Jingle Bells is Here

We started doing Elf on a Shelf this year. Addie got it last year as a Christmas present, and we unpacked it this year and started the tradition.
My parents were here, so they read her the Elf on a Shelf book, and she listened very carefully...along with Sassy.

After they were done, there was a knock at the door, so GiGi and Addie went to answer it.

There was a pink package for Addie waiting for her. 

 She was VERY excited to get a present, and went racing to the living room to open it.

Meet Jingle Bells. (Named by Addie.)

After the initial excitement wore off, Addie put Jingle Bells back in the box, and told GiGi to wrap her back up so she could open her present again.

So she did. :)

This went on about 35 more times, until there was literally no wrapping paper left.

I have a feeling this will be fun....

It's beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas...

We put the tree up and decorated it last night with my parents.
To say Addie LOVES it is an understatement.
Christmas is going to be SO.MUCH.FUN. this year.

I took a Click Workshop (actually, I've taken a couple of them now) a while ago with some friends, one of the things they talked about was getting a fun "glowing" picture of your Christmas Tree. They gave all the settings, and told you how to set it up. Another girl who had taken the class posted her picture from last year on Pinterest (AKA the best website in the WORLD), and it blew up! So, I'm linking up to her blog so you can see hers as well. :) 

Also, anyone who wants to try it themselves, here are the settings:

Camera in Manual

ISO 3200 (1600 will work as well)

F 1.8 (I used my 50mm lens)

SS 1/30 

Make sure to use a tripod, or just prop your camera on a counter or couch so you don't get any movement. 

Soup Day

Addie has always loved to look at books and have us read them to her. We've always had a few that were her favorite, and that everyone who had ever been around her had completely memorized from reading them SO many times. Her newest obsession favorite one is Soup Day by Melissa Iwai.

We are lucky enough to get AMAZING children's books from my parent's neighbor from time to time, and this was one of those times. Originally, GiGi had given this book to Penny (she always splits up the books between the girls), but Addie loved it, and Aunt Liz was sweet enough to insist Addie take it home with her. We read this book approximately 17 times a day. At least.

Last time GiGi was here (after reading this book OVER AND OVER AND OVER), she told Addie that next time she came to visit, they would make the Soup Day Soup. Holy excitement. Well, not one for empty promises, GiGi delivered. She was coming on Sunday, so Ryan and I took Addie shopping on Saturday night for all the ingredients she would need to cook with GiGi.

She was VERY excited to be picking out the groceries by herself.

 Browsing the Veggie Selection.

 "Oops...we almost forgot the Parsley" (she was yelling this as loudy as she could. It's one of her favorite lines of the book. Ha.)

Throwing her purchases into the cart.

All the ingredients ready to go!

Addie and GiGi preparing to cook up their soup.

They washed and peeled all the vegetables.

Double checking which shapes to cut their veggies in.

Cutting the celery into squares.

Looking for a measuring cup.

Measuring out her celery squares.

Cutting the carrots into circles.

Taking her job very seriously.

Chopping potatoes into cubes.

Getting everything onto plates to dump into the pot.

Finishing up the potatoes.

GiGi helping Addie cut the zucchini.

She loved getting to help cut up the "soft" veggies.

Cutting up the mushrooms. Which Addie thought was HILARIOUS for some reason. She was cracking up. Silly girl.

Measuring out the mushrooms.

She also INSISTED that everything be put in a measuring cup before going onto the plate. Ha.

GiGi chopped up the onions.

Reading about what to do now that everything's been chopped up.

"Oops...we almost forgot the Parsley!"

Holding her Green "funfetti" as she calls it.

Starting to add the ingredients in.

Double Checking the recipe. (Which was nicely printed in the back of the book!)

Tossing in the potatoes.

Adding more ingredients.

Stirring the soup.

Simmering on the stove.

Playing outside with GiGi while waiting for it to cook.

Cooking up the pasta to add into the soup.

Building a castle while they wait for the pasta to cook.

Checking to see how the soup smells.

The Final Product.

Addie's soup.

She thought it was quite tasty, and was quite proud of herself!

Sassy liked it too.

This was such a cute book, and Addie was SO excited to make her Soup Day Soup. This was a perfect way to kick off our Holiday Festivities this week!