No Chocolate for Breakfast: New baby on the block + Christmas decorating + Meet Hartwheel the Elf + Snow day + Photoshoot

New baby on the block

Evelyn went for a playdate at her new friend Marianne's house. Marianne was just a little under a month old. Isn't she a cutie??

Christmas decorating

With one month until Christmas it was time to make our home merry and bright.

Liana and Darcy molding the branches perfectly, Caleb colouring a Santa picture and Evelyn wiggling to the Christmas carols

The sweetest tree topper!

Painted the advent calendar - ready for December!

Mistletoe

Meet Hartwheel the Elf

We have a house guest for the holidays. Here's the jist on this newish Christmas tradition:

The Elf on the Shelf® is a special scout elf sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. When a family adopts an elf and gives it a name, the elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day's adventures. Each morning, the elf returns to its family and perches in a different place to watch the fun. Children love to wake up and race around the house looking for their elf each morning.

There are two simple rules that every child knows when it comes to having an elf. First, an elf cannot be touched; Christmas magic is very fragile and if an elf is touched it may lose that magic and be unable to fly back to the North Pole. Second, an elf cannot speak or move while anyone in the house is awake! An elf's job is to watch and listen.

Elves typically appear in their families’ homes at the beginning of the holiday season (around Thanksgiving in the U.S.). On Christmas Eve, the elves return to the North Pole with Santa Claus--until next year!

Caleb named our elf Hartwheel, based on one of the names he wanted us to choose for Evelyn. We presented the elf in the box with the storybook that explains his purpose. In subsequent years we'll have him magically appear at the door December 1st. I love that we're starting this while Caleb still believes in Santa Clause magic and that Hartwheel will be part of all of Evelyn's holiday memories.

Hartwheel's morning #1 spot

Hartwheel's morning #2 spot

Snow day

Ottawa had its first storm of the season yesterday - 25cm of snow - which led school buses to be canceled. Caleb doesn't usually benefit from snow days since to get to work I take him to school when the buses are canceled. This year though: the more the merrier. I gave Liana the option of staying home, as well. She takes OC Transpo to school but high school special buses were canceled so it would have taken her additional transfers and time to get there. So I got to spend yesterday at home with all of my offspring.

Caleb helping Evelyn sit

Sister cuddles

A painting Caleb did (thanks grandma Debby for getting it for him!)

Painting Liana made

The not-quite-perfect but still oh-so-cute photoshoot

Only the last few years have I started buying the kids' school photos. Before that time I would photograph them myself and print in different sizes to send to family and friends at Christmas time. Since my sister-in-law Casey has generously loaned me her camera since Evelyn's birth, I decided to do Evelyn's pictures myself. I didn't get the picture I was looking for yet which is Evelyn smiling while looking somewhat straight without too much glare and dress not going up at the shoulders. I did however get some adorable pictures - especially loving the ones of Evelyn and Dexter. Will try again on the weekend for "the" picture.