QR Elf

Here's how Madison's morning started.  It seems as if Jingle has a bit of tech in him, because on Madison's tree this morning was a small note - along with a QR Code.  The note read, "Come and find me, you'll be glad.  Use the scanner on your iPad!  See what pops up for your eyes to get another Christmas prize!"

So Madison trudged downstairs to grab her iPad, and then used a scanner on it, which popped up a photo of the elf inside a pile of laundry.  Hmmm?  I wonder where that elf could be?  Could it be the laundry room?  Madison checked the closet first, and then thought of the laundry room.  Sure enough, that's where Jingle was - along with a new present (some Nutcracker bookmarks).

Today was a full day for Madison.  We had a Christmas party in the morning in her classroom, one that had a lot of fun and activities.  Mommy and Daddy were invited, so we showed up to help out a bit, and enjoy some of the fun along the way.  We did several things at different stations, following Madison along from place to place with her classmates.  First, we made an ornament with snow in it.

Okay, it wasn't snow.  It was actually salt.  Which doesn't get along with snow.  But it lasts longer, and looks nice as an ornament she filled with snow, and pipe cleaners, some beads that spell out "BELIEVE," and a bell that hangs from the top.  Each kid had all the supplies they needed to make this ornament.

Then it was off to the hot chocolate bar for a quick drink with marshmallows!  Later, Madison also made a couple train crafts, first one with gingerbread pieces and bits of candy.  Then one with lifesavers and mini-candy bars.  You can see for yourself the theme was trains, which of course at Christmas time means "The Polar Express."  This theme would not go away today - as you'll read about shortly.

But first, there was the rest of the day.  Daddy was at work, and Mommy was at home.  And Madison was spending most of her day reading.  But then after that was piano class, which had a light touch.  Madison and the other children were singing Christmas songs together, and even playing a board game that motivated kids to memorize all the different symbols on a music sheet.  Madison actually came in second place, pulling ahead of the others at the last minute.  The one in front rolled a lot of sixes, wich are hard to overcome.

So we went home, and shortly after that, she got into her pajamas.  BUT, we were not done.  Because the next stop for us was the library.  After dinner, we went to our local library to a "Polar Express" party.

Kids sang songs, played games, and of course there was a reading of "The Polar Express."  There were stations here too, where kids made crafts, colored in Christmas sheets, and of curse had hot chocolate.  And, there was also an opportunity to meet Santa.

Yep, he was here at the library tonight.  Or, at least we think it was him.  Nobody accused him of sitting on a throne of lies or smelling like beef and cheese.

Tonight we went to bed after reading a few of the books we got from the library.  One was about a dog who saved Santa, who was very lazy in this book.  We next read another book about the Nutcracker, one where a girl gets to play a doll.  The doll just stands there and is taken away by a giant mouse, but the gir is happy she got a part.  Maybe next year she'll get a part where she can move or something.

As you just read, we had some fun today.  And we're tired tonight, and wondering what Jingle will be up to in the morning.  He sure is active lately!