Brewster's Adventures {2015}

Oh, Brewster the Elf on the Shelf.  If I had known how much work you would require the entire month before Christmas, I am not sure if I would have caved to the pressure to start this little traditional.  I know you are so fun for the kids and that they have grown quite attached to you in the last few years, but there are so many late nights/early mornings when I had some regrets.  We powered through this year, and you gave the kids many smiles and laughs over some of your crazy antics.  Some days you were extra creative and ingenious, but many days you were just too lazy to even move.  I guess we will call it a successful year for you.

Brewster arrived with a little flare with a message written with some sweet tarts from the boys' Halloween candy and a special letter. 

Then, he was up to some mischief when he swiped our stockings and replaced them with our underwear, even a diaper for Mattox. 

He also toilet papered the tree AGAIN.  There was more toilet paper, but Brody pulled some off. 

Then, he built himself a rocket to make his trip to the North Pole faster and more efficient. 

He sweetly reminded the boys of the real reason for the season with coloring sheets for Jesus' birthday. 

Brewster's coloring skills are pretty phenomenal considering he has no fingers or opposable thumbs.  

Brody and Evan both did an excellent job on their coloring sheets. 

Brewster built us a snowman again.  This time it was out of toilet paper rolls in the bathroom. 

Brewster was a trickster when he put his name on all of our stockings.  

He either hung himself or was trying to be a superhero again and flying from our dining room light fixture. 

Wearing his special B superhero cloak. 

Ready to cheer the Panthers to another victory in their almost perfect season.  Sigh.  We gave up our perfect season in last week's crappy loss to the Falcons after we had just defeated them in a blowout game of 38-0.  Sigh. 

Brewster decided to throw his hat into the ring and run for President.  I think he has a good chance on that platform of free hot chocolate and candy canes for everyone.  

Or maybe he will do better as a psychiatrist.  He borrowed this idea from Lucy from Peanuts after the boys had just seen the new movie. 

He sweetly reminded the boys to write letters or draw pictures for their sweet sister.  

Brewster's sweet letter to Mattie

Brody did such a great job with his letter and pictures.  

Evan's angel drawing was excellent, and his sweet letter makes me cry. 

Daddy also wrote a sweet letter to his favorite girl. 

Brewster had a little fun "snowball" fight with his superhero friends.  

Brewster made his very own little Christmas tree. 

Chef Brewster was ready on Christmas Eve to bake Jesus' birthday cake. 

And he was waiting on Christmas morning with a letter from Santa and the empty cookie plate to see what the boys got on Christmas morning. 

Santa & His Crew

It is going to take me a little while to go through all the pictures from Christmas, but in the meantime, I wanted to share these little gems of my boys dressed in their Christmas pajamas.  These are all re-used pajamas, and I just loved getting to use them another year.  Brody was our little Santa in 2011, and Evan was the elf.  This year, Mattox was our jolly little Santa, and Brody was his elf helper.  Evan was their trusty reindeer.

Little Santa did not want to stay put for these pictures so his reindeer had his hands hoofs full trying to hold him.

Oh my, that picture of Evan and Mattox hugging is just the best.  Mattox was really hugging Evan and wrapped his arms around him. 

The elf wasn't too cooperative here.

And these two really do love one another although they do their share of fighting too.  And the elf decided to turn into a Christmas monster here.  These were actually taken earlier, and I just had to share them. 

Little Santa was trying to escape with Elf's hat.  Haha!

The Sweetest Gift Under the Tree {Mattox}

In 2011, I did a sweet little photo shoot with Brody for his first Christmas where he was sitting in a Christmas wrapped box.  I dreamed of trying this with Mattox for so long.  Mattox was definitely our family's favorite present this year!

He did manage to tear off a little piece of the paper.  He loves trying to eat paper. 

"Hey, where did my paper go?"

Sweet little profile. 

"Why am I in a box?"

"Hmmm, this looks tasty!"

"Nom nom nom!"

I am surprised we got any photos where he wasn't eating the box. 

He did smile some, but mostly he was too busy trying to figure out how to get out of the box. 

Sweet baby in a box.  What could be cuter? 

A little smile. 

"I know, I know, I'm cute!"

Happy baby with his tongue hanging out.

Yay, I can make a break for it!

"Just a couple more mom, and I am out of here."

"And I am out of here."

And of course, the comparison:

I just love these babies.