We Can Fly!

I'm not entirely sure where the kids got the idea, but they've been saying that Louie is going to bring them some magic flying potion.

Ask and ye shall receive Pattison Kiddos!

Louie and Rodney mixed up some Flying Potion and dug their capes out of the dress up bin. I hope they'll fly away home!

Louie & Pal

I think Louie and his new pal did a snow dance because we finally have snow on the ground!

Cha-Ching!

Just hanging out in one the coin jars!

Kool Aid Play Doh!

We made a small gift, which included flour, salt, and kool aid, for each of our playgroup friends!

Play Doh

½ cup boiling water
1 Tablespoon Cooking Oil
¼ cup salt (included)
½ cup flour (included)
1 package kool-aid (included)

Stir water, oil and salt until dissolved
Stir in Flour and Kool-Aid
Mix until cool enough to knead to desired consistency
Put in air tight container or zip loc bag
Store in fridge

361

This is what happens when a 3 year old figures out how to use an iPhone to document his day

He takes 361 pictures in a matter of minutes. This is a small fraction of his work! Feel free to click the picture to enlarge and take a few minutes to admire my little artist's work!

Hide & Seek

Dear Kelsey, Colin, & Gavin,

I heard your friends are coming over today! I'm kind of nervous about that. I am hiding out where it is cold, just like at home! I have plenty of things to do today so don't worry about me!

Love, Louie

Make A Wish!

Louie & Tink sharing the Thanksgiving turkey wishbone on Monday!

They spent the rest of the day enjoying the beautiful sunshine (and as you can see, green grass)!

Hot Cocoa Time!

Sunday morning the kids found Louie, ready and waiting to share some hot cocoa with them!

The Replacement

I think Louie heard Greg talking about how we need to find a replacement for the angel tree topper because he hid the angel and posted himself up there!

On the Countdown to Christmas front...

Greg and I took the big kids out for DATE NIGHT (last night) and Gavin hung out with Gangy. I had the pleasure of taking my favorite little Colin Dude out for dinner, while Greg and Kelsey went out for dinner. Colin and I had burgers and rootbeer at Uccello's. Greg took his beautiful little date to the local chinese restaurant. We then met up for ice cream cones after dinner...sort of like a double date!

We had so much fun playing cars at the dinner table, talking, watching the HUGE tvs, and making tunnels with our placemats! And of course, there were plenty of laughs shared! As Colin and I walked out to the car after we had dinner, he said,

"Thank you for taking me out for dinner Momma...I love you!"

What can I tell ya!?! I have such a soft spot for that little fire cracker!

Pig Out!

I guess Louie was just waiting patiently for me to finish the treats below for Kelsey's school party because as soon as we went to bed...he jumped into the bag of pretzel M&M's and pigged out!

It took the kids until after lunch to find Louie!

Treats for Kelsey's party
Mini chocolate donuts with an m&m nose, pretzel antlers, and frosting dot eyes!

More mini donuts!
Powdered sugar coating with candy corn noses and mini chocolate chip eyes & smiles!

Favorite Time Of The Year

This year, I was hoping to make the holiday season special and memorable for our family. I came up with several ideas for Louie to surprise us with, which have all been a bigger hit than I could have ever imagined.

I also wanted to help the kids to focus more on others this season, so we incorporated a few activities into our "Countdown to Christmas" calendar. From the start, I let the kids know the reason behind our countdown and we discussed some of the activities we'd do over the month of December. Every morning Kelsey will ask, "Is today the day we get to buy a toy for a little boy or girl who needs help?"

Today was that day! We picked up a tag from the Angel Tree and we went shopping! Kelsey picked a tag for a 12 year old girl and she picked out a friendship bracelet kit. Colin is still a bit young to totally know what was going on, so I grabbed a 12 year old boy tag for him. We purchased a model car kit that the boy can assemble and paint. I hope these gifts are appropriate for 12 year old children...I feel a bit out of touch with the "older kid crowd"!

We also started the morning off with a trip to see the Christmas Train at Meijer Gardens...we absolutely LOVE that place and are incredibly thankful to have a membership to such a wonderful place!!

