Pickle - Day 5 (Dec. 1)

Due to some friendly competition with another elf, Belf, Pickle has decided to up his game...he's now sharing what he does BEFORE he gets ready for the kids...this could get messy!

*******************************************************

Hey folks - Pickle here...I hope I don't get into trouble...I've been getting into Al's beverage supply.  I thought it was soda...but man...if that's soda then I don't like soda any more.  No way.  That stuff tasted like fermented liquified rice...Nasty.  

Anyhow...I had a good trip up North.  Santa is gearing up for the big day.  He said he hopes the weather is nice on Christmas Eve...Rudolph is getting old...and his nose doesn't always shine so bright anymore.  Poor Rudolph!  The kids are still on the nice list - even with Conner's biting incident.  Apparently Santa has a soft spot for kids who are genuinely sorry. 

I thought the house could use a little more decoration tonight.  So I used the skills I learned in Elfing 101...paper chain making...to spice it up a little.  I hope Conner and Kellen like it!  

 

 

Elf Adventures Day 4 (Nov. 30)

Hi Folks!  Your trusty friend Pickle the Elf here.  I had quite a bit of fun last night...shhh don't tell...but I broke into the secret stash of mini-marshmallows and had a marshmallow fight with the boys' animals.  That Llama sure can throw a mean fast ball!  Sophie the Giraffe is pretty stealth with her curve ball, too!  I'm going to have to practice my aim for next year. 

Conner wasn't too pleased when he first saw my marshmallow mess. 

He said, "Oh, no...Pickle made a mess! Pickle's naughty!" 

But he sure loved it when his mom said he could eat the marshmallows!  

Elf Adventures: Day 3

Howdy folks, it's me...Pickle!  Wondering what I was up to last night?  Well I made a quick trip back home to the North Pole to catch up with the big guy (you know, SC...Santa Claus).  He's pretty busy now...so we only chatted for a minute or two.  I am happy to say that Conner and Kellen are being great kids...although I did hear through the grapevine that Conner bit someone at day care yesterday...I'm going to have to report that one.  Such a surprise since Conner has been so nice and is always saying please, thank you and knows how to use gentle hands.  I guess he felt pretty bad about biting and put himself into time out.  He also stayed there for longer than he needed to.  I suppose that's because he really is a good kid.  We'll see what the big guy has to say about it.  I sure hope he gets to stay on the nice list!

When I got back to the house, I decided I'd make a painting for the kids.  So, I wrote Merry Christmas in red and green paint and hopped up onto the picture gallery wall.  Those sneaky kids woke up early and caught me while I was signing my name...

Guest BLOGGER!! PICKLE the Elf!

So far I haven't been the greatest at keeping up on this...life is busy - I spend most of my time working or with my kids...so that's where I put most of my effort.  You'll just have to deal with it...which I am sure you will as I don't think any of you are leaping out of bed each day to run and see what I may have written!
In any case, we have a guest blogger that will be making an honest effort to write a quick blurb each day leading up to the big day.  The big day? Yes.  That would be Christmas.  Why would our guest write about Christmas each day?  Well...our guest blogger is an elf.  And he (or she - it depends on Conner's mood) is quite a mischievous magical elf.  As a matter of fact, the Shelf Elf is going to be taking over the writing of the blog for the whole month of December!

So without further ado...here is Pickle the Elf!

It's a (rice crispie) TURKEY INVASION!

It's been a while since I've posted...life has gotten busier than it was before.  I'm working on choregraphy for at least a dozen dances because I am now a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor (stay tuned for more info on that at a later date).  Al and I have been busy pretty much every weekend since Halloween. 

The wee little ones and I are home alone this weekend...and I was inspired by a student at school who brought these in for her birthday.  So we've been busy making turkeys!  Conner loved this project - and though it has quite a few small steps...it's totally doable for a 2 1/2 year old to help out! 

Here is the Recipe:

Rice Crispie Treat Turkeys

• 1/4 cup butter
• package of mini or large marshmallows
• 6 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 package round Fudge covered cookies (find the ones that are all fudge covered on at least one side)
• chocolate chips or chocolate bar
• candy corn

Conner stirring the butter.

Melt the butter.  Add marshmallows and stir.  Heat until marshmallows are melted.  Stir in cereal.  Let cool for 10 minutes.

hard at work

While the mixture is cooling, turn the oven on to 300 and place 1/2 of the package of cookies (fudge side up) onto a baking sheet.  Leave in oven for 3-5 minutes.  Take cookies out and press 3-5 candy corns (points towards each other in a fan-like shape) into the fudge.  Set aside to cool.

trying to steal a bit

Lightly wet your hands and shape the cereal mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls.

