New Year's Eve

Daddy and I decided that John is old enough to stay up until midnight for New Year's Eve.  John is very excited about staying up.  Every half hour he comes running to Daddy and I saying "Is it time yet?" 

About a half hour ago, he came running upstairs.  "Is it time yet?"  I played dumb and asked "For what?"  He said "You know!  When we count down:  ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two..."  And I stopped him, and I said "And that's when I kiss you!"  He stepped away from me and grimaced.  He said "What are you talking about?"  I said "You have to kiss someone you love on New Year's.  It's good luck."  In typical boy fashion, he said "Well I'm not kissing anyone!"  Luckily my Beans was there and she said "I kiss you Mommy!" 

It's a little after 10 pm now.  The kids are still going strong.  We will see how long it will last. 

Oh John!

John has the best comments and insite. Here are a few of my favorite comments from the past couple of weeks:

Daddy asked John "Who do you want to help with your shower? Mommy or Daddy?"  John replied "I'll settle with you Dad."

We have been trying to teach John to say excuse me when he wants to say something while Daddy and I are talking. Tonight he said "Excuse me." Daddy acknowledged him and he started talking while I was talking. He then turned to me and said "Excuse me, I'm talking to Daddy now!" 

The other night John fell asleep in my bed, but he woke up in his bed. The following morning, he said "I thought Daddy would have just rolled me over!"

The girl in the purple dress

Last week, Gillian and I watched Tangled for the first time.  We loved it.  She unfortunately has a hard time remembering Rapunzel's name.  So she constantly asks me "Who's the girl in the purple dress?" 

Tonight, I was tucking her into bed, and she asked me to snuggle with her for a few minutes.  As we were snuggling she asked "Who's the girl in the purple dress?"  I said "Rapunzel."  She said "She was a baby and a witch took her.  She make her hair magic.  And the girl growed up and her hair got long and long and long!  When she sings the hair glows! And then a boy comes.  Him cut her hair with a part of a mirror!  And then the witch's hair goes all white.  And her a witch again.  Her is not the mom!  Then the girl gets to stay with the boy!"  I love her little synopsis of the movie. 

Christmas

Christmas seemed to go by very quickly this year.  It would take too long to write about all of our adventures, but here are a few of my favorite memories:

On Christmas eve, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Gillian was the last one opening presents.  Because every present she opened she would say "I love it!"  Then hug whatever she got.  She did it with everything. 

Grandma made Gillian an upside down doll (it's a doll that doesn't have feet, when you flip up her skirt there's another baby on the other side).  Gillian named her sleeping doll "Ba-nana" and as she says "the wake up baby, Ba-neeny."  Silly names, but it was the first time she has named any of her baby dolls. 

Christmas morning, Daddy woke up me and said "Their awake!"  I could hear John waking up Gillian saying "It's Christmas!"  Then they came running into our room to wake us up.  "It's Christmas wake up!"

We all went downstairs to see if Santa came.  They went running towards the big pile of presents.  Gillian wasn't slow to open her gifts, but John was more methodical.  He opened everything from Santa and was a little sad.  We asked him why he was so sad.  He said "Because I didn't get Skylanders Swap Force.  The one thing I asked Santa for!"  We told him to get the gifts from Mommy and Daddy and open them.  He was very happy to see that he got Swap Force. 

We went to Mimi and Poppy's house in the late morning on Christmas.  After opening presents there, Gillian stood up and said "Is there anymore presents for me?"

Uncle Jay and Nicole brought John and Gillian gifts.  John loved his Superman toy so much that he had to put his coat on and take it outside.  He was joined by Uncle Jay, Daddy and Uncle T.  I love that all the boys had to try out the new toy too!

The morning after Christmas as I was getting John dressed, he said to me "I wish everyday could be Christmas!"  Me too, John.  Me too. 

Buddy's Adventures in 2013

Our Elf on the Shelf, Buddy, returned the day after Thanksgiving. When we were in Disney World, I asked Aunt Betty to check our mail for us. She went to the house the Friday after Thanksgiving and found Buddy sitting on the couch eating M&Ms and Oreos and drinking soda. She took a picture and sent it to me.

When the kids saw the picture, John said "Ask Aunt Betty make a letter to Buddy and let him know we are in Disney World!" Gillian said "Him spilled his nemems!" Aunt Betty let us know that she left Buddy a note and that she would check back later to make sure he wasn't making a mess. John told Aunt Betty "If he isn't there tomorrow then we will let you know if he is in our room!" The next day Buddy wasn't in our room. But Aunt Betty searched our whole house and finally found Buddy. He had a little message for the kids.

The next day (our last day in Disney), Aunt Betty went to our house and found Buddy with a note.

John was very curious, he kept saying "I wonder what's inside the package!" And "I can't believe that Mickey sent him a letter!"

