Final Elf Updates and Goodbye for Another Year

And the final Elf update for 2017. The 24 days have gone pretty quickly as it seems like only yesterday we were welcoming Peppermint and Buddy joining our festive family fun. So Christmas Eve is upon is and the last few nights the Elves have been very nice to the children leaving them some gingerbread and a Christmas Eve box.

 

The Elf on the Shelf ideas have been running a little dry towards the end of this year and some of their antics have lacked the usual creativity. However this years top idea definitely goes to the Elf rear window wiper which they attached to the S-Max. The kids loved this one so much that they have made me leave it on the car all month and as we drive around they get me to put on the rear wiper so that the Elf waves to the car behind. Its quite amusing though and often puts a smile on their faces and we have even had the odd driver wave back at us.

 

It looks like all 3 kiddies made it on to Santa's nice list as they received a note from their Elves a few nights back. Joshua's was for getting MOTM at football and for reading his David Walliams book that the Elves got them. Brandon got on the nice list for improving his hand writing massively and for progressing to development in his boxing. Last but not least Holly got on the nice list for singing so well at her pre-school concert and learning to write her name.

 

On Xmas Eve the Elves brought all 3 kiddies a Xmas Eve box along with a farewell letter. The boxes were all hidden in different places in the house so it was like a little treasure hunt for the kiddies. Within the Xmas Eve boxes were loads of goodies such as DVD's, sweets, bath bombs, new PJ's and so on. Before heading off to bed tonight the kiddies all gave their respective Elves and farewell hug and then set them down by the little Elf door with their tiny little key. So for another year we bid farewell to Candy Cane, Buddy and Peppermint.

 

 

Day 16 and the Elves had a genius idea to add a waving Elf to the S-Max rear wiper.

Pictures do not do this justice, you need to see the video of the Elf waving. Its great.

Day 17 and the Elves played around with the magnetic letter to leave a little message for the kids on the fridge.

 

Day 18 and the Elves went in to Bond mode creating a zip wire across the living room.

 

Zip wire action as an Elf hangs on for his life.

Day 19 and the Elves had borrowed the boys fire engines from their bedrooms and were practicing fireman carries down the ladders.

The poor fireman getting chucked over an Elves shoulder for rescue practice.

Day 20 and the Elves decided no TV or PS4 for the day with "Elves Being Naughty" tape.

 

Day 21 and it was a popcorn movie night on the kids I-pads. But they did bring "Nice" notices for all 3 of them as well.

Joshua, Brandon and Holly with their "Nice" notices, Holly insisted her baby held hers and was in the picture.

Day 22 and the Elves were very naughty and cooked (well burnt) marshmallows over a candle on the cooker.

On day 23 the Elves were again good and brought the kids some ginger bread Xmas trees and some bean boozle beans.



Day 24 and the kids all got Xmas Eve boxes, Joshua's was hidden behind the Xmas tree.



 



Brandon's box was hiding in the downstairs toilet.



 

Holly's box was hiding under the kitchen table.

 

Farewell letters and Xmas Eve boxes from their Elves.

 

Farewell hugs for the Elves from Josh, Brandon and Holly as they say their goodbyes for another year. Loving all of their new PJ's which were in their Xmas Eve boxes.

 

Holly's 1st Ever Park Run

Christmas Eve and what a better way to start the day than dragging the kids out of bed nice and early to head to Chelmsford for the Xmas 2k park run. As Holly turned 4 last month this was the first time that she was eligible to participate. However I didn't think she was capable of running the full 2k and figured at best she would only make one lap and subsequently I didn't register her to get an official bar code.

 

Anyway she lined up with me at the start line with both of us wearing our Santa hats - Holly had her pony tail poking through a hole in the Santa hat which looked cool. Anyway she absolutely shocked me and completed the whole 2k only stopping twice. In fact the first 1k lap she didn't stop at all and was even putting in little bursts of turbo speed. She held my hand most of the way but every now and then she let go and ran on her own.