Melt chocolate in microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir.  Keep microwaving for 10-15 seconds and stirring until completely melted. 

Dip one side of the cereal ball into the chocolate and press into the cookie with the fan-shaped candy corn. 

Pressing cereal balls into fudge cookies

Put the other 1/2 package of cookies into the oven (fudge side up) for 3-5 minutes.  Remove.  Place one cereal ball/cookie combo onto the cookie.  Let cool completely.

And Voila!  You have the cutest little turkeys taking over your kitchen!

And a pic of Kellen being awesome while we made the turkeys!

Happy Turkey Making!!

Remember how I said...

Remember how I wrote a post Why I don't hate when my kids are sick?  Well, guess what - I HATE WHEN I AM SICK!!!!  Oh my GOSH!  I rarely get sick...really.  So it's always shocking to me when I do.  Right now...not feeling the "sick love."  No. Siree. Bob.  Not. At. All.  UGH!

Honestly, if I were sick and didn't have two wee little ones to make me be at their every beck and call love on and take care of right now, it wouldn't be a big deal.  I'd lay on the couch, with a big heavy blanket watching chick flicks in-between falling asleep.  BUT, as any parent of young children knows...that really isn't an option.

So...instead of getting super comfy on my couch and dozing off...I am sitting at the computer while Conner goes potty - for fear of being so comfy and cozy that he'll make his distinguished call, "Mommy, I'm done" and I won't be able to wake up.  And anyone who has or ever did have small children knows, it means it's time for you to wipe the kids butt when you hear those words.  Yep.  And, when you feel like poop you don't really want to look at or clean up poop.  So yeah...that's my night right now.  Thankfully, Kellen fell asleep like a sweet little baby as usual.  Of course, he'll be up at least 3 times before the night is over and it's time to wake up and start all over.

The worst part about this "sick" is that...well, actually there are a few things I don't like about it...and I'm not sure which is the worst.  But anyway, I've been sick since Monday.  Fever, achy, exhausted, cough.  Now, 4 days later I have a slight fever again, am exhausted, and am now coughing up yellow-ish guck with my hacking fits.  Fun, right?

But, here's the best (and I actually think THIS is the worst)...moms, you'll probably know what I'm referring to here, although if you're like me...you may not have realized this until an inopportune time like when you were hacking up your lungs.  Are you curious?  You want to know what I am referring to?  Wait for it...wait...wait...

I FREAKING PEED WHEN I COUGHED at dinner.  Yep.  First time that has happened - not even during pregnancy!  And frankly, with the force of my coughing, I am pretty confident that no matter how many kegels I did while pregnant, or after giving birth, it wouldn't have made a difference.  I freaking peed.  Not what an almost 31 year old wants to experience.  Nope.  Not. At. All.  But, as you can see I guess I am not the only one. 

I really hope I feel better soon - it's hard taking care of my munchkins when it's hard to take care of myself!  And I really don't want to pee my pants anymore...

Alright - gotta go - the Conner kid is calling for his mama...and we all know what that means.

PS.
AND my Public Service Announcement for the week

You all (all 5 or 6 of you) just got a little bit educated about kegels and urinary incontinence.  Pretend this is your fairy health godmother  - go do your KEGELS in order to try and prevent a terrible "accident" from happening and contact your doctor if urinary incontinence is a regular thing for you.

Weekend with Nana

Most of my family and close friends know that while I was attending the College of Saint Rose, I stayed with Al's parents during the week.  I commuted to Albany from their house and went home to our house (Al's and mine) on the weekends.  Thankfully, I truly love his parents and get along very well with them.  I very much enjoyed being at their house and getting to know them in a way I probably wouldn't have ever known them if I hadn't lived with them.  I sometimes miss our at least once a week TV show watching and critiquing the dancers of Dancing with the Stars.  We developed a more intimate relationship than I'd thought possible and I very much appreciate my in-laws.

Well, Al went away last weekend to fish with his buddies.  Nana (mother-in-law) came to visit while he was away.  We had a lot of fun.  Nana helped out a lot.  She folded our laundry which is my LEAST favorite chore (THANK YOU)!  We had the opportunity to chat a bit after the kids went to bed - like we used to when we lived closer and when we lived together.  We cooked - soup, spaghetti, cupcakes, frittatta.  We played with the boys.  It was just so nice to hang out with no pressure to go anywhere or do anything. 

Thanks for the great weekend Nana.  We look forward to the next one!