Advent Calendar - Day #10

Movie Night!  Once again, things were complicated and we started the movie later than I wanted plus we had to make a quick trip to take something to Chris at camp.  However, Elianna and I enjoyed eating our vegetable soup and watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  I even made Grinch cookies (to eat along with some ice cream) but since Elianna took soooo long to eat her dinner (which she actually didn't end up finishing) she didn't get any cookies and ice cream.  Sad day!

These cookies were seriously the best!  Here is a link to the recipe (click here).

Please excuse the fact that I look utterly terrible - I've been sick for the past week and a half and I'm about tired of it ... both literally and physically.  It has been no fun.  However, the upside is that no medicine was taken only essential oils and lots of kombucha.  It's good to know natural medicines work ... they just take much longer.  

On the plus side, while Elianna and I were taking Chris his missing camp items, we saw the most beautiful tree!  Seriously, I am not sure how but those bulbs were precisely and painstakingly adorned on that tree.  It was very impressive!

Advent Calendar - Day #9

After picking Elianna up from school, we picked her friend Natalie up to go with us to Frozen's Ice Palace at the Cherry Creek Mall.  Technically it was supposed to be a surprise, but I had to threaten with taking it away from her due to bad behavior namely not wanting to put her jacket on outside.  We are so spoiled here in CO!  Although it may only be in the 40s it feels like it is in the 60s and it's hard to put on a coat when it feels so good outside.

The ice palace was more talked up than it really was but to two 5 year olds who LOVE Frozen, it was majestic!  Of course, they make you go through and pay for a picture with a stuffed Olaf (really?) and then Santa but some mommas (especially ones who don't feel so good) are not to be swayed.  They at first let us in and then kicked us out so they could clean the ice palace so we headed over to the play place.  After playing there about 20 minutes, they kicked us out of there to clean that.  I will say I'm impressed with all the cleaning and disinfecting they do there. 

We got a lot of "Oh look, Elsa and Anna!"

Between them wanting you to pay for a picture with Olaf and pay for a picture with Santa was a waiting area where they had fake snow falling from the sky.  It was the highlight!

After the ice palace, Natalie came back home with us and helped us make more Jingle Bell Balls since all the ones made yesterday were eaten already.  It was nice to have Elianna play with her friends from Wellspring.  We don't get to see them very often and I know she misses them.  I have planned a special day for each girl to come with us on an Advent activity.  It will be good for Elianna!

Advent Calendar - Day #8

Today on Elianna Cooks, we made Jingle Bell Balls which are basically peanut butter rice krispies rolled into balls.  She enjoyed the making and, naturally, the eating part!  It was declared a hit all around and a request for more was thrown out.  Guess we'll have cooking day tomorrow also!

Advent Calendar - Day #7

The downstairs boys both went to a Bronco's game with their dads and no one came to Bible study so it was just our little family for "church".  It was actually very nice.  We light the Advent Wreath and then discussed Simeon and JOY.

After the boys got back from the game, we delivered our Elf gifts.  Tonight was cinnamon rolls with the note of "Here's a sweet treat rolled up with warm wishes".  In addition to our 4, we also decided to give a elf gift to one of our past people.  It goes down in Chris' book as "the hardest house to deliver elf gifts to" so we decided to give it another try.  Unfortunately, they weren't home so the element of surprise was lost but here's to hoping they enjoy the "HoHo from their DingDong elves of Christmas past"!