SIPRESS SCOOP

Our Elf on the Shelf Tad reappeared this Christmas season.   As usual Tad had some good tricks up his sleeve.  I recycled some old ideas and turned to Pinterest for some new activities.  I used a LOT of free printables off Pinterest this year.  I printed them off at the public library so they didn't cost me any cash, just a few minutes of my time.  We enjoy seeing how the kids react each year, shoot, each morning!!!! Issac LOVES our elf, sometimes breaking out in to full laughter before he has even completly opened his eyes! Josie on the other hand.....Well, some days she is not a big Tad fan.  We reguraly heard her say "TAD WAS BAD!" & 'TAD IS NOT NICE!"  And she even had a couple of minor breakdowns over Tad playing with her toys & the smores....Oh my was Josie upset that Tad had ate all the marshmellows & not saved her any!  Confession & Mean Parent Alert- Josie provided us with some good laughs this holiday season!...

Every year we struggle to keep Josie's December birthday separate from Christmas.  We get our tree after her party and then shove all things Christmas into a ten day period.  Afterward each year we discuss celebrating Josie's birthday in November to break up the holidays and spread out all the festivities.  This year with Tyler's Grandparents being in town from Salt Lake City we decided this was the year. We decided to celebrate early & have Josie's party of the long Thanksgiving weekend.  We knew that celebrating an hour away from home & over the holiday weekend would eliminate a lot of guests & her preschool classrooms but it was worth it.  We celebrated Josie's 4th Birthday on the Sunday after Thanksgiving at Alfy's Pizza in Marysville.  We had all the usual suspects; grandparents, family members and friends.  It was the perfect low key party.  I think every guest had a great time. There were cupcakes, balloons & presents...