DECEMBER 1ST

Chocolate advent calendars are a tradition in Paige's family that has gone on for decades. Now that Paige is all grown up, her mom carries on the tradition with her grandkids. After Thanksgiving, Grandma Forsgren sent us home with 3 advent calendars wrapped in wrapping paper so the kids didn't know what it was, they just knew they got to open something on December 1st. CJ was about to burst during those few days between getting home from Utah and Thursday, December 1st. And as soon as they opened them, CJ knew exactly what they were!

But there was something else on December 1st besides chocolate advent calendars...our home had a new friend! Meet Elf the elf (the kids named him). He's from Santa's workshop and he's here to help Santa know if the kids are being naughty or nice. He can't talk to kids, but he talks to Mommy and Daddy all the time. CJ and Mattie can talk to him though, but they can't touch him. Mommy and Daddy keep telling them to tell Elf what they want for Christmas so he can tell Santa, but they get shy around Elf. Every morning Elf is in a new spot and CJ and Mattie enjoy trying to find him in the morning. Elf has already had an injury and had to go home to see Santa early one day (he fell off the top of the microwave), but don't worry, good ol' Elf was back the next morning...in a new spot.

CJ and Mattie meeting Elf for the first time

And we had to get a picture of the kids in their adorable caps their Aunt Gaby made for them. It's a long story, but Mattie's hat was accidentally thrown away at a restaurant in Salt Lake City on our way to Temple Square, but we were lucky enough to find it - in the trash...well, in the gift bag in the trash - on our way home. They sure look cute! Thank you, Aunt Gaby!!