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Sharing some teddy happiness
We are in the midst of a global pandemic which brings with it sadness, worry, new rules and tensions. It is a tough time.
However, there are lots of positive signs, too. People are connecting around the world as we all watch and experience the Corona virus. By staying apart, we are staying together is the new slogan – social distancing and reducing gatherings is a way we can protect each other and especially the most vulnerable in our communities. Our frontline responders are standing up and doing what must be done, and people are finding ways to show our gratitude.
And teddy bears are helping put smiles on our faces!
In case you haven’t caught up on this movement, many people are placing a teddy bear or similar toy in a window or other visible spot so that local children can see them. This means that a daily walk can be fun and positive as youngsters (and those young at heart of course!) can search for teddies and see how many they can find. It’s very simple and very effective.
One on my neighbours has been putting her teddies in different themed settings each day and some families are walking past daily to see what she has come up with!
Have you been spotting teddy bears and friends in your local area? Have you put any soft friends on display?
Aussie Christmas Scrabble!
Tinkles was playing scrabble this morning!
So yesterday, my son’s Christmas present from Sunday was put to use by Tinkles and Ginger, and today my daughter’s present was in use – cheeky elves must think the presents were for them!
Aussie Scrabble is just like normal scrabble in that you have seven tiles to place as words on the board, but there are some extra cards to add an Aussie flavour – that’s as specific as I can explain as we haven’t yet played a game of it., and Tinkles hasn’t told me any additional details or rules!
Tinkles plating Aussie Scrabble with the Lego Dragon she rode last year!
A closer look at the board, showed us some words appropriate for Christmas elves and for today, being Christmas Eve! If you can’t read them, they have made ‘Lovesanta’, ‘Tinkles’, ‘reindeer’, ‘elf’ and ‘Christmas’.
As long as Dragon knows how to spell Ginger, he can get a decent score on his next go in the game!
Elf snack time!
After a busy weekend and the fruit last Thursday, Tinkles must have felt she was allowed something a bit sweeter today… Or maybe she just needed to replace some energy after her big trip yesterday and car racing this morning!
I like how Tinkles had spread out a Christmassy picnic rug (otherwise known as some Christmas fabric I had in the cupboard!) and used a high chair for Ginger the Baby Elf! Ginger had a big strawberry but Tinkles had a rather large slice of cake with her lemonade!
Christmas elves racing!
Amongst other things, Tinkles and Ginger watched everyone open presents yesterday which included my son opening a pair of remote control cars.
The kids had a lovely time racing the cars when we got home last night, and that must have appeared fun as we woke this morning to find three elves sitting on cars about to start a race!
At closer inspection, it turned out that Ginger was not alone on her car – Harry, Hermione and Ron (from the Harry Potter Lego advent calendar) were propped on the windscreen as well!
There has already been lots of laughter at the elves racing around the house – I hope Tinkles and Ginger hold on tight!
Travelling elves!
Today, we are going to a family Christmas function – and we’re taking Tinkles and Ginger with us!
After checking the pantry and elves for where we last saw our Christmas elves, the kids ran around trying to find where they had moved to, and see what they may be up to!
Tinkles and Ginger in a container so they can be carried on an outing with us!
Tinkles’ note says “I stuffed myself and baby in here so you can take me to see what happens at Mim’s house this year!”
Luckily Tinkles chose a container with a lid so the elves can breathe whilst in there all day!
Tinkles & Ginger hiding apart
It was Ginger, the newly named Baby Elf, that we spotted first today, sitting on top of some elves hanging on a window!
Tinkles took a little longer to find, but we found her cheeky face sticking out of a box of tacos! I hope she didn’t eat all the taco shells as I think that may be our dinner tonight now she’s put the idea into my head!
Naming a baby elf!
So for the first few days after the baby elf arrived, everyone was happy calling her Baby Elf 🙂
Then my daughter decided she should really have a name and began choosing names. After some thought, she asked Santa and Tinkles if she could help give the baby a name…
Tinkles responded with ‘Yes please”…
My children added a note into Tinkles’ letterbox with name suggestions…
The note to Santa reads “[She] wants Candy Cane and I want Ginger (short for Gingerbread)”
If you can’t read that, the note says “Dear kids, thank you so much for offering to help name Baby Elf! Tinkles and I, along with Mrs Claus, the other elves and even the reindeer, had been debating a name. We finally agreed to use your two suggestions, Candy Cane ad Ginger (short for gingerbread), and voted on it…
“So it is with great pleasure that Tinkles introduces you to Ginger!”
Tinkles merrily on high!
Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! Tinkles the elfie
Is sit’n with faces grinning*
It was not until my son walked out the back door that anyone spotted Tinkles this morning!
She is sitting on the roof of our two storey cubby! Goodness only knows how she got herself up there, but she is looking quite pleased with a bit of sunshine and a nice view.
Due to the slope of our land, the cubby roof and my eye height at the back door are fairly close so she is was fairly obvious once we went out the back door, but nobody had spotted her through the windows! My daughter had opened every drawer int eh kitchen and looked under every bit of furniture in the family room trying to find her 🙂
Tinkles had probably watched us search for her as she has a great view into the family room windows today 🙂
In the meantime, Candy Cane was back in her cradle with a new message for the kids…
* Original lyrics of Ding Dong Merrily On High are by English composer George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934), with a few personalisations by me to suit Tinkles’ latest escapade!
Elves getting excited by presents!
The kids spent a bit of time this morning walking around the house wondering where Tinkles and Baby Elf were (Baby wasn’t in her house so we assumed she was with Tinkles), but eventually found them sitting on a pile of presents eating some fruit!
I’m not sure if they are guarding the gifts or are itching to know what is in them now the pile has grown and we are getting close to Christmas! What do you think they’re up to?
She sees you when you’re sleeping…
She knows when you’re awake,
She knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
Just in case the kids had forgotten that Tinkles, Baby Elf and Santa are ever watchful, they each woke this morning to find an elf beside them!
Baby Elf lying on a pillow – the hat was near by so we guess she got too hot and threw it off!
Tinkles was sitting in the corner of the bed …
* Lyrics are of course from Santa Claus is coming to town, originally by John Coots and Haven Gillespie and published in 1934. Interestingly, it was first played on a radio show by Eddie Cantor but he added additional verses encouraging people to be kind to each other!
This Christmas – towards zero
Walking along the river in the city yesterday, the kids and I came across a pop up activity titled This Christmas.
Run by the TAC as part of their towards zero campaigns, the pop up had rainbow ribbons to attach to rings.
The idea is that you select up to three ribbons with messages that resonate with you. Each message is a positive action that can help us all be safer n the roads, such as “I will not rush to Christmas lunch so I arrive safely”, “I will thank the designated driver” and “I will stay calm behind the wheel”.
The stall was well attended while we were there, which is great, and hopefully it helps a few people think and thus make our roads safer this Christmas. My kids loved it – between the colourful ribbons, finding the different messages, and checking out the colouring in pictures of Melbourne, there was a lot to see in a small space.
Tinkles toasting marshmallows
Resting against the Lego advent calendars, we found Tinkles and the Tooth Elf toasting marshmallows over a Christmas candle this morning.
Baby Elf was sitting in Tinkles’ lap, presumably waiting for her taste, while Hermoine and Harry look quite interested in what’s happening!
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