On Monday, December 2nd, when we arrived home from our trip, Buddy was waiting to greet us.

John was so excited to see Buddy and even though Buddy was high above him, he said "That's what was in the box! Mickey sent him ears!"

On Tuesday, December 3rd, we found Buddy with all the new toys that John and Gillian got on their trip. Buddy was still wearing his Mickey ears. Daddy and I think that Buddy was asking the toys if the kids were good on their vacation.

The next day, the kids found Buddy in the kitchen. He made a little swing. Gillian said "Him made it out of toilet paper!"

On Thursday morning, the kids found Buddy. He was having a race with some cars and toys. Buddy was in the lead!

On Friday, December 6th, the kids found Buddy in the kitchen.  He was making marshmallow snowmen!  John said "Mommy!  He is using your food markers!"

 

The following day, the kids had a hard time finding Buddy.  He was on Mommy's hutch hiding in John's lacing shoe.  I said to John "I think Buddy wants you to learn to tie your shoes."  He said "Sorry Buddy.  I tried.  I just can't do it!"

On Sunday morning, Buddy left the kids a craft project.  Buddy may have been a little ambitious leaving two projects for the kids to create.  We had a hard time focusing on one.  But it was a snowy day so it was a good day for an indoor project.

 

 

On Monday morning, Buddy lined up all of Gillian's My Little Ponies.  He was riding Princess Celestia and leading the pony parade.  Gillian was not happy.  She cried.  "Him's taking all my toys!"

 

 

The next morning was a snowy morning.  John's school was closed and Daddy decided to stay home with both of the kids while I went to work.  Unusually, Gillian was up before John and she found Buddy riding John's croc down the banister.  She said "Him's going to fall!"  And she was right.  He did fall.  By the time John woke up, Buddy had fallen on the steps.  Gillian was not happy about Buddy's fall and she made Daddy carry her up and down the stairs past Buddy all day.

 

Buddy must have hurt himself in the fall, because the next day we found him in one of Gillian's Barbie beds.

 

Buddy recuperated and on Thursday morning, we found Buddy hanging from the attic cord.  He also left a pillow on the floor in case he fell!  Smart thinking Buddy!  That morning, John walked past Buddy and into the bathroom.  He came out of the bathroom looked up and said "Buddy!  You were behind me the whole time?!?!" 

The next day, Buddy was dreaming of warmer weather and he made some new friends too!

 

 

On Saturday morning, John found a little note from Buddy along with a movie and some window clings.  He had a hard time finding Buddy, but Gillian spotted him right away.  "Him's up there!"  And there he was on top of the curtains in the kitchen.

The kids spent the night at Grandma's on Saturday, December 14th and when I picked them up on Sunday, they immediately asked "Where's Buddy?"  "Did you see him?"  When I said "No."  John said "Did you see anything unusual?"  I love that they were excited to see what Buddy was up to.  We found him when we got home.  He was just chilling in a jar on Mommy's cabinets.

 

 

On Monday morning, the kids found Buddy sitting on top of the refrigerator.  He had his hand covering his mouth.  I thought he looked like he was hiding a smile.  John wasn't sure.  The kids decided to have cereal for breakfast and when John went into the fridge to get the milk.  He pulled it out and said "I think it's bad!"  The milk was green!  I told him, "It's not bad.  Buddy got into Mommy's food dye.  Remember I was decorating cookies last night."  John was unsure about using the green milk, but not Gillian!

 

The following day, we found Buddy in John's room.  Buddy was having a snowball fight with Captain America!  Mommy was happy that Buddy kept all the sugar and marshmallows on a tray and not on the dresser!

 

 

Wednesday morning, Buddy was not in John's room or the bathroom or Mommy & Daddy's room.  John was ready to give up, but then he went into Gillian's room.  They found Buddy on Gillian's canopy.  Mommy thinks Buddy was to be in a cirque!

 

Thursday morning, Buddy wasn't hiding.  He was sitting on a table in the living room.  He was sitting in a Barbie chair ("Him's always takes my toys!") and he had a little note.  The note said "I have hidden 10 candy canes.  Can you find them?"  The kids had so much fun running around the living room looking for the candy canes.

On Friday morning, Buddy was very sneaky.  Buddy tends to hide high in any room, but this morning he was low.  We have a large ruler in the kitchen that we use to measure the kids (thanks Pinterest) and Buddy decided to measure himself too!  John asked Daddy "Can we add Buddy?  Please?" (also, the ruler is in the kitchen by Duncan's bed.  But Duncan was very good with his little visitor and didn't bother him all day!)

 

 

Saturday morning, December 21st, John found Buddy in the living room.  But Buddy looked different!  "He's got a mustache!  And he made us mustaches!  He must really like us."  We had a lot of fun with the mustaches (even Travis the turtle)! 

