TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE

NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, NOT EVEN THAT SILLY OL’ KITTY CAT;

THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG ON THE CHINA CABINET BY MAMA WITH CARE,

WITH HOPES THAT ST NICK (WE CALL HIM SANTA) WOULD SOON BE THERE;

I WAS NESTLED ALL SNUG IN MY BED (OK, MAYBE MAMA AND DADDY’S BED)

WHILE VISIONS OF PUFFS (THAT’S MY FAVORITE SNACK) DANCED IN MY HEAD;

AND MAMA AND DADDY IN THEIR PJ’S AND ME IN MY GOWN

WE DECIDED ON A SHORT NAP OR MY THOUGHTS WERE JUST TO SETTLE DOWN (SINCE I DON’T LIKE TO SLEEP);

WHEN OUT ON THE LAWN AROSE SUCH A CLATTER,

I SAT STRAIGHT UP (IN MAMA AND DADDY’S BED) TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER.

AWAY TO THE WINDOW I SCOOTED WITH THAT KITTY CAT

TORE OPEN THE BLINDS AND RIGHT THERE WE BOTH SAT.

THE MOON SHINING DOWN REFLECTING OFF THE WATER

MADE IT SEEM LIKE DAYTIME, OKAY MAYBE, KIND-OF, SORT-OF;

WHEN, WHAT TO MY BIG BLUE EYES SHOULD APPEAR

BUT A CARAVAN FULL OF FAMILY SO DEAR;

WITH A DRIVER SO HAPPY, SO LOVELY, SO QUICK,

I KNEW THAT MOMENT IT MUST BE POPS (AKA “THE ROAD RUNNER”) IN PLACE OF ST NICK.

INSTEAD OF REINDEER HE CALLED FAMILY BY NAME;

“ ON NANA, ON PAPPY, ON LITTLE PAPA, ON GRANNY,

ON MA-MAM JENNIE AND ON PAWPAW CALLIS!

TO THE DRIVEWAY, TO THE GARAGE, ON THE WAY FROM THE MALL!

NOW DRIVE AWAY, DRIVE AWAY, DRIVE AWAY ALL!”

SO IN THROUGH THE GARAGE THEIR THEY ALL FLEW

WITH A VAN FULL OF TOYS AND JOLLY OLD POPS TOO!

AND THEN IN A SECOND I HEARD AT THE DOOR

THE PITTER PATTER OF THEIR FEET HIT THE FLOOR;

AS I DREW IN MY HAND AND WAS SNEAKING AROUND,

JOLLY OLD POPS CAME IN WITH A CROWD.

THEY WERE ALL DRESSED IN RED AND GREEN FROM HEAD TO TOE

AND THEIR CLOTHES WERE BEDAZZLED JUST FOR THE SHOW.

BAGS FULL OF TOYS THEY EACH HELD IN THEIR HANDS

HOLDING AS MUCH STUFF AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

EACH OF THEIR EYES GLISTENED LIKE SNOW

AS THEY SAW MY FACE AS I PEEKED AT THEIR SHOW.

AFTER A SMILE FROM EACH OF THEM I QUICKLY KNEW

ESPECIALLY AFTER EACH OF THEM SAYING “SHEW SHEW SHEW!”,

IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO HEAD BACK TO BED.

AND EACH THEM LEFT AND SWEETLY SAID,

“MERRY CHRISTMAS TO LAUREN AND TO LAUREN GOOD NIGHT!”



Home Sick

Day 15.....Don't get me wrong, I love being here with Lauren but every now and again I get a little homesick. I am so thankful that Lauren's family decorates their house for Christmas because it makes it seem a little more like home to me.  Today was one of those days that I was really missing home. I found the perfect place to feel safe and cozy and little more like home....

Right in Santa's arms! Lauren is feeling a little under the weather today so I think I am in the perfect spot to keep an eye on her and make sure she gets to feeling better really fast!

Even when she is sick she still has that smile on her face!

How many days til daddy comes home?

Day 14.......As I have been at Lauren's house now for two weeks I have noticed this thing hanging from the window.  Usually every day she goes over and tears one of the circles off.  I finally figured out once I started counting that it is the countdown to Christmas.  Before her daddy left he went over to it and told her "when you get to this green link daddy will be home". 

So what better place to be when she woke up than on her chain! I knew she would be certain to go to it first thing to see how long it would be before her daddy came home. While I was there I saw a pretty familiar face at the top. It was Rudolph.

It's so hard to say goodbye

Day 13.........Last night I was really worried about Lauren.  When it was time to go to bed she just started crying telling her daddy she was going to miss him.  I sat and listened to find out what was going on. He had to go out of town for work until Thursday.  Lauren was so sad and didn't want him to leave the next morning.  I knew that when she woke up this morning I had to bring a smile to her face because she was so sad last night.  What better way than to have one of her favorite things in hand!

