Christmas Party

Today was the annual Christmas party at the club. We met Mimi, Poppy, Uncle T, Aunt Missy and Kenzie for a little Christmas fun. The kids made a little reindeer craft and got to meet Ruldoph. Gillian was not a big fan of the reindeer, but Kenzie loved him! We heard that Santa was there and we went to get pictures.

We ate a little dinner. Had some fun with some new shades. 

Then there was a magic show. John and Gillian ran over to watch the show. Daddy and I ate a little more dinner. While I was eating I heard the magician say "Everyone say hello to Gillian!" I jumped up and ran over. Gillian got selected to be an assistant for the show. She did awesome!

 

After the show we saw the big tree outside get lit and then had time for dessert too! 

Bowling

We took the kids bowling on Saturday. They were super excited. I got Gillian to pose for a couple of pictures before they turned the lights off and we bowled in the dark. 

John loved bowling. He has a style all his own. 

 

 

Gillian required assistance. She needed a little pep talk before each turn and we finally got her a little ramp to use. After that she had much more fun. 

 

 

She was also very good at the victory dance. 

Here are the results of the first game:

And the second game:

We had a fun afternoon

Go Fish

This summer we taught Gillian how to play Go Fish. Last night she played a couple hands with Daddy. She is very good and loves to play. 

When I got home from work today she immediately asked "Can you play Go Fish with me?" I said "Yes, but we have to play in the kitchen." I pulled a chair up to our island and we played our first hand. Gillian won. We started the next hand and I blinked and she was on the floor. Somehow she fell out of the chair. I'm not sure how it happened, but the cards went flying. I got her an ice pack and we started the next hand. Even after falling out of the chair she still beat me! Love her. 

 

The Catapult

What do you do when you build a catapult at camp during your woodworking elective?  Well, in our house, you plan a sneak attack on Daddy with marshmallows. 

We even had Gillian help with the attack!

The pool

We went to a pool party yesterday.  Gillian was prepared to go swimming and wore her new goggles in the car on our way there.  She didn't end up using them in the pool.  I guess they are just fun accessories.

John showed us some of his new swimming abilities.  He also jumped in the pool. He totally has no fear of the water.

The Aquarium

On Sunday Aunt Betty and I took the kids to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden. John led the way. He loves reading a map.

We walked through the shipwreck exhibits. And we stopped at an amphitheater. The seats faced a huge tank and we could see a few turtles and sharks. We stopped to watch the turtles and ended up staying to watch a show with some divers. 

 

We checked out the sharks. 

And then John announced "We are going to touch a shark!" There was a touch tank. Gillian immediately said "No way." Aunt Betty tried to get out of it too, but John convinced her to try it. 

They leaned in the tank and touched the shark. And then John said "Let's do it again!" Since convincing Aunt Betty was not enough, John also got me to touch a shark!

But we weren't done yet. There was the stingray tank next. 

After the stingrays, we headed outside to see the penguins. It was feeding time and it was very crowded. We didn't stay long, which made Gillian very unhappy. I promised to bring her back. 

We headed upstairs to the kid zone. 

We checked out the hippos. The kids hated it in there. Gillian said "Why is it so stinky!" John said "I'm going to have shower after are done." 

We ended up in the gift shop where John picked out a new stuffed turtle and Gillian picked a stuffed penguin. We went back outside to see the penguins. It was empty and Gillian got to show the penguins her new friend. 

 

The kids also got to ride on the big slide that was outside. 

 

We had an awesome trip to the aquarium!

The map

John made Gillian a map today. He cut it into pieces and hid it around the house and the backyard. Gillian then had to start in her room and find all the pieces of the map. Once she had all the pieces she would be able to find the "treasure." Gillian loved this and volunteered to make the treasure. While John was making the map, she was coloring a Lego man. John agreed to make her picture the treasure. He then rehid the map pieces and the treasure. They ran around the house and the backyard looking for the hidden pieces. After they were done, Gillian cut up her Lego man picture and she hid them for John to find. 

It was such a simple game, but they loved it. And I loved watching them. 

Snow day

During the snow day yesterday, I tried to entertain the kids with as many activities as possible. We started the day with Playdough. The kids used Gillian's new Playdough set and they made cakes and frosted them. 

The kids then got to play for a little bit. I went to find them to start our next project. I found them in John's room. John was reading to Gillian. 

Next I set each kid up with a tray of baking soda. And I prepared 6 squeeze bottles of colored vinegar. The kids take the squeeze bottles and make designs in the baking soda. It's fun to watch the baking soda bubble and fizz. John and Gillian had completely different approaches. John made a picture and Gillian just went abstract. 

I love their different approaches and final projects. They are both amazing. 

Next we played outside. The kids got all bundled up and we were outside for about an hour. 

The kids came inside and snuggled under some blankets to warm up. We ate dinner and then I made some snow ice cream for dessert. Gillian was not a big fan of it, but John loved it. 

Overall it was a pretty awesome snow day. 

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!