Christmas comes early

Matthew 7 "11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" 



Maybe it was the fact that our new advent calendar ended on December 24th or maybe it was simply just the fact that I wanted to spread the kid's short attention spans out over two days, but whatever the case, we tried something new and opened stocking presents on Christmas eve this year.

Most of the gifts had been acquired at the dollar store but brought just as much joy as any expensive gifts.  There were musical instruments, socks, fake money, jewelry, toothbrushes, masks, hair accessories, dress-up clothes that got swapped around, candy, and gifts I picked out and purchased for myself. (and one very extravagant non-stocking gift that I did not purchase for myself...M remembered I had told him a while ago that one day I would like a tennis bracelet.  He picked one out that day to surprise me, but it was not available at local store, only Memorial City.  Fortunately, he had an "in"  at Jared.  The regional manager hand-delivered it himself at 10:30 at night!  Thanks, Scott!  What a special husband I have!)

And Daddy?  We thought about giving him nothing but a lump of coal in his stocking...

...but instead he got some gummy bears, toothbrush, etc... too!

Merry Christmas Eve! (and yes, A's shirt is on backwards...)

The triple-named elf

Revelation 2 "17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."

Our elf on the shelf came to visit again this year...  He regularly remembered to move! (yeah!)  And only got caught once... D looked at me with a horrified expression when he caught me.  I just blurted out, "Shhh...Don't tell your sisters...Um, sometimes Gussie needs a little help."  Then, M proceeded to move him later on and Gussie's magic returned. :)  (ironically, E was just more skeptical from the beginning.  She asked me many times, "Where did you move Bucky?"


No, you did not just read a typo.  For although the elf's name is Gussie (as D so correctly calls him),  E persisted in calling him "Bucky" and A?  Abigail was certain his name was "Monkey!"  And lest, I was misunderstanding her, I would repeat back "Monkey" to her and she would nod and agree, "Monkey!"  And this, no matter how many times I corrected her and told her his name is "Gussie."  :)

Merry Christmas!