Our Elf, Lolli!

So Summer's (and Tucker's) Elf decided to make an appearance this year! Our Elf was a well behaved Elf and didn't always hide in a different spot like she should have.

Our Elf also started at as a nameless boy Elf but was quickly turned into a girl Elf named Lolli after a shopping trip to Target.

Read and you will see how Lolli came to be Lolli!

Summer's nameless Elf.

Well, that day we went to Target and I think from a mile away Summer spotted this skirt for her Elf! We brought it home and followed Santa's directions. "Simply place the skirt where your elf can see it. She will slip into it just before heading back to the North Pole for her nightly visit with Santa."

The skirt is all ready for the Elf.

Our Elf got a name-Lollipop or Lolli for short. Lolli brought a note from Santa one night for Summer!

Lolli popped up in all different places! One of my favorites, that I didn't get a picture of, was when she was hanging by a snowflake clothes pin on our Christmas Card holder. She was there for a couple of days and it was amusing to see her hanging by her hat.

The night before Christmas Eve she had a cookie to eat and then on Christmas Eve she went with Santa to help him make toys. We will miss Lolli but look forward to seeing her again after Thanksgiving next year!

Decorating the Trees!

So here come the Christmas blogs!!

So right after our Thanksgiving company left it was time to get decorating. Our neighborhood really puts the pressure on you. A ton of houses had all their decorations out and trees done before Thanksgiving. This usually doesn't bother me but this year Summer was into wanting her house to have pretty lights and have her Christmas tree up! I really can only handle one holiday at a time so it was after Thanksgiving for us that we got started.

My little Santa helpers! As you can see the tree is completely decorated in this photo. Soon you will see Summer helping me decorate the trees! Summer liked to call herself Mrs. Claus and Tucker, Santa, and they would go to their "workshop" to make toys. She has such an imagination and makes us laugh everyday.

"Merry Christmas"

Tucker is just as amused with Summer as we are!

Here's Summer's tree branch that needed a lot of ornaments on it!

Helping to decorate the tree. Summer and I worked on the tree together while Tucker napped. Tom was traveling but we saved the star for him so when he got home Summer helped him put it on the top. She was concerned all week about the star and when we would put it on the tree.

Summer is all ready to get started. Yes, I put these pictures in the wrong order. Sigh...I really think my brain cells are disappearing with having 2 kids. :)

Tucker had just turned 2 months when the decorating started!

These I put in the right order! Whoo Hooo!

Summer has her own pink tree for her room. Here we are getting everything out from her Christmas boxes. Summer got in the spirit and put on her tutu and Mommy's disco hat! Summer is very concerned that Tucker didn't have a tree in his room. We will be looking for a 4 ft blue tree for him for next year!

Summer got distracted from the decorating when she found some of her Christmas books!

Alexander found a place to rest as we worked.

Ta Da! The finished product! We added more ornaments this year and found a silver tree skirt! Fun!

A Pirate Birthday Party!

Summer got to got to her friend, Carson's, 3rd Birthday Party! Yes, all of her friends are starting to turn 3!!!

She had a lot of fun dressing up and I even dressed Tucker for the part! This was the beginning of December so look for a bunch of Christmas posts to come! Thanks for hanging in there as I "catch up". Not sure if I will ever be caught up as I was before but hey that's okay! There are always pictures to post and stories to be told! It's the scrapbooking I will never catch up on. :) It's a good thing I will be able to reference this blog.

Thanks again for a great party Carson!

Summer in her pirate gear! This lasted all of 2 minutes but was cute none the less. Summer did keep the necklaces on of course!

The birthday boy was alway on the move...a pirate always has to be in action! This was the best picture I got of sweet Carson at his party.

Tucker and I

I told you he had an outfit that matched the party theme!

The cake was amazing...it looked great and was very yummy!

One more of Tucker in his pirate gear!

Summer's 2 1/2 yr photos and Tuckers 1 month!

At the beginning of November we did our Family Christmas photos (posted in Merry Christmas). At the same time we had Summer's 2 1/2 year old pictures and Tucker's 1 month photos taken. Well with wanting to save the Christmas ones I completely forgot to post the non Christmas ones. So 2 months later (Tucker sure has changed a lot) here they are:

Enjoy my sweet babies!

(I can just hear Summer saying right now,"I'm not a baby. I'm a Big Sister.")

Merry Christmas 2011!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

I hope your Christmas is Merry and Bright and filled with special memories with your family!

Many more Christmas blog posts to come.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Jen, Tom, Summer and Tucker

2011

Our most precious gifts...Summer and Tucker!