Lea's Day-Lea's, Week 48

Day 330, Wednesday, November 26th

Decking the halls always begins with decking the dining room table first. 

Since I wasn't hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas set up began early. 

Day 331, Thursday, November 27th

So thankful for these four!!

Day 332, Friday, November 28th

We went out for a late dinner and then decided to walk through the mall. 

The kids trying out the massage chairs at Bed, Bath and Beyond. 

Day 333, Saturday, November 29th

Shelton's Tree Farm

Day 334, Sunday, November 30th

Buddy the Elf arrived this morning with some presents. 

Day 335, Monday, December 1st

Logan had a heck of a time trying to get his Advent Calendar candy.

Day 336, Tuesday, December 2nd

Dave brought the tree in and set it up, but was frustrated when he couldn't figure out why one string of lights wasn't working. 

Breakfast with Buddy the Elf

Our Elf on the Shelf, Buddy, made it to our house last night and left us some special breakfast goodies and presents to kick off the Christmas season.

We read the story on Saturday night and talked about how Buddy would be watching us all month long and report back to Santa.  We even had a report card from 2012 in our book that we read over and noted that Buddy told the kids they needed improvement in whining and eating veggies.   This year he left a sign saying our house was under elf surveillance.  I'm thankful I'm able to remind the kids that Buddy is watching them and their behavior for this month...sometimes that's all it takes to improve attitudes and behaviors :).

Buddy's goodies:  Doughnuts, new sheets, a bed banner, chapstick and their letter ornament.

Poor Buddy.

In all the excitement, Rylan knocked him off his sign when he opened up his sheets. 

The fact that they could not help Buddy out by picking him up was very concerning all day to Ry and Harper. 

Good thing he was able to use his magic dust and find a new place the next morning. 

Logan's plaid sheets and Jingle banner

Presley's FaLaLa sheets and Believe banner

Rylan's Elf on the Shelf sheets and Peace banner

Harper's Christmas scene sheets and Noel sign

The Christmas season had officially begun!!

Our Christmas Tree Hunt (Shelton's Tree Farm)

We woke up on Saturday morning to see it snowing outside.

We decided to go get our live Christmas tree. 

We loaded up in Dave's truck and made our way out to Shelton's Tree Farm in Cashmere. 

We walked on one side of the farm and found 2 that I thought might work.

Dave found one he thought might work. 

Rylan was almost immediately cold. 

Logan jumped over baby trees.

And Harper ate a lot of snow.

(Every time I turned around she had snow in her mouth)

Where's Presley?

We walked to the other side of the farm and found "the one".

We paid and drank our hot cocoa while the workers put the tree in the back. 

Ready to head home.  

Thanksgiving Day: November 27th

After the turkey trot this morning we came home and started getting ready.  

The kids joined me in my bed to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. 

Someday I'm sure I'll miss having an audience as I get ready.

We went to Grandma and Papa Nelson's for a late lunch/early dinner. 

Notice the photo bomber in the first one I tried to take. 

With Grandma and Papa Nelson

My only dinner picture...Olive Hands

After dinner I thought Presley had fallen asleep, but she popped right up after this picture was taken. 

But Logan took a little snooze. 

While Ry and Harper ran and jumped off the family room steps. 

Logan snap chatted with friends and included a picture of me and Ry.

(Well, almost ry...the graphic covered his cute face)

Harper and Grandma rocked eachother. 

We drove home about 7, got ready for bed, and read our thankful notes. 

All month long our kitchen chalkboard has had the saying

"Have an Attitude of Gratitude" 

to remind them to write notes. 

These were some of our favorites. 

Deep Thoughts like...

"I'm thankful for signs because they lead you."

"I'm thankful for life because I'm in it"

"I like boobies"

(I kept the rest in our 2014 box)

Then Logan went to his backpack and pulled out a thankful letter, and he read it out loud to all of us.

What a sweet way to end our day of thankfulness!!