The reason I'm MIA this week…..

Hi everyone ~ I'll be a little MIA this week on the posts because I'm coordinating and hosting my annual Christmas Craft Show this week-end.  If you're in the Brenham, Texas area -- I give you a personal invitation to stop on by.   I'll be back next week with another T.G.I.F. Linky Party so please forgive me ladies….:) FACEBOOK FAN PAGE….CLICK HERE WEBSITE ….. CLICK HERE

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Elf on the Shelf - Sharing the True Meaning of Christmas

 You may remember this post from the other day when I shared that our family would be adopting an elf this year.   Don't feel alone if you're not familiar with this tradition -- I myself only learned of it last year.   Our Elf on the Shelf arrived from the North Pole on Thanksgiving Day addressed to Spencer.  He was very excited with this little fella and quickly wanted to learn as much as he could.  He loved the book and quickly decided his name was Jack.  Jack Elf Wellmann is his whole name.  Per Spencer "he has to have a middle name, mom".  Pin It

Our Thanksgiving Table 2012

Hi everyone!  I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday.   Our family sure did.  We had lots of good food, football and family time.  For the last several years….I have been cooking on Thanksgiving for my family (hubby and my boys) and invite my in-laws over to join us .  My parents usually travel to Louisiana for some casino time -- so I am content with not having a big family get-together.  We love watching football on Thanksgiving Day and our team the Houston Texans did not disappoint us.  Yay!  I wanted to share a few pictures of my Thanksgiving table.  It's nothing fancy but it is definitely "me"…..I very seldom have everything matching and love a hodge podge full of different decor.  

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T.G.I.F. Linky Party #76

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! 

  I hope you all had a TERRIFIC day!     It's T.G.I.F. Linky Party time here at Craft Junkie Too and it's YOUR time to share your projects with us.     

    Let's share a few features from last week's party….

  

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Camo Cookies

Wooden Picture Prints

Thanksgiving Paper Art

Thanksgiving Artwork - free printable

DIY Lampshade

Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

If you've been featured -- please grab the code for your blog :)

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Elf on the Shelf ~ A Christmas Tradition! Linky Party

  I must have been hiding under a rock all of these years because 2011 was the first holiday season that I ever heard about the Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition.  Yes, where have I been??  Last year….it was a little late in the season to get started so I figured I'd wait until this year to get our family a kit.  So I was thrilled when I saw them at a local shop (I paid $29.99 +tax) and am now searching online and pinterest for ideas to get our Elf as part of the family.  

Here's the story behind the tradition…..
Adapted from Wikipedia - the online dictionary Every day from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, each family's scout elf watches over the children and then at night, once everyone goes to bed, the elf flies back to the North Pole to report back to Santa about what activities, good and bad, took place throughout the day. Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides. By hiding in a new spot each morning around the house, the scout elf and the family play an on-going game of hide and seek. The Elf on the Shelf explains that elves get their magic by being named. In the back of each book, families have an opportunity to write their elf's name and the date that they adopted it. Once the elf is named, the scout elf receives its special Christmas magic which allows it to fly to and from the North Pole. However, the magic might go if touched, so the rule for The Elf on the Shelf states: "There's only one rule that you have to follow so I will come back and be here tomorrow: Please do not touch me. My magic might go, and Santa won't hear all I've seen or I know." Although families aren't supposed to touch their scout elf, they can talk to it and tell it all their Christmas wishes so it can report back to Santa accurately. [read the rest of the story here>>]

I figure that our Elf on the Shelf kit will "arrive" around Thanksgiving Day addressed to Spencer (my 6 year old).  I'm going to wrap it in kraft paper and "address" it to Spencer….leaving it in a safe place near the backdoor for him to "find".  It's all in fun!  Since it has a story book included I think this will be a wonderful start to our holiday season.  Spencer will get to name our Elf and learn all about the tradition.    I'm planning to get my oldest son involved in some of the moving of our Elf.  I'm not sure if our Elf will participate in mischief because I don't want to confuse Spencer ….but I'll see how it goes.  I know some may not agree that the Elf should do mischief -- but that's the beauty of the tradition; you can make it what you want it to be.       I've collected a few ideas for our Elf on the Shelf tradition and thought I'd share them with you too. Pinterest Elf on the Shelf Ideas  

  I can't wait to share our journey with our Elf on the Shelf (yet to be named).   If you have ideas, pictures to share or posts you've written please share them on the linky party below. Elf on the Shelf Links only please =)
        graphic credits: My Cute Graphics



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{Thanksgiving Burlap Banner} from Pinkie for Pink

I am most always completely amazed by the creative talent that I am so blessed to see each and every week on the  T.G.I.F. Linky Party.  I get seriously giddy, my heart races and I feel my head spinning a bit when I see everyone's wonderful projects.  Thank  you! I'd like to share this Thanksgiving Burlap Banner this week!   l.o.v.e.!! Thanks Nichole for sharing this fabulous tutorial and your decorated Thanksgiving mantel with us!  

  (click here to see this tutorial) Lots more pictures including step by step tutorial.  Stop by Pinkie for Pink and let her know Tracy sent ya!  =)

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