Family Traditions ~

Last year i purchased "The Elf on the Shelf" in hopes to start a new family tradition. :) I looked and looked everywhere and finally i walked into Barnes and Noble and asked a young guy that worked there if they had any left. He said yes but only one ....AND only because someone just returned it. But it was just a week till Christmas so i just got it and put it away for this year. Which is good cause this year my little girl can actually understand it. I pulled it out the other night and read the story to her and she was so excited to see the little elf. We gave him the name "Buddy". Which i love cause i love the movie "ELF". Anyway...."Buddy" made his debut on our bookshelf this morning. And he is all she can talk about today. I LOVE IT!!

Here he is....isn't he adorable!!?? I can't wait to see if she remembers every morning to look for him. And there you have it....a new family tradition that puts a smile on my face. :o)

We also got up a new tree. It actually went up a week before thanksgiving but i'm just now getting around to posting a few pics. This tree belongs to my little boy. I wanted something simple and rustic for him.

And now looking at the pics i see that it is alittle crooked. I will have to straighten that up. hehe!! But i think it turned out so cute! And no that isn't an animal gone loose in our house....that is his coon skin hat he got in Cherokee back in the summer. :P

Brown reindeer......
Green too......

Blue stockings that someone gave him.

And with the lights off. He clapped when he saw the lights. My heart melted! One the tippy top is the Santa hat that he wore last year for his first Christmas photos. This year it doesn't fit his sweet little head but looks great on the top of the tree. :)

Tomorrow i have some pics to post of our new fireplace surround! Happy Happy Joy Joy!!!! And we'll see where "BUDDY" is hiding.