Pez

Daddy picked up Gillian from school today. In the car, she was playing with a Santa Pez dispenser she got for Christmas this year. She asked Daddy "Is my Elsa up there? Can I have her?" Daddy handed her the Elsa Pez dispenser (she also got for Christmas). And Gillian began to play with the two of them. Gillian had Santa and Elsa talk to each other. Santa said "Ho Ho Ho!" Elsa said "Let it go!" And then Santa and Elsa had a little discussion. At dinner tonight, we asked Gillian about what happened in the car. She said "Santa and Elsa had a fight."

Car conversations

I love talking to the kids in the car. There is something about a car that gives kids the convidence to tell you all kinds of things. Maybe it's because you aren't looking directly at them. I don't know. 

So today, Gillian and I ran some errands (just the girls). On our way home, Gillian asked "Are you going to die?" I tried to laugh it off and say "I wasn't planning on it." She didn't get my joke. So I said "No. Why do you ask?" She said "Cause parents die." Perhaps she has watched too many Disney movies. I said "Sometimes, but Mommy isn't going anywhere." She said "So you will be around to drive me places?" I said "Of course, until you are able to drive me." She said "But I don't know how to drive." I laughed and said "Don't worry, I will teach you." She said "OK, good cause I don't know how to drive." And that was it. She changed the subject. 

Buddy's adventures in 2014

Our Elf on the Shelf arrives every year the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year the kids were very excited about Buddy's arrival and it seemed like we were constantly talking about him. 

On Friday, November 28th, the kids found Buddy on the kitchen table. Buddy wrapped the table in wrapping paper with a sign saying "I'm back!" John told me "It looks like Buddy brought us a big present!" But Gillian told me "It's not a present. It's the table!" John said "I was mistaken. It's just the table!"

 

 

 On Saturday, Buddy had a paper sack race with Elsa, Goofy, a dinosaur and Clover. 

On Sunday, we found Buddy by John's Legos. He made his own Christmas tree!

On Monday, December 1st Buddy found on my china cabinet. He was not only up high, but he also had a disguise! Gillian found him first and said "Oh my goodness! Look at Buddy! Him's so cute!"

 

On Tuesday, we found a Spider-Man hanging from my fan! He kinda looked like Buddy!

Buddy also took his disguise from Monday and put it on John's basketball picture on the fridge. Gillian noticed that right away! She said "John, look at what Buddy did to your picture!" John said "Buddy?!?! Seriously?"

On Wednesday, December 3rd, we found Buddy on top of the kitchen cabinet. He was spying on the kids using some penguin binoculars.  

The next day, we found Buddy relaxing in a little hammock he made out of a bandana. 

 

On December 5th, we found Buddy in the living room.  He brought the kids a new Christmas ornament.  He also brought one for Baby Mackenzie.  And he brought an ornament that had his name on it too!  Thanks for helping us decorate our tree!

 

 

On Saturday, December 6th, Buddy had a rocket ship!

 

 

On Sunday morning, Buddy had trapped the kids in their rooms using streamers.  When we were talking about Buddy coming to visit, John kept saying "I hope that Buddy locks us in our room again."  Buddy had done this trick in 2011.  I think Buddy may have heard his sugguestion, and this year, he put a lot of streamers across the kids doors.  Well Sunday morning, I heard Gillian crying in her room.  I found her sitting on her bed.  She said "I can't get out!"  John heard her crying and said "Why? You can just do this."  And he walked through the streamers.  He ended up pulling down her streamers so she could get out of her room.  Not the best idea Buddy.  

 

 

 

On Monday, December 8th, Gillian found Buddy hanging out in her room.  He took one of her ponies and decided to take him for a ride on her dresser.  Once again, a very simple idea, but it didn't end well for Buddy.  Check out my post The Accident.

 

On Tuesday, December 9th, Buddy took it easy and decided to build a tower of books and read his favorite story.

 

The next day, Buddy made the kids some giant snowflakes.

Unfortunately, the kids did not behave well on Wednesday and when they woke up on Thursday morning (December 11th), they found Buddy on strike. 

 

John saw Buddy's note and said "Three strikes and that's it.  He won't come back. I guess we gotta be nice."  Their attitude didn't change and Buddy was still sitting on strike the following morning, December 12th. 

 

We were babysitting on Friday, December 12 for the kids' cousin, Mackenzie.  Gillian was very jealous and was not enjoying having to share Mommy's attention.  At one point during the night, Gillian was told to put down a dress, she was carrying.  Gillian chose to put it on top of Mackenzie's face.  Before I go any further, Mackenzie wasn't hurt.  The dress was dropped on her face while she was sleeping.  I was holding her at the time.  It was more of an attack on me than the baby.  Anyway, Daddy was not happy about Gillian's attitude and he picked up Buddy.  You aren't supposed to touch an elf.  It takes away their magic.  But Daddy was angry, because it was already day two of the strike and she was still be obnoxious.  The picking up of Buddy caused both kids to cry hysterically, but it did seem to change their attitudes. 

