Christmas is in the Air!

Thanks to Pinterest, I revamped a wreath that I had made last year and after a million gazillion ornaments and glue sticks, this is this year's final product.  I'm sure by next year there will be something even more creative and time consuming that I'll just HAVE to try with it, but until then, we'll enjoy this decorative accessory in our home for the next month.

I also brought out this beauty from last year, our official Christmas Countdown. Luckily I put away half of the kids Halloween candy and I was able to use it to fill up the 24 slots for our four kids. I love when things work out as if I had planned it that way all along. Each slot not only contains a treat for each child but a Christmas activity as well. Just when my kids were beginning to think I wasn't a fun mom, the Christmas Countdown has saved me (I just hope the memories made can last six months until I pull out our Summer Adventure bags).

And because Mac decided he didn't believe in Santa anymore, I needed to do something to bring back the "I believe" spirit in our home. I thought Eddie the Elf (named by the kids) would be the perfect solution until I took the kids up to bed and Jaxton (who had lingered a little longer downstairs alone) came barreling up the stairs in full-blown tears claiming that Eddie was doing crazy things. Not only did Jaxton witness Eddie moving his head, but he claims that Eddie turned the lights on and off and that he heard Eddie whistling to the "other" elves to come and get him. Jaxton's experience then led into Mac telling everyone that he was pretty sure that elves and leprechauns were cousins and since leprechauns are super sneaky, he was sure Eddie was going to be nothing but trouble for us. All of this caused Beckam to not want to go to sleep since he was positive Eddie was going to "get him" while he was sleeping. I did my best to reassure them all that Eddie was indeed a good magical elf and that they didn't need to worry about him, especially at night, because that's when he makes his journey back to the North Pole to give his report to Santa. If my explanation didn't do the trick, the breakfast that Eddie brought with him the next morning seemed to mend the relationship -- what problem can't be fixed with a few donuts? Eddie continues to show up in a different location each morning, and while the kids enjoy finding him each day, I also find them "checking" on him frequently throughout the day just to make sure he hasn't tried anything troublesome.