 

Sunday morning was Buddy's Clues.  Check out my post about Buddy's Clues!

Yesterday, Monday December 23rd, Buddy made an igloo out of marshmallows.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of it.  I know.  It was the second to last day of Buddy's adventures and I didn't get a picture.  It's a rookie move.  Oh well.

 

This morning, John had a hard time finding Buddy.  But after searching everywhere (and a little help from Mom) he found him in the Christmas tree.  We decided Buddy wanted to be in the tree so he could help Santa when Santa arrives tonight. 

 

 

Merry Christmas Buddy!  Can't wait to see what you are going to do next year!

Buddy's Clues

This morning, John woke up and came into our bed.  It was really early and we snuggled.  After a few minutes of snuggling, he said "Mom, I saw something in the hallway."  I asked him what it was.  He said "It looked like a hand, but it was dark.  I couldn't really see it."  We talked about it and John decided it must be something that Buddy, our elf on the shelf, had created for us.  We got out of bed to investigate.  I told John that we needed to be super quiet, because Gillian was still sleeping.  He tiptoed into the hallway and I turned on the light.  Then we saw it a little red mitten with a tree on it. 

We were trying to whisper and not make much noise, but before we knew it Gillian was out in the hallway.  "Hi Mommy!"  We showed her the mitten and we decided it was a Christmas tree.  So we went running downstairs.  John looked at the Christmas tree and said "What are we looking for? Gilly, you look at the ornaments and I will look on this side."  They searched the tree and didn't see anything.  I said "Is that the only tree we have?"  Gillian went running to our little wooden Christmas tree.  She said "There it is!" 

John looked at the mitten and said "It's a present!"  I said "Look again."  He took it back and said "It's a sink!"  He went running to the kitchen.  He didn't see anything on the kitchen sink, so he moved on to the bathroom off the kitchen.  He was disappointed and said "It's not in here.  Where's there another sink?"  He remembered and we all headed to the basement.  On the cabinet in the bathroom in the basement was another red mitten.

 
This was an easy clue, and John immediately yelled "The measuring ruler!  In the kitchen!"  And we ran back to the kitchen.  In the kitchen, we found another mitten. 

John saw it and said "Really Buddy?  My room?"  He has a huge Capitan America shield painted on his wall.  We headed up to John's room.  And there on the shield was another red mitten.

 

 

"No Way!"  John was surprised to see the mitten on his wall.  I think he was surprised that Buddy was able to sneak in his room while he was sleeping.  He looked at the mitten and said "Gill's room!  You made me come in my room to go to Gill's room?" (Gillian has an argyle pattern painted on her walls)  I love that he was talking to Buddy the entire time.  We went into Gillian's room and found another red mitten.

 





This clue was a little harder.  John wasn't quite sure what it was.  I had to help them decipher it.  I asked "Where is the arrow pointing?"  He said "To the right."  I said "What does it look like?"  He said "Two doors."  I pushed a little farther and said "What is to the right that has two doors?"  Then the light bulb went off.  He said "The closet!  Gill you get one door, I'll get the other door."  They opened the doors and sitting on one of the shelves was Buddy!

 
"Come on Buddy!"  John laughed.  He made Gillian close the doors so that "Daddy can follow the clues too!" 

The book

John brought home a scholastic book order form a few weeks ago.  We let him pick out a few books.  As I was writing the check, he noticed that there was a My Little Pony book in the flyer.  He asked me "Can I get this for Gill?"  I said "Of course, and we can make it a surprise for Christmas."  He loved that idea.  And we submitted the order.  We discussed that we would put Gillian to bed early the night he got the book and then we would wrap it while she was sleeping.  That way it would be a surprise.  The next day he came home and said "No books yet."  I told him it would be awhile before the books would come in. 

I picked John up from school last Tuesday night and before we could leave school he stopped me.  He said "Can I tell you something?  We got the books today.  And you know what?  I wrapped Gillian's gift already.  But we wrapped it with tissue paper and it was see-through!  So we put a reindeer on it."  I asked him, "Did you tell Mrs. Belena that the book was for Gillian?"  He replied "Um yeah!"  He was so excited.  In the car on the way home, he told me "We gotta make sure she doesn't go in my bookbag.  We need to hide the book too!"  We hid the book later that night.

The next day at the bus stop, I asked him about his book order.  He said "Some of the kids laughed because I got a Pony book.  But I told them that it was for my sister.  Then they didn't laugh."  I asked him how he got Mrs. Belena to help him wrap it.  He said "I told her when I handed in my order!  She knew it was for my sister!"  I emailed Mrs. Belena to thank her for helping John.  She said "To see John so happy about giving was heartwarming."  I love my little man's big heart!

