Introducing Blinky O’Leary

We would like you to meet Blinky O’Leary, our little Santa Elf that has come to visit us. He is “The Elf On The Shelf.” The tradition says that this is how Santa really knows if the kids are being naughty or nice and also delivers the kid’s Christmas wishes to Santa each night. In the morning, he will return but will be somewhere different in the house. The kids will have a blast looking for him every morning.

The name comes from us plugging Beau (Blinky) and Cole (O’Leary) into an “Elf” language translator.

www.elfontheshelf.com

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our family and friends. We are so thankful for all of you. We had a great time at Papa & Nana’s house on Thanksgiving Day with the Wallace’s and on Friday for another Thanksgiving meal with Grandma & Clay.

Wednesday started with the boy’s and I making a cute and yummy dessert project. Pilgrim Hats made from Keebler Fudge Stripe cookies, marshmallows, melted chocolate chips and a small amount of yellow frosting.

  Then off to Papa and Nana’s house for a yummy dinner.     Papa and Nana made Indian headbands for the kiddos. Wallace’s made cute aprons for the kiddos.

!!! Dinner Time !!! Grandma had another Thanksgiving on Friday for everyone and we had another yummy meal and good time visiting. Unfortunately, Mommy wasn’t feeling too hot so she wasn’t on her “A” game and forgot her camera. I did have this cute picture from a few weeks back though.

Our Furry Kids

It’s not all that often that I can get Brandy and Jack to lay still long enough for a picture. I finally got one. Brandy is 11 years old now and Jack is 3 1/2.

4th Annual Halloween Hayride

Our friends create a fun hayride every year for trick or treating. The kids, big and small, love it. It's so perfect we drive around and hop on and off to let the kids hit a few houses here and a few houses there. When their little feet get tired….or they want to pig out on candy….they take a break and relax on a hay bale. It has been the same crowd for these past 4 years and has become such a fun tradition. Johnson’s are amazing hosts for the pre-hayride dinner and then the hayride itself. Not only does Siobhan make the world’s best chicken noodle soup…down to handcrafted noodles….she takes such great care of all of the kiddos…glow sticks, silly string, hot chocolate, you name it, she’s got it!!!

crazy kids and silly faces all dressed and ready to go 5 girls…. ….3 boysthe hayride…isn’t it the coolest?! it even has spooky Halloween music   such fun times trick or treating…. ….and hanging out on the hayfriends…Siobhan (the host) and Allison the guys, oh excuse me, the men

Papa & Nana’s 2nd Annual Fright Night

Papa and Nana had the grandkids over for their 2nd annual Fright Night. This year the grown ups decided to dress up as well and it turned out really fun.

Papa (Bones) and Nana (Witch)

David and I showed up as Popeye and Olive Oyl and the boys as Iron Man and War Machine.

    

Wallace's came as Dr. Wallace (OBGYN), Batman, Delaney Bug & Preggo Erin….(she’s not really, that’s how rumors start)

     

   

Scott’s came as ghosts and a dragon but were so speedy to take their costumes off, I didn’t get a single picture.

Papa and Nana had a few things planned for the kids and they had a blast!!!

First up-creating a spider cake. As you will see in most of the pictures, most of the accessories (candy) was eaten and never made it onto the cake.

Next-Bobbing for apples. The kids got the biggest kick out of this, especially when Uncle David dove in and showed them how it was done.

 

Last-Ghost suckers.

    

and last, me getting my baby girl fix.