Christmas Day 2012

It's Christmas Day and the Hoffman family has the Flu. I was so disappointed. Chris and I were feeling the worst. I was up late on Christmas Eve wrapping and decorating getting the house ready. I woke up feeling horrible. Liam and Blake were feeling  better. Liam was so excited for Christmas so Chris and I just did all we could to make it through the day but we did and Liam and Blake had a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Eve 2012

It's Christmas Eve and the Hoffman family is sick. Yup everyone is coughing & sneezing, has a runny nose, soar throat, aches and pains you name it. We are just miserable. Liam was sick last week he brought something home from school he got over it fast. No fever for him just cough and congestion. Blake then got it same thing no fever cough and congestion and a bad runny nose. I on the other hand always seem to get the worse of it. I don't sleep well lately and I'm the one who always has to keep moving even when I'm sick never have time to just rest so I felt worse. Chris was okay  until today when he lost his voice. We had planned so many things today. We decided to just keep it simple. I didn't make it to the Christmas Eve service at church, we made a quick dinner and watched Christmas movies and snuggled up together. In the evening we read T'was The Night Before Christmas and we also watched the movie. We read the story of Jesus' birth and opened up one present. The boys and I walked around the neighborhood at night to see everyones Christmas lights which they really liked and we all needed to get some fresh air. The boys help sprinkle magic reindeer food on the lawn and put cookies & milk out for Santa. The boys were all nestled in their beds by 9 p.m. ready for Santa.

Liam's Lightning McQueen slippers he opened up on Christmas Eve

Christmas cookies for Santa.

Liam had fun leaving cookies & milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer

Moms Night Out

Tonight I went to a Moms Night Out Christmas ornament exchange party. A Moms group called KinderMoms put together this fun event. Everyone brought a Christmas ornament to exchange and we had a yummy dinner. Lots of fun!

Our Elf on the Shelf Fun!

Today our magical Elf named Grant Jingles arrived at the Hoffman house! Liam was happy to see him but not overly excited. I think he'll get more excited as we go. Not sure he thinks it's "real" yet. He did name the elf himself  though and he knows not to touch him. He was so cute telling Blake this morning to stay away not to touch Grant or he'll get sick. Hoping our elf will bring some Christmas magic this year.

Day 1  INTRODUCING  GRANT JINGLES!

Mr. Jingles was clever using Liam's cars to spell out a special greeting

DAY 2

Grant Jingles arrived this morning playing Liam's favorite game Chutes & Ladders with Liam's two favorite characters (Mickey Mouse & Charlie Brown) & Mommy's pink Santa wanted to join in too.

Looks like Grant Jingles is winning but I keep hearing Charlie  Brown say "Good Grief" so I wonder if Grant is cheating. 

Charlie Brown had to turn to pose for the picture!

Mr. Grant Jingles our tricky elf

DAY 3 

Today Grant Jingles surprised Liam with a special letter and surprise gift from Santa. Grant was hanging out in Liam's Christmas stocking holding Santa's letter and  new car. Liam was so happy to get a letter from Santa. He was so cute reading the letter and loved the car. BUT while doing so he touched Grant Jingles. SO now our Elf is sick and will have to go back to the North Pole to get better. Liam was sad but hopefully Grant will return soon.

Grant Jingles also sent Liam a greeting in his lunch box at preschool today!  He printed out this picture of him holding a sign for Liam and placed it in his lunch box. Liam thought it was cool!

DAY 4

Today Grant Jingles was sick all day. Unfortunately Liam touched him and he lost all his magic for the day. He did come to our house but Santa gave him strict orders to stay in bed. It just so happened that Liam was also home sick from school today with his first ear infection. So Grant Jingles spent the day in Liam's room sick and resting in Liam's chair all day.

DAY 5

Today Grant Jingles was feeling much better and was back to his silly self. This morning he toilet papered our Christmas tree. Liam thought this was hilarious! 

DAY 6

Since Liam and I read the story of Jesus' birth the night before,  Mr. Jingles decided to surprise Liam this morning holding baby Jesus in Liam & Blake's brand new nativity they received as a gift from Grammy this year. So sweet!

DAY 7

Today we woke up to see that Grant Jingles was enjoying himself hanging from the kitchen chandelier! The boys loved it! Blake giggled when I showed him Mr. Jingles hanging upside and all around (as a song we always sing) I was happy that Liam was getting more interested in finding out where Grant is hiding. So cute!

DAY 8 

 We had no idea our elf loved fishing so much. Today we found Grant fishing in the downstairs toilet!

DAY 9

Mr. Jingles was a bit dirty from hanging out on the toilet all day yesterday so today he needed a warm bath!

DAY 10

Today Mr. Jingles had fun hanging out with our Nutcrackers. Too cute!

DAY 11
Today Mr. Jingles was hard at work in the playroom driving Liam's bull dozer.

DAY 12

It was a special day for Liam. It was his Christmas Program at preschool today! Mr. Jingles was so excited he decided to wish Liam luck & gave him a treat for a ice cream at McDonalds. So cute!

DAY 13

Grant Jingles had fun in the snow making snow angels. Liam loved this one SO CUTE!

DAY 14

Mr. Jingles brought back a Gingebread House from the North Pole for Liam to have fun decorating!

 DAY 15
Grant Jingles was very naughty he ate one of our ice cream cone Christmas trees. He was covered in frosting and ice cream cone and slept most of the day.

DAY 16

Our silly elf had fun playing video games on our Xbox.

DAY 17

Hanging out in the pantry drinking some yummy syrup from a straw

DAY 18

Grant Jingles was hiding in a Christmas stocking this morning!

DAY 19

Silly Grant doing math problems on Liam's chalkboard. Counting down the days until Christmas! Only 5 more days!

DAY 20

Today we caught Grant with the m&ms making a number 4 counting down the days until Christmas.

DAY 21

I was not able to get a picture of Grant Jingles but we found him in the cookie tin eating Christmas cookies.

DAY 22

We found Grant this morning sitting on the stairs just kicking back watching the boys.

DAY 23

Today Grant Jingles was taking a ride on Blake's animal train

DAY 24

Christmas Eve & Grant Jingles last day. He wrote Liam a sweet goodbye letter letting him know he will be leaving and that Santa was on his way and he'll be back next year. So cute!