Fred 2012 Week 1

Guess who's baaaaack??! Well, yes, this blog. But is that all that exciting? Probably not. The excitement is for F-R-E-D, our elf!! He arrived on December 2nd. I'm thinking he was a tad late this year, but I'm sure it's super busy at the North Pole. Maybe even a little bit more this year?! I know it's been busier here this year!

Fred seems a little off his game, which is another reason I think it must be busy at the Pole. He's more laid back. Maybe he's maturing? Do elves mature?? Who knows, but the girls are LOVIN' havin' him here!! And yes, you guessed it, Michael & I are too!!

This year I don't think I can work in a daily post, but I've had so many ask if we were gonna blog that I thought I'd give you a weekly. I hope you enjoy them!! I thought I would also give you a link to Fred's happenings last year. I'll pick some of my very favorites. So, if you want to run down memory lane, you are new to this blog, or whatever your reason....click away: OUR FRED FAVORITES 2011.

On Sunday (the 2nd), Michael & I heard footsteps. We expected a little face to appear in our room shortly after. Instead, the hall light went on & then nothing. A few minutes later we heard elephant feet on the stairs & then it was there. A little face filled with excitement and coming from that little face were squeals.

"Mom, Dad!! Mom! Dad! The tree! The tree! It's up! The! Tree! Is! Up!"

To which we both reply, what?? Again come the squeals. Followed by jumping & the pulling of covers.

"The TREE!! it's up!!!"

"No, Addie, I don't know if we'll have time to get to the tree today", I say.

"NO!! It's already up!!! Get up!! Come see!"

Down the steps we go & sure enough there's our Christmas tree. It's bare, no ornaments, but sure enough, it's up!! And sitting high in the branches is another little face, tinier than the first, it's Fred.

Thank you, Fred, for saving me time & setting up the tree. We love you!

(Please note: times on photos are off. I posted them in order of how they happened, but I didn't notice the incorrect time until after I had taken a few shots)





 

 

On Monday (the 3rd), we woke up & found all of Daddy's St. Louis Cardinal hats decorating the tree. I guess Fred was trying to tell us something. A bare tree is not a pretty tree!! His gentle shove worked, because we decorated the tree that night.  

 

Fred made himself comfy in the kitchen

 

 

On Tuesday (the 4th), we found Fred perched on the rooster. He left a note saying that he loves riding wild chickens! Ha! Oh, Fred. 

 

Last year, Daddy found a sleigh bell in our yard. It must have fallen off Santa's sleigh! This year, Addie decided she wanted to return it to Santa. She made up her wish list, taped the bell to it & Daddy mailed them off for her.

 

Along with Fred's note about riding wild chickens was an ornament. The sleigh bell! Fred's note said that Santa wanted the girls to have it & they should hang it on the tree. What a beautiful gift!   



Sorry, in the morning rush, I forgot a shot of the sleigh bell ornament :(

 

 

On Wednesday (the 5th), I think we snuck up on Fred playing basketball. We must have scared him since he was so "wrapped up" & left him with little to no time to get out of his mess......Oh Fred......I hope you weren't too uncomfy all day! 



 

 

On Thursday (the 6th), Fred pulled a repeat (possibly because it's a crowd favorite). He drew faces in the fridge!! Katie has asked for "funny faces" everyday since he drew them!! She is running up my electric bill standing there admiring them!  



 

And since Addie was learning about St. Nicholas at school, she left her shoe out that night for treats. Fred left her a little goodie 

 

And Fred? Well, he was comfy above the plates. 

 

 

On Friday (the 7th), Fred built himself a nice little chair & hung out with the cat.   



 

 

Which brings us to today, Saturday (the 8th). Ellie & I got up, headed downstairs & turned on the TV. I sat down & listened to a news segment & Ellie waited patiently for me to turn it to cartoons. Finally, Ellie said, "Mommy, I'm really scared."

 

Did she just say she was scared? I turned, looked at her & asked her to repeat what she said.

 

"I'm really scared", she said again.

 

"Of what?"

 

She looks at me, her pillow (lovey) over part of her face, finger in mouth & slowly turns her head while pointing up at their photos on the wall.

 

I. LOST. IT.

 

 

I think Fred outdid himself. I laughed till I cried. I still can't believe I didn't wake everyone else up.

   (Sorry for the glare/flash, not a professional photog here)



I'm not a rocket scientist.

