Countdown to Christmas

December 1st...our official countdown to Christmas began!  One of my favorite Christmas traditions as a child was our Christmas Tree Advent Calendar.  Each day there was a little pocket that had an ornament to decorate the tree with and a slip of paper with something to do on it.  We really wanted to experience this with Ry so my mom (Oma) made him his very own Advent Calendar.  Today was the first day and we got to make Hot Chocolate Cocoa (as Ry calls it) with candy canes!  He was pretty excited.  The sad part was that he was amazed we could make Hot Chocolate Cocoa at home - he thought we were going to Starbucks!!

Also today we introduced our very own Elf on the Shelf!  Grandma brought him a very special elf that will be keeping an eye on him this holiday season.  It was truly amazing to see the twinkle in his eye as he was learning about the elf!  Christmas Magic!  We've always loved Christmas time, but this year is so extra special!!  It's really cool to see things through Ryland's eyes!  The evening took a funny turn when we were discussing what the elf's name should be.  Ryland suggested the following:  Divo, Hide Ya Kids, Mole & Ryland...lovely choices!  (Mole is the word Ryland uses to refer to a nipple.)  Our choice was obvious...we went with Divo.  Several times he went up to the elf tonight to talk to him.  "Divo - I sorry a getting yellow at school today, please do not tell Santa"  "Divo - why you have beard?"  "Divo - I brush a teeth all by self - please tell Santa"  Divo - I would like a surprise of a remote control motorcycle, blue."  It's been a pretty cute evening!

Ryland is in bed now and just called out to me "Mama - where is elf?  Why he not go see Santa yet?"