Just Let Me Send This E-mail...

The kids located Louie tucked away in my wreath checking his email!

I wonder what his email to Santa said?

Game Time!

Perhaps Louie senses that I'm anxious for us to enjoy family game nights? Once the kids get a bit older and are more reliable with their bedtimes, Greg and I look forward to having many family game nights!

In the mean time, Louie and friends (Dora, Tink, and Woody) had their own game day while playing Jenga!

Zip!

Make way for Louie! He is zipping along on a make-shift zip line....our curtain rod!

He borrowed Colin's candy cane ornament for the trip!

Airing Out Our Laundry!

I took the day off yesterday and apparently, so did Louie! The kids found him hiding in their bedroom yesterday - he must be trying to tell them that their bedroom is disgustingly dirty and messy! I don't think Kelsey and Colin got the hint though!

This morning though, that rascal Louie hung our underwear up for the world to see! I can't believe he pulled this trick out of his little sleeve!

Surprise!

These seeds must have been really magical - they sprouted up over night! While eating lollipops this morning at 7am, the kids proclaimed, "We've gotta go into Daddy's garage and find more of these magic seeds because this is yummy!"

Louie missed curfew and this is where the kids found him this morning...

I found this note on Pinterest and it reminded me of Louie being locked out!

Magic Seeds!

Click picture to enlarge!

The kids jumped into this activity WAY too fast for me to document properly with pictures. Here is the letter Louie left with a pot and some magic seeds (Christmas colored gummy candies)!

Hello Pattison Kiddos!

I have been having a blast with you since I arrived last Saturday. I had no idea it would be this much FUN! I’ve gotten to do lots of things I’ve never done before – listen to music, draw funny pictures, race cars, wear funny glasses to read, go fishing...I wonder what else I’ll find around here to do?!?!

Last night I was digging around in your Dad’s garage and found these funny looking seeds. What do you think will happen if we plant them?

LET’S DO AN EXPERIMENT!

Plant these seeds in the dirt, give them a little drink (I don’t know what to give them, but I know you’ll figure it out), and let’s see what happens! After you plant them, make sure you put them some where VERY safe – I’ve been keeping an eye on Gavin and he climbs on EVERYTHING!

Oh yeah…Santa wanted me to tell you GREAT JOB for helping Mommy clean up all of those beads yesterday – what a mess!

Good luck with our experiment!

Love,

Louie

A Good Story

Louie borrowed Mr. Potato Head's reading glasses and was found this morning, cuddled up with a good Christmas story! He looks awfully cozy to me!

I heard Colin talking to Louie earlier today, putting in some more gift requests with Santa. I also heard Kelsey reminding Colin that he needed to "do his share" and help out Mommy - that's what Rodney and Louie said in their note!

On a side note, we are still doing our countdown activities. Today's activity was to go sledding....but we have NO snow in Michigan! We went to our MOMS Club potluck instead and we made "Grinch Punch" together to share with friends!

The Whopper!

Silly Louie...he was found trying to fish in our fish tank this morning, but he was fishing with the lid closed! How is he supposed to fish like that? The kids wanted to eat his bait this morning though...

You Look Funny!

While I was a grocery shopping last night, I bought the kids some new dry erase board markers (per Kelsey's request). Apparently Louie wanted to test them out before the kids got to them this morning! His test media of choice...our bathroom mirror!

He drew a Christmas tree and told us, "These markers are FUN!"

He dressed Kelsey up as an Elf...with a missing tooth!

Colin declared his baby brother looked like a DRAGON!

Professor Colin - looking very studious with a mustache and glasses!

What will Louie do next?!?!

Vroom, Vroom!

While we were sleeping, Louie set up a race track over the ENTIRE living room...he ever put track across the brown chair, behind the glider, and all over the couch! The big kids brought their cars upstairs last night and I guess Louie wanted to play!

Quiet Time!

All the travel and breakfast preparations has tired Louie out...we found him hiding in a toy bin, listening to music!

