24 Days of Buddy, our Elf on the Shelf

It's getting harder and harder to come up with exciting "things" for Buddy to do each night.  And quite honestly, it's becoming quite a pain too!  I feel like this whole Elf on the Shelf thing has gotten so out of hand.  Between Pinterest and Facebook, more and more moms are going to extremes to "stage" scenes for their Elves.  I mean, some are spending hours just thinking and planning and staging these scenes.  To which I say, "ENOUGH ALREADY!"  It's enough to have to remember to move the damn Elf every flippin' night, let alone come up with some clever situation that he's found himself in!

But I digress.

At least I took a picture of his nightly adventures with us, so that we could remember the fun times we had with Buddy.  Here's to 24 days of Buddiness!!

SPX Christmas Party

Emma's class had another super-fun party; this time as we celebrated Christmas!  Being a private, Catholic school they are allowed to celebrate such occasions..........because in talking to some co-workers, who have children in public school, they're not allowed to celebrate specific religious holidays anymore.  Which is such a shame.  (But at the same time, I can understand why they don't anymore.)  But anyway, that's just one of the minuet reasons why we chose SPX......to be able to celebrate and pray for Him!

Being a Room Mom, I (along with my other RM) organized the games and festivities that they kids participated in.  Some of the games they played were "Pin the Carrot on the Snowman" and "Throw the Snowball through the Wreath."  They also had a craft station, where they made a fun, little ornament and played Christmas BINGO while enjoying their Christmas treats.

As an added bonus, I made little stockings for all the kids in Emma's class..........all 22 of them!  This was something that my mom did for me when I was in 1st or 2nd grade, and I wanted to carry on the tradition with my kids.  

Such a special treat:
Santa Claus came for a quick visit to ask what each kid in Mrs. Ritter's class wanted for Christmas!

Cookie Decorating Time

............or I guess I should really title this post "Cookie EATING Time."  Because the only one who really did any of the decorating was Mom and Grandma!  

Well, I guess they did decorate ONE cookie..........

The cookie that they immediately ate, once they finished decorating it!

But hey--isn't that what it's all about?!?

SPX Christmas Program

The 1st Graders put on on their annual Christmas Program, where Emma was so excited to be an angel in this year's show.  They practiced for over a month, ever since they returned from Thanksgiving Break.  And all their hard work paid off because they did a FANTASTIC job......I was really impressed at the length of the program, and the number of lines and songs that all the kids had to memorize!

During the "scene-changes," they had an overhead projector where they showed pictures of all the kids practicing their various parts, over the course of their practices.....it was so cute to see!  They also showed different pictures that the children colored.  Some were pictures of Joseph and Mary, at the Inn with baby Jesus.  Others were pictures of Christmas Day, with all the presents.  I'm not sure if it's the aging process, or just being a parent.......but I teared up, when looking at these pictures.  There's just so much innocence in the pictures that these children draw.  They are such sweet, sweet babies and they are so proud of their work.  It just touches my heart when I see things like that.  God is good!

Such an angel!

Waiting for the big show to start!
Colin, Sydney, Emma, Jonathon, Vinny

I love this picture.
Not only does it capture her beautifully, in her angel outfit, but it shows just how tall she is.
I don't think people believe me when I say that she's a full head taller than all her classmates, but clearly she is!

Take 1:
"Guys, can you please smile for the camera?"

Take 2:
"Come on now....I need a smile, not a silly face!"

Take 3:
"I give up!"

During one of her speaking parts

Justin Timberlake Concert

As you know, I am madly in love with Justin Timberlake.  Since he first entered my life, back in 1998, I have been a die-hard JT fan.   We have gone through some pretty intense moments.

There was the Curly Hair moment:

Then there was the Corn Row moment:

 And who could forget when he - GASP - shaved it all off?!?:

Since we've been through so much, you can imagine how stoked I was to go to his '20/20' Experience tour.

I mean, I was beyond stoked.

I was, like, piss-your-pants-excited, can't-contain-my-excitement, I-heart-Justin-Timberlake-excitement.

So.

Without further ado, here are a few of my pics that I took.  None of which do it the justice it deserves.  Because the concert was ah-MAZE-ing.  

This is a piece of the stage that came all the way out.  It was a narrow strip - without a ledge or anything - where he came out to the audience.

Me and Alicia.
Horrible picture, but an amazing time!

And finally, I think I'll end this entry with a few of my favorite pictures that others have taken.  

You're welcome.

Thanksgiving 2013

So this post is a little out of order.......I can't seem to get it together lately, when it comes to blogging!  Hopefully it's just a stage because I do enjoy writing.  But my schedule is just all over the place - which I cannot STAND! - so I haven't had a set time that I do my journal entries.

But anyway.

Back to the subject at hand.  Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving we ate very lightly, as if we were birds.



Wait.   What?

Juuuuuuuuuust kidding.

We ate like the FA's that we are.  There's always pleeeeeenty of [amazing] food at the Swickheimer Compound!

Five - count 'em - FIVE - pies.
For 11 people.

"Corn husk" sugar cookies