Merry Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas 

from my little family

to yours!

Bern

Elf on the Shelf 2014: Weeks 2 and 3 Recap

I promised photos of our 2014 elf adventures and I haven't delivered. Now that I am officially on winter break (WOOHOO!) I have a moment to sit and fill you in on our recent elf escapades.  Here are a few fun highlights. 

Though, if I am being perfectly honest - these are the only ones I got to capture with my phone the last few weeks and can share. See, no one is perfect folks - doesn't it make you smile to know other moms goof and forget things too! We are perfectly imperfect, with the best of intentions that sometimes fall a little short. Oh, well. 

Seems Jack got into a bit of a tight spot and couldn't get out.

Good thing Ginger and Frosty were around to give him a helping hand.

Zip-lining elf at your service! 

We were a little jealous of this one - it looks like so much fun.

Can you feel the love?

Jack surprised the girls with some hugs - Hershey's Kisses Hugs! 

Jack to the rescue!

First zip lining, now abseiling. We have one adventurous elf on our hands.

Thankfully, there were no dangerous mountains to scale. 

Just poor Goldilocks stuck in a tower of Scotch tape. 

I wonder how she got in there?

We brought home the most adorable mini nutcracker.

The Oldest Diva named him Sir Silly.

Maybe she should have named him Mr. Mischief.

Jack must have startled Sir Silly when he came back from the North Pole.

Sir Silly didn't take it to well. The Lil Divas told him to be sure to set Jack free tonight and not to strap him down again. Hope he listens to them. 

Taking it easy 

or 

maybe hiding out after spending an evening strapped to the wall.

How many days till Christmas?

I'm sure you hear this question every day too.

Thankfully, Jack had the answer ready for the Lil Divas.

Girls, I'm stuck & I can't get out!

What is this strange see through place high up on the kitchen cabinet?

The walls are slippery and I can't seem to climb out.

Guess I'll have to sit and wait for my nighty dose of magic to fly out of here.

The stockings were hung on the doll house with care...

Jack made sure our American Girl stockings made it up this year.

There are only a few days left until Jack returns to the North Pole.

The girls have made a few special requests of Santa this year:

1.  They would like special permission for Jack to visit them on their birthdays.

2. They have asked if Santa would send us a girl elf too. 

We haven't heard back yet from Santa on those requests.

I'll be sure to share his reply once we receive it. 

What fun or mischief has your elf been up to lately?

Bern

Elf on the Shelf 2014: Week 1

I can hardly believe we have had our Elf on the Shelf Scout Elf, Jack, for 4 adventurous years! I didn't share too many of his escapades the past 2 years because elf shenanigans were everywhere you looked. 

The other day I realized that our elf years are numbered (my girls are almost 9 and 7.5 years old) and I needed to embrace and capture these wonderful childhood memories being made with the Lil Divas. So, this year I will share some our elf escapades but I'll compile it into one weekly post so it doesn't overwhelm anyone - including me. I don't remember to take photos each night but it will be nice to put all the ideas and photos in one easy place. 

Week One:

Jack always arrives promptly on Thanksgiving night. The Lil Divas eagerly await his arrival. This year was no different. They were up before the sun to see if he had made it back to us. He did!

This year, Jack arrived with a gift. 

A cute Christmas movie for us to enjoy together - A Golden Christmas.

(no pic sorry)

He likes to remind us Christmas is just around the corner.

As if we'd forget with 2 excited girls in the house.

Jack gifted the Lil Divas with their first Barbie Advent Calendar

to help us count down the days till Christmas.

Jack misses the snow while he's visiting us here in FL

so he got some friends together and cut some coffee filter snowflakes.

The following day we caught Jack, Frosty & Lalaloopsy 

in the act of having a snowball fight. 

Thankfully, no cotton balls were hurt 

in the play being had by these 3 silly amigos. :)

He hangs out in our Christmas tree. I don't mind too much, 

except I wish he wouldn't move our decorations.

The best surprise yet was finding our very own Elf on the Shelf Pets Reindeer under the tree! Santa sent him to the Lil Divas to fill him up with love, hope and belief in Christmas magic so that on Christmas Eve he may help guide his sleigh.
The Lil Divas named him Jingles. A fitting reindeer name for sure.

They were soooooooo excited! 

Do you have an elf on the shelf?
What elf adventures has your elf been on so far?

I'd love to see so please comment below 
and leave a link to your photos or ideas.

Happy Elf on the Shelf-ing!

Bern

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I receive compensation for any purchases made from clicking on Amazon links. Thank you for your support.

Kids DIY Homemade Christmas Ornaments {The Sunday Showcase 11/30/13}

I simply adore homemade ornaments.  Every year the girls and I make a few new ones to add to our tree.  Then there are those that make their way home from school. In a nutshell, we have lots of homemade ornaments on our tree. I love each and every one. As I unpack them each year, it's like taking a stroll down memory lane. So many memories are tied up into each ornament. Whether through viewing a photo, a small handprint or just how the ornament was made - it instantly takes me back to that year in my girls lives. The ornaments are my absolute favorite part of decorating our tree. My girls are at an age where they get a thrill out of seeing all the things they made in the past. They love hearing the story behind each ornament and now they even recall the more recent ones themselves. It's wonderful!

I imagine many of you feel as I do about homemade ornaments made by your children so this week I thought I'd share some of my favorite DIY Ornaments from last week's linky with you.

Click any of the links below for the full post
on these Homemade Ornaments.

