I am beyond exhausted and stressed and just D-O-N-E with work and really looking forward to Christmas break. But you know what’s getting me through? My kids. They are so beside themselves right now with Christmas excitement and it’s so fun to watch.
I wasn’t sure if Gabe would still be experiencing all the magic this year. I thought maybe he’d figure it all out and it wouldn’t be as fun. Not so. We finally got our Elf on the Shelf and he totally is into it. They all are. Matt and I have had so much fun with it. Our elf, Buddy, has been playing Monopoly with Pluto, Barry Bee and the Sock Monkey while we’re sleeping. He went #2 in the half bath and sat on the back of the toilet with his silly smile. He took a ride on our ceiling fan in the kitchen. He stole some of Olivia’s oreos and had himself some milk. I love watching the kids race downstairs in the morning to see who can find him first and what kind of craziness he’s up to.
The advent calendar has been a huge hit this year. I wasn’t sure if Gabe would still enjoy that either. One day they received coloring books and they all went wild. Phew. I wasn’t sure! They’ve enjoyed those little animals that grow out of capsules, temporary tattoos, crazy straws and it has made me so happy. I am so glad they’re not “too old” yet!!
Olivia and Matthew are enjoying it too…but I knew they would. I’m just so glad that Gabe’s still into it too. Guess who else is really experiencing the magic of the season? Me.
Are you?
Elastamom's Excerpts 
my poor deprived kids…no candy in the calendar, and our elf just sits…ha!
We are waiting for our daughter to come home from college before we do the BIG decorating for Christmas. I think once she’s here, and the tree is all done up, I’ll be feeling it too.
I LOVE this time of year. I wish it could last and last. We have two advent calendars – one for the kids and one for me. This truly is a magical time of year for our family. Glad to hear it is for yours, as well. Merry, merry Christmas to you all!
I love this time of year!! Gabe has my daughter excited and freakishly scared about the elf!! He must really be excited if he goes to school and tells all about it.
Olivia has a chocolate filled advent calendar and somehow got confused today thinking there was only 5 days left until Christmas so she ate every day up until then… hmmmm … really???
our elf just arrived….but he’s not mischievious….mainly because i’m almost too lazy to move him to a new place each day let alone involve him in shenanigans!! i love that your “big kids” are still all about the magic! gives me hope that maybe mine will be the same way.
I love Christmas so very much. I wonder each year if it will be my last for the magic. Once Eli finds out then Keegan will too. Yet I remember how I worked to find magic when I was little and I hope that they will too. Glad your are feeling it. Merry Christmas to you and yours.