Saturday, December 4, 2010

Move the Elf, Move the Elf...just keep reminding yourself...Move the Elf.

Addie passed out in her bed with her arm hanging out the side. I know every kid does this, but I love it. I also love that Dora's foot is in Addie's face! These are the Christmas jammies that Alabaster Snowball (our Elf) delivered this year from Santa! Tucker's Pjs have Santa in rockets flying around the planets (Nick & Nora @ Target) and Addie has Santas all over her Pjs (Carter's). They both LOVE the Pjs and they are wondering why they can't wear them every night. These jammies are going to get lots of love...and trips to the laundry, probably every other night!
So this morning I really felt the heat of all the fun and exciting traditions I've got going. I came SO CLOSE to dropping the ball this morning.

Here's how it goes:
Tucker whispers in to my room, "Mommy, Mommy, Addie is awake. She wants you." Only half believing him, because I don't hear her, I roll out of bed and head towards her room. By the time I get there, Tucker has climbed in her crib. (yes, still in a crib. She has made NO attempt to climb out, I have made NO attempt to spend money on a new bed.) They are playing nice and looking so cute and Tucker asks Addie, "Addie! Where do you think Alabaster Snowball is hiding today?!?"

....Oh Crap. My mind is racing...."I thought about moving that elf. Did I do it? ummm....NO! CRAP. NO! Ok...stall.... you are good at this Tami. Stall."

I get Addie out of the crib, and I leave Tucker there. Although he is nearly FIVE years old (a whole separate and tear filled blog topic) he claims that he can only climb IN the crib, but can't get out. PERFECT. So I get Addie out, change her diaper (again...a whole separate blog...I've got a lot of blogging to do) and I leave Tucker in the crib. While I'm changing her, I ask Tucker to do a series of "favors" for me, like turn off Addie's music, help Addie get her dolls out of bed, anything to keep him from following me to the living room where, no doubt, Alabaster is still in the same spot.

I step out of Addie's room calmly, but my very next step takes me into a flat out sprint to the living room. I jump up on the chair, grab the little bastard elf out of the giant stocking decoration and look desperately around the room for a new hiding spot. No time. Small feet approaching. Crap. Think Fast. No hiding spot. Here I go....I shove poor, little, bastard elf, Alabaster up my shirt and calmly say, "Man, I guess he's not hiding in here today! Tucker can you please let the dog out?" As Tucker agrees and heads for the sliding glass door, I take off for the other room looking for a hiding spot. The fastest spot I could find was up on a shelf amongst our nativity scene. NICE. I'm calling Alabaster a bastard elf, and then I go and throw him up there with Lord Baby Jesus. Lord help me.

So as the kids come in the room to find Alabaster, I go back to the other room to find a quick treat to throw in the advent calendar...another lovely and fun tradition that has me running in circles every morning!!!

I love it all and I wouldn't change a thing, but that little Alabaster sure did give me my cardio for the day!

3 comments:

Dottie said...

OMG! Wish you could hear me laughing over here!! Love it Tami, I too have forgotten to move the Elf, but Davis doesn't really know he is supposed to move. This morning I slyly grabbed him when D wasn't looking and moved him into the kitchen. phew..

christyephillips said...

Too funny, I've so been there. I just told my kids, "Wow, Frank must have found a really good spot to see you. He must want to make sure that you make better choices today." Bastard elf....

Hillary Atkins said...

OH MY!! I almost peed my pants at this post!! Awesome! So true...they are all bastard elves!!!! We forget all the time to move Filbert...I was so desperate to move him as Colden came downstairs with me...I asked my five year old to plug in the tree lights just to move the bastard elf! Who has their child use a light socket, so they buy time to move it!!!!???? (btw...it's really just a button)