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Paloola from the North Pole.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Family Fun+ Katie


Last year about this time, we were visited.

By an elf.

From the North Pole.

Oh yeah. She just broke right into our apartment — came down the chimney, I suppose? — and we came home to find…. this.

It was disturbing to come home to find that AN ELF had just made herself at home, began unpacking Christmas decorations and…. dragging them up the stairs.

Freaky.

And not just to us…. the American Girls were a little freaked out too…. we came home to find the poor girls huddled on the stairs, watching, afraid…

Katie Beth wasn’t sure what to think.

But fortunately, the elf had brought a note explaining who she was and that Santa had sent her to our house to be our Elf for Christmas. God bless sweet Santa; he meant well…

Her name was Paula, the letter said, but Katie Beth couldn’t quite sound out that word so it came out ‘Paloola.’ And Paula/Paloola decided she liked that name better, because the name that’s given to you by the kids is the most special name of all.

But that little rapscallion

made herself a little too comfortable. She took over the girls’ bedroom, took all the Groovy Girls’ furniture for herself, and … decorated their room for Christmas.

And not only that… she would bake things in the middle of the night. I came downstairs many-a-morning to find an absolute MESS in the kitchen.

The kids loved her, though. They played with her every day and were sad when Christmas came and went and Paloola had to return to the North Pole.

They started weeks ago writing her letters in anticipation of this years’ visit.

And guess what.

She’s baaaaaaaack…..

I heard a noise in the girls’ room the other night, and went in to find this…

That’s right. That blasted elf was playing Hungry Hungry Hippos in the middle of the night.

And being a bad influence on our sweet American Girls, who NEVER make a peep, and NEVER get in trouble.

Oh dear. Here we go again…

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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    November 26, 2011 at 3:07 am

    I was reminded of Paloola a couple of days ago when I was in Target and saw a boy elf. It made me wonder if Paloola would like to have a boyfriend or brother or cousin to help her with the baking etc. I was awfully tempted to buy him, but I resisted.<br />Sdb

    Reply
  2. Melissa from the Blue House says

    November 26, 2011 at 4:17 am

    SO FUNNY that you should mention that! We just came from Target where we, ah, uh…. started hoping Santa would send a boy elf to Michael&#39;s house for Christmas! He HAS been mostly good this year… who knows? Maybe &#39;Santa&#39; will send that elf TONIGHT!

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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