The Elf on the Shelf

Toilet papered Christmas Tree!

This year was a simplified Christmas.  I didn't send cards, I didn't bake, I didn't do handmade gifts.  I just didn't have it in me this year with everything else going on in this house.  But there was one special new thing that happened this season; The Elf.  The first day of December the children received a little tin and a note from Santa saying that he was sending this little elf, Brewster to stay with us.  It turns out Brewster is such a naughty little monkey that Santa didn't have time for his antics during the rush season. 

Rice angel

Well, no wonder they wanted rid of him!  He was very cheeky.  Every morning the children woke up and rushed to find out what he had been doing during the night.  And every morning it was something different.  He had a tea party with Madison's tea set and a few select friends.  

He ate Mom's chocolate bar and had evidence all over his face.
He rode the Christmas camel decoration.

He got a piggy-back ride from the angel on top of our tree.

Stolen tooth-fairy money

 He stole the tooth fairy money from under Madison's pillow.

He floated a bowl boat with a "date" in the sink.

He coloured the children's noses red (while they were sleeping) and left a note for them to look in the mirror

Replaced the stockings with underwear

 He was found hiding in Daddy's stocking

He was found sipping eggnog through a straw right from the carton!

He was playing with the children's advent calendar toys

Reading to some intent listeners

 He was found trapped inside a decoration

He drew mustaches and beards with a dry-erase marker on the children's faces in their framed portraits

He was found hiding in the spider plant

Trimming a tiny tree and wrapping some tiny presents

The children thought most of these things were hilarious!  They couldn't wait to find out what he'd done every day.  The only thing he did that they were not impressed with was painting their red noses while they slept.  They were pretty cranky about that when they saw it in the morning!  Sometimes Kai would trap him during the day behind books, or in a box - thinking he wouldn't be able to get out and cause trouble... but he always did!   I guess elves have magic that they can use to foil little boys' attempts to tame them. 

Flying around the house on helium balloons.

Christmas morning, the children woke to find Brewster gone home to the north pole with Santa.  He left a note thanking them for taking care of him and apologizing for his naughty tricks.  He left a fun toy, and the little presents for them to open.  They were delighted, but sorry to see him go.

Sunday Fun

Revy and the kids get to know some new friends at the dog park

Madison speeds through the youth park

Kai loved hangin' with the kids on their skateboards, bikes, and scooters

Caylie got into the action too!

Farm Bag Dinner

Climbing aboard the wagon for a tractor tour of the farm

 We were invited to visit the farm where many of our farm bag vegetables are grown.  It was a beautiful evening, the sun setting over the ridge, and folks eager to have a look at the crops nearly ready for harvest. 

The children were allowed to pick a giant carrot from this huge carrot patch!

 We had a close-up look at the chicken coop, a ride behind a tractor all around the farm, with some lessons about several of the fields and crops.  There were several children, and they ran around the orchard, fields, and took turns on the swing tied to a huge old weeping willow in the yard. 

Playing in the orchard before dinner

 Long tables were beautifully set, a kitchen was prepared under a tent, and we were served a lovely array of fresh, local vegetables and dairy.  Creamy potato soup with artisan bread, roasted vegetable soft tacos with local cheese and cream, and "Okanagan Mess", a scrumptious dessert of ripe valley fruit with cream and flavoured meringue.  It was all fantastic!  

Waiting for a delicious meal

This was all in honour of the launch of another year of the Farm Bag fundraiser, where we can buy a monthly bag full of ripe, fresh fruits and vegetables grown here in our own valley.  Each bag has seasonal fare, a newsletter about the farms that produced the food included that month, and some recipes for how to prepare some of the interesting delights.  Looking forward to another season with Farm Bag!

Kai's Birthday Party

 Kai and his friends had a blast at his 8th birthday party last month.  His real birthday is over summer holidays, so we decided to wait until school started to have the celebration so he could invite buddies from his class.  There were 10 kids (including his sisters whom he reluctantly invited) gathered to while away the afternoon at Okanagan Amusements. 

Marcus leaps out of the way for Kai to putt his ball home.

Over the little bridge.

 First the guys tackled the mini-golf course.  They sped through it, but enjoyed the little castles, windmills, and water hazards of the game. 


 Next the boys played with balloons while we waited for the girls and littler guests to finish their mini-golf session.  After that the kids wandered through the arcade while we prepped the food, and then we all had lunch.  Hot dogs, muffins, veggies, chips, and cake were scarfed down in record time.  Once the last plate had been cleaned, they lined up for go-karts!  At this point my camera's batteries gave out, so no pics of them driving around the race course, but they had a blast!  The littler people went with adults, and sped through the race, while the older kids tried their hand behind the wheel.  They had so much fun - and it was quite a long turn each, and they were pumped when it was through!

