Christmas is coming

Lydia listens to the children's sermon.

Madelyn wears a dress that Lydia wore.

Lydia and Murphy are best friends.

Noel takes a bubble bath.

Grandma Corky sends stockings for the girls.

Lydia takes pictures:

The little sister and the big sister.

Our Elf on the Shelf

Santa sent us an elf of our very own this year! I first heard of this tradition 3 years ago when one of my first graders wrote a story about her elf, Steve. I was actually pregnant with Lydia at the time, so we waited a few years. The package was waiting when Lydia and Joey got home from running an errand.

Then Joey read the book to the girls.

And we named her Noel.

(That's the first Christmasy name to pop in my head. Lydia loved and Joey said it is the French word for Christmas. Perfect!)

She's been appearing in a lot of locations around the house.

And she even showed up in Lydia's classroom to spy on her there!

Santa even sent an elf to my classroom. They named him Mr. Shivers.