Ashley Graduation Dinner

Ashley graduates from nursing school this week so I decided to have a little graduation dinner.

Since Ashley has to work on Christmas, I took this opportunity to give her and Michael their Christmas present. Ashley and Michael bought themselves a new puppy for Ashley's graduation. They originally wanted 2 puppies but couldn't afford both right now.

So what do I do? I buy them the other puppy for Christmas. This is Kali. She's a chocolate Havanese. They pick her up on Friday along with her brother, Dexter. I gave them a card with the direction to not forget her when they pick up Dexter. Christmas is so exciting when gifts are a complete surprise and I pulled this one off. Neither Michael nor Ashley had a clue I bought the puppy. Merry Christmas Michael and Ashley!

By the way, VioLin was happily hanging from the ceiling fan tempting Violet and Lincoln once again with these coveted candy canes.

VioLin - Reading with Barbie and Hanging Out on the Fireplace

Yesterday I set VioLin up to hang with the Snoopy characters.

I had a Christmas Jingle Bells book so I set Barbie up to read to them. Violet wanted to know how Barbie got the book. We told her it was Christmas magic.

Today Violet and Lincoln came over so I had to put VioLin up where they couldn't reach him. As soon as Violet walked in the door, she wanted to know where VioLin was. I told her I would count to ten and see if she could find him. I barely got out "2" before she spotted him. It's easy to place VioLin when the kids aren't here. It's harder when you have to think of places so they can't touch him.

Violet and Lincoln also got there letters from Santa. They're so excited about Christmas.

Violet had a good time playing with the Barbie dolls.

And Lincoln was fascinated with all my animated Christmas toys. Plus he pushes the button on the train constantly. Thankfully Melissa was only gone for an hour. How does she keep up with them every day!

VioLin - Fun & Games

Yesterday VioLin decided to play with Violet's dominos.

Violet wasn't surprised when she saw this photo. She thought VioLin might play some of her games.

This morning VioLin was being silly. She tp'd my Christmas tree.

VioLin Rides the Train

VioLin came riding in on the train today.

Who would think it would be so difficult to set a felt character on a plastic train. The elf kept falling off the train. I finally taped VioLin to the train and took a video. Things went well until he came to the ladder. Then everything stopped. I sent the snap video to Violet and that was the first thing she noticed. She said his hat was too tall. It was still a cute video.

VioLin in the Plants

Today VioLin showed up in my plants.

Violet and Lincoln were over and got to see him (I keep calling it a Him even though he's a combination of the two).

After Jamie set the toilet to complete the basement remodel, we celebrated his birthday with dinner at Red Robin. Jamie and Melissa counted this as a date night since Violet and Lincoln sat opposite them in the booth with me. Happy Birthday Jamie!

Elf on a Shelf - VioLin

Today VioLin showed up - a combination of Violet and Lincoln's names. That's the name I gave my scout elf.

The scout elf arrives around the holidays and watches the behavior of Violet, Lincoln and myself and reports back to Santa. Every morning VioLin arrives in a new place in the house and you have to find where he's hiding. I told Violet I would send her a picture every day of where I found VioLin. Today he was climbing the ladder of the Christmas tree holding candy canes that will appear in Violet and Lincoln's stockings at Christmas. I'm hoping I'll be able to find different places to hide VioLin for the next 20 days.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Another year older and sometimes I feel every last second of my life. Instead of going out to dinner, I made it a working birthday.

Jamie put up the quarter round in the basement and except for setting the toilet, I believe the job is complete.

I bought myself a birthday present of new rugs for the basement. A little abstract, but I think it gives the basement character.

Teresa and Brad brought over pizza and we finished off with an ice cream cake. The "21" bears no significance. It was the only candles I had.

So Happy Birthday to me and another Happy Birthday to Jamie (his birthday is tomorrow)!