 

As we went around the 2k course she was giving high fives to all the marshals and having an absolute blast. I was just in awe and amazed that she did the full 2k at just 4 years of age and was so proud of my little girl. Her finishing time was a fraction over 17 minutes and even more amazingly was that she wasn't the last one to cross the finish line.

 

And we are off from the start line and a very cheeky grin from Holly.

Lap 1 and Holly is running strong as we go around the lake.

On the odd occasion Holly let go of my hand and out on some turbo.

In the final straight Brandon ran up to meet me and Holly (as he had already finished) and helped motivate his little sister to the finish line.

A very, very proud moment as Holly completes her very first 2k park run.

As a special reward we hit Dunkin Donuts after the run and enjoyed some festive donuts with some coffees for the adults and some milk shakes for the kids.

Our festive selection of Dunkin Donuts.

Strava screen shot of Holly's first ever completed 2k park run. Just amazing effort.

I'm A Secret Santa Get Me Out of Here Cracker

As always me and the kiddies have made our giant Xmas cracker all ready for boxing day. It's a sure sign the two boys are growing older though as they showed minimal interest in helping this year. In fact Holly was the only one that helped me with the cutting, rolling and putting the ribbons on. Then Brandon helped Holly to add some stickers on to the end sections, and Joshua has yet to contribute (very disappointing).

 

Anyway this year's theme we decided to keep fairly relevant and decided on a "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here", only we changed it to "I'm a Secret Santa Get Me Out of Here!". So the centre section is dual colour to represent the green jungle with blue skies, then the end sections are the mud parts of the jungle. We have animal jungle stickers, and green tinsel to break the sections up.

 

I have to say I think this one has come out pretty good and hope Santa is appreciative and fills it with lots of secret Santa presents.

 

Holly was very keen to help me with the cracker (unlike the boys).

Holly did lots of cutting, she said she was making the fire to go inside the cracker.



On go the ribbons around the outside of the end pieces.

The main body was a two piece design this year to represent green jungle and blue sky.

Finally one of the boys joins in as he helps Holly to add the stickers to the end bits of the cracker.

 

Finally getting some help from Joshua putting on the main body sticker.

Josh and B working hard cutting out loads of bugs and celebrities to stick on the cracker.

Holly cutting out some insects.

Brandon and H adding some finishing touches.

And he is the finished giant cracker. Absolutely love this one and think its one of our best yet.

It's Christmas Eve and whilst rummaging through the garage I finally found our inflatable outdoor decoration from last year!

Christmas Eve and Josh, Brandon and Holly leave Santa a mince pie and some Guinness along with a carrot and some milk for the reindeer's.



Xmas Inflatable Antler Game

We received a parcel today just in time for the Xmas festivities which contained and inflatable antler hoop game. Disappointingly the antlers had a small hole in and wouldn't inflate, but there was no time to exchange them before Xmas. So a quick glue repair from me and we are now up and running.Holly really likes them game and even braved wearing the antlers whilst I threw the hoops at her.

 

Also for the Xmas period we have bought one of those selfie photo frames with the props. So this afternoon me and Holly decided to set the props up and too a few funny pics. Holly is getting a bit of a dab hand with my camera as all the shots of me and Tina were taken by Holly.

 

Our new antler hoop game which has arrived just in time for the Xmas festivities.

The antlers looks pretty large on Holly's head.

Reindeer Brandon with a mouth full of food he has squirrelled away.

 

Holly enjoying a game of antler hoops with me being the reindeer.

 

Then it was Holly's turn to be the reindeer.



Love this picture of Holly using some of the props from the selfie photo frame kit.

Rudolph the red nosed Holly.

Holly's photography is improving as she snap me as Rudolph.

Not sure this little prop combo that Holly picked for me really works.

Santa Daddy with big rosey lips.

Holly with a moustache and a red nose.

More photography from Holly as she convinces Mummy to play with her.

A bearded Santa Tina.