Sometimes An Elf just has to be wild

To-u living on the wild side!

A special Elf visit

Yesterday To-u dropped in with a little something from the North pole for The Boy's birthday. He wore his ribbon the school. I had to take it off him at bedtime.
Do you think The Boy liked his birthday present? He was one happy boy.
We took credit for the 4 wheeler, To-u claimed the ribbon. 

The Elf & A 7 year old

Today the most adorable Boy turned 7.
Seven years old. How is that possible?
The same way an Elf straps himself into Buzz Lightyear's rocket.
It 's by magic or a joke.
The day's may creep by, but the years sure fly by.

Have you hugged a Marine today?

To-u did. Two infact.
The Boy found To-u in my doll cabinet this morning. Arms around both my Marine figures.
I just noticed the look on the Cupie doll's face. "Like, is that a for realz Elf on my shelf?"

Just because

This Boy makes me laugh!
Elf stuff to continue...

Crazy around here

The Boy woke this morning to the aftermath of a wild night.
It seems To-u invited Woody & Buzz over for popcorn and late night movies.
Kinda looks like Buzz fell asleep during it all.
It just gets all kinds of crazy around our house!

Day 2 with the Elf

Day 2 finds To-a/To-u riding a mystery reindeer. Please note the thumbs up sign. I should
get extra brownie points for that.
This may get pretty boring for you guys. But The Boy carries on like the little guy brought us
the winning lottery ticket or something.
In other news...It got COLD here. I would just now be feeling a crisp coolness in the air. Starting to wonder if I should bring out the jackets. I am not cut out for cold weather.

P.S- This will not be the last time you hear me complain about how cold it is here. Yes, I know I'm not in Alaska or anything, but still. It's COLD.

Our version of Elf on a Shelf

To-a (pronounced To (then u as in umbrella) To-u. I have no idea how to spell that.
To-u came when The Boy was 3 about to turn 4. Which kinda explains the choice of names the poor thing got stuck with. No cutesie CandyCane or Mr. Magic for us. The Boy was having fun making up nonsense words at this point in his life. So To-u it was. This is his 3rd year with us.
I am much too cheap to actually buy Elf on a Shelf. So I bought the ever cute AnnaLee Elf.
I Wrote the rules & story on a rolled up piece of paper and it's been fun ever since. He comes on Thanksgiving day/night.
The first time To-u came I had put him in the light fixture over the kitchen table and wanted to see how long it would take for The Boy to spot him. As luck would have it (& it was pure luck) later that night we were sitting at the table making an ornament and To-u fell down right between us and the little rolled up "introduction" paper fell down after him. The look on The Boy's face was priceless!
I must say I was a little stunned myself. I couldn't have made that happen even if I'd thought of it.
I've been meaning to document To-u's actions for the last 2 years, but always forgot to take pictures and there was ALOT of forgetting to move him. (Lazy Elf, anyways landing in the same place.)
This year I have good intentions. So hopefully I will be creative enough, remember the camera, actually take the pictures & then put them on here.
Here is To-u's grand entry this year.

As I read the paper and see the look on To-u's face, I think I can understand how this might cause some issues later in life. Maybe it could have been worded a little less creepy. I'll have to work on that.
(you can click on the picture for a close up)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I am so very thankful for all God has given me. The most wonderful husband, who loves his family.
3 Beautiful daughters & 1 handsome Boy. And  to date 5 gorgeous MeMe babies (grand kids) The list could go on forever, but I'll give you a break.
I hope you have a wonderful day!

All is Well

The Boy spends his evenings playing Legos and riding his plasma car in the basement.
He loves his new school. Two report cards periods in and he has straight A's on both. I'm not proud or
anything.

Do you know how long it's been since I've had McDo*nalds? A long time and that's a good thing.
One thing about our New Normal...You better have what you want to cook for dinner or anything else for that matter, because it's a good hour round trip to the closest grocery store.
I spend my mornings shuttling The Boy to the next county over to school. My thoughts  usually along the lines of,"Wonder if I'll win the Not behind a tractor load of tobacco, Disker,Plow,or Hay Baler, Lottery this morning"? Then I play the same game in the afternoon when it's time to pick him up.
After twenty odd years of NOT having a fall or spring for that matter, it's kind of nice seeing the beautiful colors of fall. It has been absolutely beautiful around here this year. It is very likely I will not be so fond of the cold. I DO NOT like cold. But how much more beautiful I know it will make the Spring be. I just have to keep telling myself that.
The husband and I both like the New Normal.
As a side note, to let you know how ingrained foster*care is in my mentality. I stood in front of a sale isle of a store contemplating if I should buy the diapers on sale. For about 10 minutes it didn't strike me that I DON'T NEED DIAPERS ANYMORE. Even if they are on sale!!!! The husband had to go out of state for a few days for work, we thought about going with him to see the sights while he worked. My first thought was, "we can't do that, the social*worker would have a fit on such short notice." I'm a big girl, I don't have to answer to anybody else about what I want to do or when I want to do it!!!!(unless you count Harper Dog, and he must be answered to) I am FREEEEEEE.
I still think these thoughts will come at me at the craziest times though.