Yes, she loves candy canes and peppermint.  And remember, I have a pretty big sweet tooth myself. 

I sure am proud that I got that smile out of her!

Should I stay or should I go

Day 12..........I had such a fun time at "Nana's house" that I found myself contemplating whether I should stay or go. I got to see some pretty funny stuff. Like Lauren dressed up in her Lala Loopsy hair!

But I had to make a decision.  I either had to come back to Nana's this morning or head on back to Savannah where I knew Lauren would arrive later in the evening.  It was tough but I headed for Savannah so I could be waiting on her when she got home.

I thought that little horse was fun to ride until I found this...........

I rode and rode and thankfully I didn't get bucked off like Lauren did the other day!  As I was riding I heard the garage open. Finally, in ran Lauren to see if I was here. I heard she was disappointed that she didn't find me at Nana's this morning when she got up.  Boy was she excited to see me back at home!

Road Trip

Day 11.......Last night as I sat around listening to all the conversation I noticed Lauren kept talking about going to her Nana's.  She seemed so excited.  I wondered what I would do here at her house all by myself.  Last night when I went back to the North Pole I had a little talk with Santa.  He gave me directions to "Nana's house" and this morning off I went. 

I think Lauren was really surprised to find me there when she woke up. 

Gitty Up

Day 10.........Last night Lauren was playing with her toy dog.  He seemed really sweet.  But every now and then I would hear him bark.  I was thinking when I came back I might would take a ride on this dog. I am pretty small and he is pretty big. But when I heard that bark I was afraid he might look at me the same way that cat does.  Then I remembered this horse Lauren plays with.  I went to her toy box and pulled and tugged until I finally got him out. The good thing is he had blinders so I thought it might make my ride a little smoother.

We played for awhile until finally I heard that little pitter patter of feet that I look so forward to hearing every day.  I think Lauren was still half asleep this morning!

Happy 4th Birthday

Today 4 years ago I held my sweet baby girl for the first time.  And now 4 years has flown by. She is growing up so fast and amazes me each day.  She loves school and is learning so many things.  She loves Yogurt and cheese. This is a necessity in our home.  She loves fried eggs. But only when Daddy makes them and puts food coloring in them. She has been able to write her name for over a year and can now spell quite a few words.  She loves to sing and dance.  She loves her mama and daddy so much and is so torn when she has to make a decision to go with only one of us if we are going in different directions.  And for right now she doesn't want to grow up!  I know that will soon change but for now she thinks if she grows up she won't be able to snuggle with me.  SO SWEET!  Happy 4th birthday to our little Monkey. Mama and Daddy love you so much and we are so glad that you were sent to us! 

Sweet tooth

Day 9...........Have you ever watched the movie "ELF"? If you have I am sure you remember the part where Buddy is eating spaghetti with syrup on it and anything else sweet that he can get his hands on.  Us Elves have a little bit of a sweet tooth.  When we are on duty during Christmas in homes we try really careful not to eat too many sweets but sometimes its so hard.  This morning I found myself going off the deep end when I saw my favorite thing....SKITTLES!

I was so excited that I didn't even hear Lauren get up and before I knew it she was standing there looking up at me.  I sure hope I am not in too much trouble!

Who's that sleeping in my bed?

Day 8.........So, as you all know every night I am very busy traveling back and forth to and from the North Pole.  It is a pretty long ride and when I do get there I don't get much rest.  I of course have to report if Lauren has been naughty or nice for the day and I also tell Santa of any new toys she wants.  So this morning when I made it back into the Hickman's Home I saw this comfy looking bed that seemed like it might be just my size.  I sat and waited and as soon as Lauren's baby came out I scooted it close to the Christmas tree, because this reminds me of home, and I got all snuggled in!

I thought a little nap might be in order.  I hadn't closed my eyes for very long before I heard "pitter patter" of those little feet.  In Lauren and her mommy came to find me.  Lauren looked high and finally low.  When she spotted me she was laughing so hard.  I am so glad she wasn't upset because someone was sleeping in her bed!

The "IN" Crowd

Day 7.......So lately I haven't really felt like I fit in.  All of Lauren's friends, like I said before, are either blue, bears that wear clothes, or cats with big heads.  Then there is the kitty cat.  Every time I arrive back from the North Pole I have to find a high enough place so I don't feel threatened. Well, all of this finally changed.  When I arrived back this morning I found a group of people waiting for me.

They sat and listened to all of my stories and adventures of being and elf!  I felt pretty good. I am with the "IN" crowd. 

