Build-A-Bear

It's sort of been a tradition at Christmas time to go see Santa and then go to Build-A-Bear.  And when I say tradition, I mean bribe.  This year, Ella wanted me to take her photo with her bears so I did this for her...





    

Oh Christmas Tree

Ella after finishing up with the Christmas tree last week....

Friedrich, Our Christmas Elf

A friend here in San Antonio (with twin girls) introduced me to "Elf on a Shelf" (available at bookstores, Target, etc).  He comes with a book that tells the kids all about him.  He shows up sometime around the Thanksgiving holiday, sent by Santa himself to watch and report back to the North Pole.  He's a magical elf who flies to the North Pole each night and lets Santa know if the children have been naughty or nice.   But you can't touch him or he'll loose his magical powers and won't be able to tell Santa your wishes or good behaviour.

"Friedrich" (Ella is obsessed with Sound of Music and named him after the oldest boy) made his appearance when we got back from Atlanta.  And each night he's gone back to the North Pole.  How do we know this?  Because each morning, he is in a different place somewhere in the house.   My girlfriend with the twins told me they wake up each morning joyously trying to find their elf.  Ella, too, has taken to bounding out of bed to find Friendrich and squeals with joy when she finds him.  We tease her and say, "Let me just put him over here..."  To which she cries, "NOOOOOOOO!  He'll loose his magic!"   Of course we're just teasing.  I don't know about you, but I want Santa to bring me some camera equipment!  :)

I wish I had known about this earlier, it would have made a great 'family' gift for a few close friends.  Anyway, here are just a few of the places Friedrich has perched....  and of course, if Ella asks, we all have elves, I mean how else would Santa know we've been good this year :)

Merry Christmas Disco Style

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Santa's Message to Ella

Santa's Message to Ella

Preschool Portraits

 

Some Family Pics for Christmas Cards

Last week we ventured out at sunset to have some family pictures taken for our Christmas card... these didn't make the cut :)

Friends Photo Session

Ella and her friend Kiyomi love the camera.  We decided to let the two model for my camera in their new fall wardrobes :)

School Thanksgiving Feast

Last Wednesday, Ella's preschool  had a Thansgiving feast.  Here is Ella with some of her classmastes.....

Fall is Here

Well, our house is back to normal for the most part.  We're on the last of the anitbiotics and we sound and feel much better.  Daily allergy medicine has made a world of difference for us and we can get on with life.  We're also into our fall wardrobe... some days Ella wants to model :)