Well, it's been awhile. I think of this blog often. How I should be posting, but has life been crazy busy. Let's see, I've been preparing for the grand opening of my very own in home daycare business!! And...........oh wait, that's pretty much it. Yep, busy girl right here!

Today I was standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes (this chic does not own a dishwasher....yet) and I was running kiddisms through my head. Or maybe it's mommyisms. I can't really be sure it's either, but any who........

Addie is feeling a little under the weather. She blames it on seeing the dentist yesterday. Pretty sure they didn't give her a sore throat, but I am 100% convinced she is my child now. I'd blame the dentist too! She's one lucky girl. I stopped right in the middle of all the dish doing fun just to tuck her into a recliner & get her new favorite show going (Ruby Gloom for those interested). She was rocking herself & heard the chair making a noise. "Mom, what's that noise coming from?"

OK, ladies & gents, we all know how simple this answer could be, right? BUT why is it every time our children ask a question, it's like they asked us to solve a mathematical equation. "Mom, what's that noise coming from?" sounded like this, "Mom, what is x squared over y double s c equal?" (is that a real equation?) because my answer was this: Um, it's that thingy inside that thingy making that noise & yes, I left the room embarrassed by my answer. Why was it so hard to come up with the words spring & recliner? Beats me!

However, the best ones have to be the 20 questions game:

A: Mom, look at that bird!
Me: Yep, that's a cardinal. Pretty, huh?
A: Yes! It's red! Why is it red?
Me: Well, all cardinals are red. Oh, except for the females, the girl birds, they aren't red red like the male, boy birds.
A: Why?
Me: Well, that's just how cardinals are. They're just red.
A: Why?
Me: I don't really know. They've just always been that way.
A: Why?
Me: I don't know Addie. I'm not a scientist. I haven't studied birds.
A: Oh!!

She actually beats me to the punch now. "Because you're not a scientist?" Yep, that's it. I am not a scientist. You win!

Fred's 16 & 17th Day

We woke up to a decorated living room on day 16. Fred made LOADS of snowflakes & hung them all around. They are some of the prettiest snowflakes ever!!

Here's Fred hanging out!

Today, day 17, we found this on the computer screen

and this beside the computer.

Addie was first up & she brought Woody down with her! It's always a treat to have Woody with us for the day!!

Addie spotted Fred. He's riding the rooster! Freeeeeeed!!

Let's get started on that craft!!

Look at that concentration!

And finger lickin'!!

Katie's thoughts? Boring! I only want the M&Ms!!

Katie's masterpiece......

Addie's creation.......

Chomp!!

Yummy!!

Ellie's is once bitten........

We had lots of fun today!! Thanks Fred!!

Fred's 13th, 14th, & 15th Day

It's been a couple of crazy busy days. Not just for Fred, but for me as well. It's that time of the year & I say bring it on!!

Fred decided to spruce up our family photos on his 13th day here. Fred, you little prankster!!

The girls loved seeing all the funny faces Fred drew! I'll agree, it was pretty comical!

I think Fred must be an artsy little elf at the North Pole, because on day 14 he wrote all over our mirrored closet in the playroom.

And then hid on top of the closet. Look at him, spying on us!

Ellie & Katie were first up today, day 15. Of course, they spotted something on the tree right away. It would have been pretty hard to miss. Fred brought each one of the girls an apron & hung them on the tree! They are cute little aprons. I love that Fred had them personalized with the girls' names!!

No picture of Addie in hers. She was still just a snoozin'.

Katie is the same size as her apron.....almost! Ha!

And lil ol' El Bell stuffing the pockets with drinks!

Fred's 11th & 12th Day

Wow! I have to tell ya, this has been the busiest month I've had in quiet some time! The girls & I spent the afternoon the whole day at my girlfriends house.

The. whole. day.

 We've been friends forever & a day. Love her. Alright, I'm sure you're thinking blah, blah, blah....get on with Fred, so here ya go!

Fred is as busy as ever. On his 11th day here, he brought the girls some snowman mugs. How cute are those? And he left supplies to make homemade cocoa. YUM!! I had to make two pots yesterday!! We love cocoa!!

Fred was tricky that day. We all had a hard time finding him. I think daddy was the one who finally spotted him. Great spot, Fred, great spot!!

Fresh cup of hot choc-o-late!! So tasty!!

The girls drank till their bellies were full!!

Today, day 12, we spotted Fred right away. Silly little elf!