We talked and talked until we finally heard little feet hit the floor. And in she came. Before she even looked up in the tree to see if I was gone she spotted me with all of my new friends.  As soon as her daddy got home she had to show him that I finally made some friends.

"Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree"

Day 6.....As I came in this morning I decided that it might be best for me to "sit high" instead of "lay low" for one more day until I am certain that Kitty Cat won't bother me!

And what better place than atop the Christmas Tree.  About 7:30 this morning I heard Lauren holler for her mommy saying, "mama, let's hold hands and go look for that elf".  And before I knew it there was the sound of pitter patter form those little feet once again.  She walked in and before she even looked over to see if I was still "hanging around" she spotted me on the tree.

Just hanging around

Day 5....and I am still just hanging around.   This morning Lauren woke up to have to search high and low to find me.  When I arrived this morning as I looked below I saw something staring up at me licking it's lips.  It's this thing Lauren calls the kitty. So, I figured it was better for me to be safe than sorry so I grabbed the first thing that I saw that was higher than this cat.

And here I stayed all day long.  My arms aren't very big and this was a really tough job.  I am sad to say that Lauren had a rough morning.  I think she was just tired. But either way she did a good bit of fussing.  Thankfully later on this afternoon that all turned around. 

The night ended on a good note and I can report to Santa the good things Lauren said and done tonight! 

Trying to fit in

Day 4...I noticed Lauren has lots and lots of little friends all around her house.  She has these little blue things called smurfs.  She has bears that wear clothes (how silly is that) and even a cat she calls Hello Kitty that has a really big head.  I keep trying to find a way to fit in with all of these friends but for some reason I am always too small, too short, or not Blue enough!

Finally when I arrived this morning back from visiting Santa I found a friend that I think I might be close to fitting in with.

I am a little bigger but I think we kind of favor!  I sat here patiently waiting with my new friend until I heard Lauren wake up and the pitter patter of little feet. She marched into the kitchen to make sure I hadn't swiped anymore of her candy and then she was off to start searching.  She's getting good because it didn't take her long. 

But of course, her "other friends" had to join in the picture. 

This job isn't easy!

It's day 3 of my adventure here in the Hickman's Home. Yesterday I stayed perched in my nook as I watched Little Lauren. I was happy to see that she had company with her when she walked in from school. It was her friend Chloe. My Elf friend Bernard is at her house watching over her and her brother and sister. The first thing Lauren did was introduce Chloe to me. I sat and watched them play. They were good little girls and played so well together.

Later in the afternoon as I sat still perched in my nook I saw something red flashing.  It had antlers. Was it Santa's reindeer Rudolph?

Nope, just Lauren trying to put a smile on her mommy's face! Finally, later that night Lauren closed her sleepy little eyes and once again off to dreamland she went. And I headed back to report to Santa. When she woke up "what did to her wondering eyes appear" "Baby" the elf was off his shelf !

Yep, this job isn't easy and a little elf like me needs a pick me up every now and then.  So, I found this little bag of candy corn. I thought for sure Lauren wouldn't mind sharing but I think I might have been wrong!

Thankfully she got over it pretty quick and was ready to take another picture with me!

Later this afternoon when Lauren got home from school she has a special surprise for me...a SKIRT.  Everyone keeps calling me a "he" so she thought this would help. I love it so much and I can't wait to put it on.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's report.



She's really warming up to me!

"Baby" the elf again.  I have to say Lauren is really warming up to me.  Yesterday as soon as she got home from dance she ran straight into the living room to make sure I was still there.  I even heard her and her mommy talking about making me a skirt so everyone would know I was a girl.  Lauren knows that she can not touch me or I will lose my magic so she suggested to her mommy that she could hold the skirt and I could step into it!  Her mommy explained to her that I could fall doing that so I think they are going to make it and leave it for me.  And while they are asleep and before I head back to the North Pole I will proudly put it on. Santa will be so happy that Lauren is being so nice to me.  I even heard her tell her daddy last night that "the elf " likes it when you are silly!  I guess I should proudly report that even last night Lauren was a really good little girl. She even went to bed early last night. And when she did I was off to the North Pole. 

This morning I was back in the Hickman's home ready and waiting for Lauren to get up and find me.  At around 7:00 a.m., which is a bit earlier than normal, I heard Lauren wake up and tell her mommy she was ready to go find "the elf".  I saw her go into the living room to see if I was gone.  And sure enough I wasn't there.  She said, "Let's go mama so we can find her".  And she started looking around. She headed down the hallway and there I was perched in the nook sitting on the letter F from her FAMILY blocks. 

Lauren was so proud to see me and she was even ready for a picture beside me!

Stay tuned this week for more of our adventures!