Santa 2013

Daddy and I decided that the kids needed to go see Santa this year.  We were having a hard time finding the perfect day to go.  Finally yesterday, I went online and paid in advance to Fast Pass the Santa line for Tuesday night.  I didn't look at the weather and was a little worried that the snow was going to impact our visit.  We were lucky, and the snow didn't affect us. 

Daddy picked up the kids and they went straight to the mall.  They ordered food and of course, the second they sat down, John had to use the bathroom.  I also need to add that the bathroom is not really close to the food court.  I arrived shortly after the bathroom trip, and we all ate dinner.  Then we headed to see Santa.  John and I walked together while Daddy and Gillian walked together.  We were almost to Santa and I heard Daddy calling my name.  I turned around and looked at Gillian.  She had black marks all over her face and her hands.  I asked Daddy what happened.  She ran her hand along the railing of the escalator and got black all over her hand.  Of course she then had to take her hand and smear it on her face.  And to make it worse, she wouldn't stop touching her face.  We went into the nearest store and found their bathroom.  As I was watching Gillian's face and hands, Daddy popped his head in the door and said "I'm sending in John!"  The men's room was being cleaned, and John had to go to the bathroom again.  By this point both Daddy and I were ready to give up. 

We once again headed to Santa.  Since I paid for our pictures online, we were able to skip the line.  I thought this was a smart move considering the last two years Gillian cried while she was sitting on his lap.  I thought that if we weren't in line for a long time, it would make things easier.  We got to see Santa and Gillian went right to him.  He picked her up and she sat on his lap.  Santa laughed at John's shirt (John was wearing his Naughty and Nice shirt).  The photographer tried to get Gillian's attention, but it didn't work.  All Daddy and I had to say was "Gilly! Cheese!"  She cheesed and we got a great picture!

  

Penguins

I was talking to Gillian tonight.  I asked her if she knew who was coming to school tomorrow.  She said "You?"  I wish I was going to visit her school tomorrow, but I told her no.  And then I told her that the penguins were coming to visit.  Every year, TLC has the penguins from the Jenkinson's aquarium come visit the school.  Check out my first post about John and the Penguins.  It's amazing to see how much they have grown in the past two years!

Anyway, I told Gillian that the penguins were coming to visit school.  She smiled and told me "I'm going to hug them!  But I not going to kiss them!"  I asked her why she wasn't going to kiss the penguins.  She told me "Then they turn to frogs!" 

Harmonica

Friday morning, John came into the bathroom while Daddy and I were getting ready for work. He obviously just woke up and was covering his eyes because the light was so bright. He didn't even say good morning. He simply said "Where's my harmonica?" Yup, first thing in the morning he was worried about his harmonica. I told him that it was in the house somewhere and we could find it later. I asked him why he needed it now. He said "I just want to play music for everyone. It would be nice to play music now. And now I'm never going to find my harmonica."  I thought I knew where it was and I went to look for it. I came back empty handed and that didn't make him happy. He said "Did you look everywhere? I don't think you did. Now I'm never going to play music again!"  We distracted him and he hasn't brought up the harmonica since then. I wonder what he was dreaming about to make him ask about his harmonica first thing. 

Look who's back

Our Elf on the Shelf returned the day after Thanksgiving.  When we were in Disney World, I asked Aunt Betty to check our mail for us.  She went to the house the Friday after Thanksgiving and found Buddy sitting on the couch eating M&Ms and Oreos and drinking soda.  She took a picture and sent it to me.

When the kids saw the picture, John said "Ask Aunt Betty make a letter to Buddy and let him know we are in Disney World!"  Gillian said "Him spilled his nemems!"  Aunt Betty let us know that she left Buddy a note and that she would check back later to make sure he wasn't making a mess.  John told Aunt Betty "If he isn't there tomorrow then we will let you know if he is in our room!"  The next day Buddy wasn't in our room.  But Aunt Betty searched our whole house and finally found Buddy.  He had a little message for the kids.

  The next day (our last day in Disney), Aunt Betty went to our house and found Buddy with a note.

 

John was very curious, he kept saying "I wonder what's inside the package!"  And "I can't believe that Mickey sent him a letter!" 

 

On Monday, December 2nd, when we arrived home from our trip, Buddy was waiting to greet us. 

 

 

John was so excited to see Buddy and even though Buddy was high above him, he said "That's what was in the box!  Mickey sent him ears!" 

 

On Tuesday, December 3rd, we found Buddy with all the new toys that John and Gillian got on their trip.  Buddy was still wearing his Mickey ears.  Daddy and I think that Buddy was asking the toys if the kids were good on their vacation.

 

 

The next day, the kids found Buddy in the kitchen.  He made a little swing.  Gillian said "Him made it out of toilet paper!"

 

 

On Thursday morning, the kids found Buddy.  He was having a race with some cars and toys.  Buddy was in the lead!