First Annual North Pole Breakfast

Last year was our first Christmas our family spent with a holiday elf - Rodney came to our family and we had a great time with him last year! He brought a book with him explaining that he would return again on the first Saturday of December the next year. And sure enough, Rodney returned this morning...the first Saturday of December 2011!

He put together a North Pole breakfast for us! There were snowballs, some fruit, blueberry muffins, hard boiled eggs, and some eggnog.

He wrote a note to each child.

Each child also received a small white mug for hot cocoa, a personalized bucket with some holiday socks, and a cute plate to eat breakfast on.

Rodney also brought some tiny snowballs with him!

This year Rodney brought a friend with him, as he is not able to stay with our family this year.

Rodney also wrote our family a note:

Dear Kelsey, Colin, & Gavin,

I have missed you this past year! It was nice to see you last Saturday, but I must admit – you SCARED me while I was trying to work in your basement! I thought my hiding spot in that little box was great, but your Mom found me!

But I’m back and I brought a friend with me. He is kind of shy and doesn’t talk much, so I don’t know his name. Will you see if he will tell you his name?

This new elf is going to stay for the Christmas season. I did such an awesome job with my elf duties last year that I was promoted! Can you believe it? I hope you and this new guy get along well. I’ve been working really hard to train him and tell him every single thing I know about you. So be patient with him…he’s still learning!

I hope I wasn’t too loud this morning while you all were still sleeping. I wanted to surprise you with this delicious North Pole breakfast. Do you think your Mom will mind that I used her dishes and some of your food to make this stuff? I also brought some egg nog for you to try – we like to drink it at the North Pole while we work!

I hope you each have a wonderful Christmas holiday! I will miss you, but I know that this new guy is going to fit right in with the Pattison Family!

Love, Rodney

p.s. Shhhh….don’t tell your Mom, but I hid some dirty dishes in her oven!

So, please meet Louie...our Christmas Elf! He will be here for the next 22 days and will be keeping an eye on the kiddos. Each night Louie will report back to Santa to let him know what we've been up to and such. But more importantly, he is going to help us remember to think of others during the holidays and to enjoy our time with family.

Santa Lists

Today's activity was to write a letter to Santa, but it turned into the big kids writing what they wanted Santa to bring them. They had fun decorating their lists and I will forever remember this activity because I have matching stamps on my dining room table! Silly Mommy...that's what those cheap plastic table cloths are for!

Colin's List includes:
Buzz Lightyear
Lightening McQueen phone

And he made sure I wrote: "And that is all I need!"

Kelsey's List:

Ariel Doll
Princess Phone
"Give Please Rodney To Rodney"
(She was trying to write "Please Give to Santa. To Rodney")

Rig Of The Day

While the day was a bit on the chilly side, it was a BEAUTIFUL day! We went on a nature walk this morning with Grandpa Buster & his canine, Roxy! Then this afternoon we walked up to Kelsey's school and picked up her fundraiser order. The big kids insisted on riding their bikes, which was great!

That is until Colin's pedal fell off and I couldn't get it back on! So we put his front tire into the basket of the stroller and I towed my little cowboy home!

And So It Begins...

...Our countdown to Christmas! I have a partially made mitten & jingle bell garland hanging on the top edge of our tv cabinet. I still need to finish knitting the missing one and a half mittens! At any rate, each bell and mitten have a tag. One side of the tag is a number indicating how many days until Christmas and the other side has an activity for the day.

Today's activity was a treat and craft. Each of the big kids got a miniature candy bar and a wooden snake to paint. I don't really think snakes and Christmas are related, but who cares! The kids had a great time painting the snakes after quiet time this afternoon. But they put the snakes on the counter to dry and I wasn't sure what they really thought of the day or the countdown or ANYTHING! I stress about these things a little too easily...

At any rate, when Greg got home from work tonight Kelsey filled him in. "Daddy! Guess what our countdown let us do today? We got a yummy treat and we made these awesome snakes! And there are 24 days until Christmas!!!"

I think the day was a success! Tomorrow we write our letters to Santa and make our Santa Wish List...