CHRISTMAS 2012

Well it's official, Christmastime has come and gone for this year.  It seems like it was just Halloween but now here we sit on the edge of a new year and on the brink of another year of wonderful possibilities and memories to make. I am excited for what 2013 will bring for our family! (Hopefully the addition of another little miracle to our family, or at least the announcement of one. Let's keep our fingers crossed!) However we have several accomplishments to make before another lil one can be added to the family.  These include potty training and the movement to a "big boy" bed for Colton in the near future. Two things that are sure to prove stressful and time consuming. :)

Christmas for our family was wonderful this year, but very busy at times.  With the constant flow of family members in and out of town and lots of "last minute" things to get done, it's no wonder that the holiday flew by before I really had a chance to sit down and enjoy it!  I didn't even get my Christmas cards mailed out this year or family Christmas pictures taken. At times I felt like I failed this holiday season, but once I saw how excited and happy my son was on Christmas morning I realized that those other things don't matter, all that matters is that everyone is together, healthy, and happy!

Here is a few photos of the last few days:

Cubby's last night here this year. He had a

movie night with the Grinch and Max.

 

Santa Came!!

 

Santa's letter to Colton!

 

I love Christmastime and spending time with our families.  Even with the craziness of shopping, cleaning, baking, and visiting, there is nothing that I cherish more. I hope everyone out there had a wonderful holiday with their friends and family! :)







 

 



CUBBY HAS BEEN BUSY

The arrival of Colton's Elf on a Shelf has been a blessing this year. With temper tantrums a frequent occurrence, the reminder that Santa's helper is watching him seems to help. It's working so well that I'm considering having him stay year round.  Colton loves finding Cubby in the morning and seeing what he's been up to!

Cubby "Tebowing"...

 

 

Yesterday, Colton found Cubby trying to

steal Christmas cookies.

 

 

Cubby went on a date with Mrs. Potato Head.

Apparently she was talking too much, so he took

her mouth piece off!

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

 



WHAT'S CUBBY BEEN UP TO?

I have to admit that I'm really having fun with this whole Elf on the Shelf thing. I love coming up with new cute ideas for Colton's elf.  Colton loves him! The purpose of him is also slowly working. When Colton starts acting up, I remind him that his Elf reports to Santa every night and he is slowly learning to not throw a temper tantrum every time he doesn't get his own way. That makes this mommy happy :)

Here is what "Cubby" has been up to the last few days....

Last night, he built an army out of Gummy Bears....

 

Tonight, we caught him playing with daddy's Playstation...



THE ELF ON THE SHELF HAS ARRIVED AT THE CONLEY HOUSE!

My son Colton has recently entered that "wonderful" phase known as the terrible two's. Temper tantrums and whining have become an all to familiar event in our house lately, so I decided that this year would be the perfect time to introduce the "Elf on the Shelf" idea to him. While he is still a little young to understand the concept completely, he does respond when I tell him that the elf, which he named "Cubby" is watching him and telling Santa.

Being the Pinterest obsessed person that I am, I love reading and finding cute Elf on the Shelf ideas, among other things. I've also come up with some cute ideas on my own and so I've decided to make a quick post each day to show what "Cubby" is up to.  I love the whole idea of the Elf on the Shelf, if they would have had this when I believed in Santa, I would have always been on my best behavior.



This morning Colton found him riding off in his police car. He thought it was the funniest thing seeing him trying to squeeze into his car.

CHRISTMAS STORY COUNTDOWN

Here we are less than two weeks away from Christmas and I haven't made any posts about all the fun Christmas related things that I have been up to. It's no surprise that with all the decorating, crafting, and yummy baking that goes along with Christmastime, that this is one of my favorite times of the year. But more important is all the wonderful time I get to spend with my family, especially my little boy. He is truly the best present I have ever received. 

Similar to my Halloween story advent calendar, I made a Christmas one using holiday-themed fabric to make the bags and calendar.  My son loves opening the bag and finding a new story each night.  We cuddle up in front of the Christmas tree and read the story before bed. This time with him is the most important thing to me.

To make it a surprise (next year he should understand more), I make selecting the book sort of a game.  First, at my local craft store I purchased some different patterns of Christmas material. Using a sewing machine, I made simple little fabric bags (big enough to hold a book each).   Next, I made an advent calendar for the countdown to Christmas, with each day/square a different patterned fabric to match each bag.  I place one book (possibly two if they are short) in each bag and place all the bags in a basket. 

Here's a list of the books that I used this year. There are so many other great Christmas/Holiday themed books out there too!

1. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
by Dr. Seuss

2. BERENSTAIN BEARS: OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
by Stan and Jan Berenstain

3. BERENSTAIN BEARS MEET SANTA BEAR
by Stan and Jan Berenstain

4. BERENSTAIN BEARS TRIM THE TREE
by Stan and Jan Berenstain

5. THE BIGGEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE
by Amye Rosenberg

6. CAILLOU: HAPPY HOLIDAYS
by Marilyn Pleau

7. THE CHRISTMAS STORY
by Jane Werner Watson

8. CLIFFORD'S CHRISTMAS
by Norman Bridwell

9. MERRY CHRISTMAS, MOM AND DAD
by Mercer Mayer

10. MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE CRITTER
by Mercer Mayer

11. THE LITTLEST ELF
by Brandi Dougherty

12. MICKEY SAVES SANTA
by Sheila Sweeny Higginson

13. DONALD'S CHRISTMAS GIFT
by Sheila Sweeny Higginson



14. MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Sandy Creek

15. MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: CLUBHOUSE CHRISTMAS
by Susan Amerikaner

16. THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Natasha Wing

17. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clark Moore

18. POLAR EXPRESS
by Chris Van Allsberg

19. POOH: THE SWEETEST CHRISTMAS
by Ann Baybrooks

20. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
by Rick Bunsen

21. SANTA'S TOY SHOP
by Al Dempster

22. SNOWMEN AT CHRISTMAS
by Caralyn Buehner

 

23. THOMAS' CHRISTMAS DELIVERY
by Rev W. Awdry

24. THOMAS AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
by Rev W. Awdry

25. TOM AND JERRY'S MERRY CHRISTMAS
by Peter Archer



 

Some of these books were Christmas classics that I loved when I was a child, and remember reading with my parents. I cherish those memories and hope that my son will too when he's an adult with children of his own :)