What Are You Doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?

Well, if you are me, you are sitting in bed in your comfiest pajamas, sipping a cup of rewarmed coffee and hoping that your eyelids will stay open for the next two and a half hours so that you just might witness the first few minutes of 2012. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

I realize that it would be far more exciting to report that we were out painting the town, but alas this is our life.  And not just our "Life After Kids".  You see, the hubby and I have spent every New Year's Eve together since 1998, and I cannot remember a single one that we have spent out and about. I would be willing to bet that The Hubby has had to work at least half of those evenings (including tonight).  And the other half?  Well, I guess we just opted to stay home.  Oh wait, there was that one year when I was pregnant with The Reporter.  I rang in 2005 in the Emergency Room with some, um, intestinal distress.  That was living it up.  Let me tell ya. . .

So as the rest of the world is welcoming in 2012 amidst noise and haste, I am sitting here listening to the sounds of children (and a dog) snoring.

And I wouldn't have it any other way. . .

As soon as the hubby signs off, he will join me and we will pop open the bottle of bubbly chilling in the fridge and usher in the new year and all it has to offer.


So long 2011. . .

Friday Finds---Frank Style!

So, I am well aware that it is not Friday anymore (just as I am well aware of how long it has been since I last updated my blog--oops!).  However, thanks to a LARGE cup of coffee after 8pm, I have put children to bed, completely clean out the "art studio" and rearranged the playroom (sorry, no pics--it was embarrassingly awful!), and still have a little steam left to blog a bit!  I have been staying up later the past few nights to put finishing touches on Christmas decorations, straighten up our crazy-messy house, and spy on Frank, Our Elf on the Shelf!  He has been up to some pretty tricky things since he returned. . . and he has to be extra careful not to get to close to someone's little chubby toddler fingers. . .

So far we have found him. . .

Doing a little sewing to help me finish up the Advent Calendar!
(He also made a little red garland that he has decorated with each day!)

Checking himself out in the entry mirror. . . vain little man. . .

Perched on the newly finished Advent Calendar
(Blog post to come about the construction and idea behind it!!)

Working overtime by cleaning The Reporter's room and organizing the Dress-up closet!
(And it has stayed clean since that very day. . . .hmmm--the power of suggestion. . .)

Watching over Kitchen activities. . .

Checking out the Playroom!

Leaving a sweet treat for The Reporter, only after eating a few. . .
must have been his reward for cleaning that room. . . 

Delivering the star for the top of the tree!

Just hanging around!

Hosting an early morning Story time for his minions! 

Keeping watch in the Dining Room. . . .

Guarding the goods. . . .

We are having such fun finding Frank each day!  It is a great motivator to get Someone out of bed each day!

Speaking of bed. . . the coffee is wearing off and the yawns are setting in!  Can't wait to share and tell about my Advent Calendar, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. . .