show you my Berry Naughty nail polish....

I've added sparkle this week for fun (insert big smile)...

I am just about done with my shopping.  I have a few stocking stuffers to go and one more gift to pick up but that is a simple gift card and this gal is done!  The kids will be with their dad next week but I'll be working so that won't be too bad.  I'll be on vacation when they come back home so I'll get in lots of extra time with them. This weekend Bella and I will venture out for our annual Christmas light tour in our pajamas.  I'm hoping to convince Christopher to go with us since he hasn't been with me since he was a little boy.  Sniff, sniff.  We'll also be making some gingerbread cookies (i hope).   Things have been super stressful at work so I want to do as little as possible when I'm home.  Momma duties don't always allow it but it hasn't been bad at home.  Just need to get through this week and next at work, take my vacation time and come back next year with a better attitude.  

Hope ya'll are having a super day!

Hank is Back!

Hank the Elf made his debut in the kitchen this morning and let me tell you, Bella was one excited little girl.  I was worried she might think he wasn't cool this year but when she read his note (with my help), a huge smile spread across her face which in turn made me smile.

Isn't he cute?  As we were walking out the door this morning, Bella hollered back "Bye Hank!"

I need to stick with this because honestly I have fun with it and Bella loves to see what kind of mess Hank gets into each day. And if I'm being honest, if he helps her not be such a toot, I'm all about it.  

I did get Christmas up over the Thanksgiving break so it now looks like Christmas exploded in my house.  This is 3 boxes in and 3 more to go...

Its all up but I'm still moving stuff around.  I do that every year.  Same with the tree.  I'll get to looking at it while I'm watching a movie and see a hole or not like the way something is angled so I'll move it.  Always "fixin".  I'll try to take pictures and share them with you.  

Other than that, we are all trying to get back into the routine this week.  The kids loved being off but by Sunday Bella was anxious to go back to school  Chris, not so much.  I showed Bella on the calendar that she has 3 more weeks until she's off for Christmas vacation. That sure pumped her up because I know by the end of this week she will be complaining about going to school.  Mommy will have a nice little vacation at the end of the year as well. 

That's it for now, y'all have a good one!