night of the ninjas

This week Anna has discovered the Magic Tree House books.  I love it!  It has been a 1st grade rite of passage for each of our kids.  Each day this week she has read an entire book. 

She spends every afternoon and evening engrossed in her book.  She brings it to bed with her so she can read until she falls asleep.  

At this rate, she'll make it through our entire collection of 35 books by mid-February.  After that I think we'll introduce her to Junie B. Jones.

An un-related story . . . . 

One afternoon (that turned into evening) during Christmas break, Anna and I piled onto my bed and popped in Downton Abbey Season 2 -- I wanted to do a little refresher before Season 3 began.  First, can I just say that I love that she sat there and watched it all with me?  Anyways, at one point she said, "Mom, I have a question."  So I paused the show and turned to her.  In a curious, yet incredulous tone she said,  "All my friends at church and at school keep talking about this . . . elf?  I don't even know what it's all about!  It like, comes to their houses and does like crazy things.  I mean, what are they even talking about?!" 

Ahh, the Elf on the Shelf.  We don't have an Elf.  And even though I've been tempted at times, and I think they are super cute (I love seeing the pictures on pinterest & instagram) . . . I'm holding strong.  I definitely do not need to add another tradition to our holidays that requires daily effort.  Too much work.

Anyways, I replied, "I don't know.  That is so weird!  That seems kind of annoying that an elf would come to their houses and mess stuff up."

Anna, "I know!"

And then it was back to Downton Abbey.

{photos taken this morning before school}