Once the drivers were grounded again, we gave them some change for the games in the arcade.  They had a great time playing and collecting tickets to spend at the trading post for prizes.  Who could get the most tickets?  Who could pool their winnings for bigger prizes?  They never got tired of it!

Pac-man cake

When the last quarter was spent, the prizes all chosen (the employee was very generous about rounding up), the parents came to collect their tired little party-goers and we cleared up the debris. Each guest left with the prizes they chose at the trading post, and a monster goodie bag with pencils, pens, and candy hidden inside the zipper mouth.   Kai was pleased with his celebration this year, and had a grin on his face the rest of the day.  "Remember when I passed Dad on the race course in my go-kart?"

Lunch Bags

Left to right:  Kent's, Madison's, Caylie's, and Kai's

 This year as a "back to school gift" I made a lunch bag for Kent and the kids.  I found the instructions for this simple bag with a square bottom and a drawstring cover on pinterest and had no trouble copying it.  All of these are made with fabric found on sale at Value Village, along with some leftover scraps. 

 Each bag has two velcro snack bags lined with fabric, one velcro snack bag lined with thin vinyl, and one sandwich wrapper/placemat coated in durable vinyl. 

I am pleased with the results, and happy that my reusable lunch containers will hopefully help me cut down on sandwich baggies this year.  These may make an appearance as gifts in the future too!

First day of school!

Ready for the school fun to begin!

Some events of note

Caylie lost her first tooth!  After having waited SO long, she finally got a visit from the Toothfairy. 

Daddy installed a tire swing in the backyard.  The kids already have several different favourite swing types, including "Around the World," "Tick-tock," and "Lollipop"

Summer Adventures

Aside from camping (and frequently while camping) we have done lots of fun things this summer! 

Ready for the fun to begin

We met my longtime crush, Garfield!

Bumper cars

Gonna getcha!

Caylie's first driving experience - Daddy seems completely at ease with a 5 year old at the wheel.

We took a trip to Idaho and visited Coeur d'Alene and Silverwood as well as Spokane.  Silverwood was a blast, and the kids loved it.  We have successfully scratched our adventure park itch for now and maybe Disneyland can wait another few years. 

Amid the swanky surroundings of a fancy hotel

Go team go!

Revy is checking out the ducks

Pony Ride!

This one's name was Tinkerbell

Caylie loved her pony.

Moose statue at the trailhead in Coeur d'Alene

The kids thought Nana would love this Heron!

Camping

Yes, we have acquired a trailer.  We are now THAT family.  The story of how we bought and how Kent picked up the trailer is an epic adventure for another time.  For now, please enjoy some pics of us camping with the trailer this summer:

Kent relaxing in his favourite chair in Rock Creek

Roasting weenies; a camping meal staple

Relaxing in the RV park

The Kettle River 

We have taken the trailer to Rock Creek, Post Falls ID, Idleback Lake, and Camp Boyle (Summerland).  So far so good!

Caylie's Teddy Bear Picnic

Big Bear adorned with a heart for each party guest

 Caylie turns six this summer, and we invited several of her classmates to celebrate with a teddybear picnic.  The guests brought their favourite teddies, their siblings, and some parents to join in the fun at the school playground. 

On arrival, the former kindies got right to work making a candy bead necklace for their bears.  When each bear was bejeweled with a necklace, we cut accessories from scrap fabric to finish the outfits.  Some bears wearing bandanas, some with bows or aprons, they were placed to rest on the picnic blanket while Daddy read the guests a story in the "bear cave" (a small tent erected for the occasion).  After the story, the little ones returned to the blanket to find - oh no! - their bears had wandered off!  Luckily we were able to find each one hiding somewhere on the playground equipment, whew! 

Dancing bears

 Next the guests danced their recovered bears to I'm a gummy bear, Teddy bears' picnic, Let me be your teddy bear, and more bear themed songs.  And now it's time to eat!  The children were each given  a picnic basket to load up with goodies and take their snacks to the blanket to eat. 

Corn dog muffins, strawberry ladybugs, honey sandwiches, fried chicken, apple hand pies, ants on various kinds of logs, watermelon, and cupcakes!

Picnic in the park with lemonade to wash it down

Friends enjoying the goodies

When we were finished eating, the kids blew bubbles, played with their bears (ate the candy necklaces), and stormed the playground. 

When the teddies were tired, each one filled his or her basket with colouring pages, stickers, bear s'mores (teddy grahams, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips in a baggie), a box of raisins, a bear washcloth, and a packet of gummy bears on the way homeward. 

Caylie's guests were very generous, and she raised $120 for our local hospital!  She was proud and pooped and had a great time.  Thanks to all who came and made it a super event!

Wordless Whenever

Sometimes you catch a good one.

Gifts for our teachers this year; owl bookbags made with my sewing machine!