 

On Saturday morning, we found Buddy sitting with another note.

Santa's magic must have made Buddy feel much better, because on Sunday we found him ziplining across the kitchen! John said "Buddy must know that I went ziplining this summer!"

On Monday, December 15th, we found him flying a G.I. Joe airplane.  He also had some cool goggles and a bomber jacket!  When we asked the kids how he got that plane upstairs, John said "He flew it.  Remember, he's magic!"

The following day we found Buddy in the living room.  He took Gillian's My Little Ponies and made them look like reindeer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, Buddy ask the kids "Do you want to build a snowman?"

The following day, Buddy stopped by dressed like Harry Potter.  John saw him and said "I guess he likes Harry Potter too!"

 

 

On Friday, December 19th, Buddy was enjoying a little snack of M&Ms.

 

Saturday morning, Buddy made a little candy cane hunt for the kids.

On Sunday morning Buddy wanted to play a little football!

Monday morning, Gillian found Buddy in the kitchen.  She said "Hims got my underwear!  Last time he take Johnny's."  Buddy made a parachute out of Gillian's underwear!

Tuesday morning, December 23rd, the kids found Buddy had made a chain out of paper.  And he was hanging from the fan in the living room. 

Finally, this morning John found Buddy right away. 

See you next year Buddy!  Can't wait to see what you come up with next year!

Santa!

Visiting Santa is always a memorable experience.  John's first trip to see Santa he was five months old.  He loved it. 

John & Santa 2007

His second visit with Santa was a little more eventful.  He did not want anything to do with Santa and we ended up with Mommy sitting next to Santa and John sitting on my lap.  I love the look on his face in this picture!

John & Santa 2008

There is no Santa picture from 2009.  In 2010, Gillian was five months old and John was a little over 3 years old.  John was very excited to see Santa.  Gillian didn't cry, but doesn't look thrilled.   

John, Gillian & Santa 2010

In 2011, John and Santa were old pals.  He jumped on his lap and told him everything he wanted for Christmas.  Gillian on the other hand, was not so sure. She liked him from afar, but once we got close she got very scared.  So we used the old trick of Mommy sitting on a chair with Gillian on her lap, so it looks like she is sitting with Santa. As soon as I sat down she cried.  Poor little girl.   



John, Gillian & Santa 2011

 

2012 was also pretty much a disaster.  Gillian was awesome in line waiting for Santa, but then when it was time for a picture, she was not happy.  Check out my Visit With Santa post from 2012. 

 

John, Gillian & Santa 2012

Needless to say, I was not looking forward to visiting Santa in 2013.  I opted to do a Fast Pass (basically you pay online and get to skip the line), and totally avoided any pre-Santa jitters.  John is a pro and by the looks of the picture so is Gillian.  You can check out my post from that year Santa 2013.

 

John, Gillian & Santa 2013



This year, we waited until the last minute.  We have had quite a few busy weekends and sometimes, it is hard to get out on a school night (especially with 2nd grade homework).  But I decided to do it today.  I set up my Fast Pass (it is totally worth the extra $5).  I picked the kids up from school, and we headed right to the mall.  I parked outside the entrance by Santa and we went right there.  He was on his dinner break, so we went to the food court to get dinner.  As we were heading back to Santa we saw him come out of one of the back hallways.  John was so excited to see him walking thru the mall like us.  Santa saw us and waved and headed to his chair.  Santa had time to see two groups before it was our turn.  Gillian and John went right over to him said hello and started smiling for the camera. 

 

John, Gillian & Santa 2014

Later I asked them if they talked to Santa.  John said "I told him I want Legos."  Gillian said "I want an Anna doll."  On our car ride home, John started to question me about how Santa can visit all the houses in one night.  I simply said "He's magic."  John said "Magic can't be the only answer, because you can't use magic by people.  It can be dangerous."  Apparently he has really thought this through.  I also explained to him about time zones and how that could help too.  But he responded with "But what if there are two continents in one time zone?  How does he get to all the people at the same time?  And don't say magic."  I said "You should ask Grandpa tomorrow.  He knows a lot about science and math, I bet he has figured out how Santa can do it."  Sorry Dad, but clearly John doesn't like my theories. 

 

As I tucked Gillian into bed, she was still smiling about meeting Santa tonight.  She told me "You know what?  Santa lives at the mall."  I explained "No Santa doesn't live at the mall.  He just visits."  She said "Oh, that's what I meant.  He visits there.  Because he knows people go there."  She is much easier to reason with.