DIY Christmas Ornaments using Natural Materials 
(My Nearest and Dearest)

Homemade Clay Tree Decorations

(Craftulate)

and Fill and Shake Ornaments

(also by Craftulate)

Thumbprint Snowman Ornament

(Fantastic Fun and Learning)

Homemade CD Ornaments

(Happy Hooligans)

So many great Christmas ornaments!

Looking for more homemade ornament ideas?

Check out some of our favorites:

Swirl Paint Christmas Ornaments

Cinnamon & Applesauce Dough Ornaments

Easy Salt Dough Ornaments

Craft Stick Ornaments

Don't forget to peruse our Christmas Fun board on Pinterest.

It's filled with awesome ideas for the holiday.

---------------

Now it's your turn to share!

Do you have any fun homemade Christmas ornaments to share? 

Please share them with me in the linky, 

by commenting below or by visiting our Facebook page. 

Be sure to link up your child centered ideas while you're here.

I love to see what everyone is doing.

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

-------------------------------------------------------------

The Sunday Showcase is hosted on FOUR blogs!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Here Come the Girls

Inspiration Laboratories

Learn Play Imagine

Each blog showcases their own features so be sure to check them all out!

If you are here for the first time please read this informational post for the full details.  Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!  You are welcome to share more than one post,  but we don't accept links for giveaways,  shops, or downloads for purchase, etc.  They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we encourage you to visit other links 
& our Pinterest board!  

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section and on our Pinterest board!  

-------------------------------------------------------------

Link up and share your child centered ideas with us!

Bern

An InLinkz Link-up

Christmas Activities for Kids {The Sunday Showcase 11/23/13}

Are you prepping for the holidays? With 2 little girls SUPER excited about Christmas in my house, it's hard not to have it on the brain. I imagine it's the same for many of you so I thought I'd share some of my favorite Christmas activities from last week's linky with you.

Click any of the links below for the full post.

I love this Decorate the Felt Christmas Tree activity (Buggy and Buddy)

it's something the kids can enjoy over and over again 

& makes a really cute decoration for the home too!

These Handprint Sun Catchers (Homegrown Friends)

would make awesome ornaments! I love capturing little

hands for keepsakes. They are only this small for a short time.

How much fun can be had with Candy Cane Goo-Bleck?

Lots! (Sow Sprout Play) 

So many great Christmas activities!

Looking for more ideas?

How about making this Upcycled Soda Bottle Christmas Tree

or finishing your gifts off with some

Homemade Christmas Gift Tags

We love to fit in some "themed" reading during holidays.

Below are some of our Christmas Books for K thru 2nd Grade to share during the month of December as you prep for the big day.

Don't forget to peruse our Christmas Fun board on Pinterest.

It's filled with awesome ideas for the holiday.

---------------

Now it's your turn to share!

Do you have any fun Christmas activities to share? 

Please share them with me in the linky, 

by commenting below or by visiting our Facebook page. 

Be sure to link up your child centered ideas while you're here.

I love to see what everyone is doing.

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

-------------------------------------------------------------

The Sunday Showcase is hosted on FOUR blogs!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Here Come the Girls

Inspiration Laboratories

Learn Play Imagine

Each blog showcases their own features so be sure to check them all out!

If you are here for the first time please read this informational post for the full details.  Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!  You are welcome to share more than one post,  but we don't accept links for giveaways,  shops, or downloads for purchase, etc.  They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we encourage you to visit other links 
& our Pinterest board!  

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section and on our Pinterest board!  

-------------------------------------------------------------

Link up and share your child centered ideas with us!

Bern

An InLinkz Link-up

Merry Christmas to You & Yours

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays to you & yours!

Bern

DIY Holiday Photo Crafts & Decor - #PintheHalls

If you are a regular here, you know we love to get crafty. The Lil Divas regularly get crafty all on their own as there is always a ready supply of paper, tape, scissors, glue etc within their reach. They love to draw, create books, make paper dolls, build doll houses and write stories with elaborate illustrations.

We really enjoy making our own holiday ornaments and decorations during the Christmas season. With each passing year our tree is slowly being overtaken by homemade ornaments versus those have been store bought. It is wonderful. Our Christmas tree is filled with not only ornaments but many wonderful memories of moments spent creating them together.

I mentioned in a previous post that this year we are participating in the Pin the Halls program sponsored by HP and Snapfish. I am beyond excited to be participating in this program as it has gifted us with some amazing products like the HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook x4 that has allowed us to easily keep in touch with friends and family and create some fabulous holiday decorations using HP's Creative Studio.

The Lil Divas love using Fresh Paint. They have created countless holiday themed drawings that we turned into cards and gift tags for relatives and friends. The touch screen makes it so easy to paint and draw right on the screen.

I was able to make some fun photo creations using HP's Creative Studio . It is so easy to use and there are many fun and creative projects to choose from. My favorite was the snowflake photo ornament. I printed a bunch of different photo snowflakes and tied them together to create a garland which I used to decorate our long banister leading to the second floor. 

I even used a few of them as gift tags on presents for family. They turned out so cute. I can't wait for everyone to see them. 

The HP Creative Studio has tons of great printables including postcards, ornaments, photo cubes, mini books, photo collage frame templates and more. This is something I will be making lots of use of in the future.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway for the HP ENVY 120 e-All-in-One printer and be sure to check out my DIY Holiday Crafts & Home Decor Pinterest Board and the HP Create Pinterest Board for even more ideas.

Have fun getting creative,

Bern

Disclosure - This post was written in conjunction with the HP & Snapfish Pin the Halls Program. I received products to help facilitate the post but all opinions expressed are 100% my own and based on our own personal experiences with the products mentioned. Your experiences and opinions may differ.