Christmas Leftovers & What I've Done the Last Month

Well, guys, sorry I've been absent for close to a month!!  You know how it is when the kids are home from school- there's no time for anything!  I know that by now, we're all pretty much done with Christmas, but I thought I'd sneak in just a few more pics to show you what we've been up to since I last blogged.

 

 I was able to convince Avery to go see Santa, although the boys would have nothing to do with him!

 

 I made a couple more Advent Trees for my sisters for Christmas.  The  adorable ornaments were from Hobby Lobby.

 

Our Elf on the Shelf, Silly Pinnochio, found some fun places to hide every night- in the drawer of this doll dresser was my favorite!

 

 And, of course, the kids got some fun presents for Christmas- Lincoln Logs for Riley,...

 

 ...a Nerf gun for Noah,...

 

...and a Journey Girl doll (Toys R Us version of an American Girl) for Avery.  I've lamented here about Avery's lack of interest in dolls, so when she expressed interest in American Girl dolls, I was ready to oblige!  She was fascinated with finding a doll that looks "just like her", and wearing matching clothes.

 

So I went all out with it!  I replaced the doll's original name and description on the package with this one I wrote up about Avery.  And she totally believed it-she was amazed that there was a doll that was exactly like her!

 

The doll came with glasses, so she went and found my glasses to put on- ha!

 

 And of course I also got several matching outfits for Avery and Avery Jr. (what she decided to name her).  It makes my doll-loving heart smile!

I got several homemade presents from the kids, which always makes me happy!
 

 Another BIG project I worked on last month was creating Moortgatopoly.  My kids, Riley especially, love to play Monopoly, so I thought it would be fun to create a personalized one.  Well, I didn't know what I was in for when I started, because it ended up taking hours upon hours to do it.  But in the end, it turned out great- all the properties are personalized, as well as all the Chance cards, etc.  I hope it will become a great memory for the kids, sitting around playing it!

 

 Ah, and finally, moving past Christmas...  Avery learned to ride her bike last month!  She's so excited!

 

 We've spent lots of time outside, because the weather's been so nice.  We went on a hike and ended up by this pier.  All those birds back behind the kids are pelicans!

 

 Also some time at the beach...

 

 Don't let these kids fool you though.  While they're running around in the water in shorts and bathing suits, I was dry up on the sand, feeling chilly, because it was only like 65 degrees with the wind blowing!

 

I don't know how kids can do that!

 

 But they were as happy as can be, despite being soaked and cold!

 

And our last bit of news is that Avery lost her first tooth a couple days ago!  Unfortunately, she didn't even realize she had lost it- we think it came out while she was eating pizza, but we couldn't ever find it!  It makes me sad, because I've kept all the teeth my kids have lost, and those first ones are extra-special! 

 

Well, I hope everyone is having a great new year!  I'm working on another dollhouse tour, so that should be up within a few days!  See ya then!