Jingles

I'm not sure how many people actually stop and read the things spewed from my mind or not but for those that do (and don't)

This is Jingles.

He's an Elf from the 40's/50's and he is our Elf on the Shelf. We started this last year and the Littles and I made our own book and so the tradition has continued this year.

 Sorry the picture is dark. I didn't realize how horrible it was till it was on here. GO ME!

Anyway, here is a few pictures of the shenanigans he's been up too over the last few days.


Kissing booth with Rolos. Don't judge. I didn't have hardly any kisses.

He had a party with a few friends and they had a photo booth. You should see some of those pictures! The nerve!

He made booties and a hat for 2 friends here who in return, got him some clothes as well.

He helped decorate one night.

Raided the pantry for snacks.

And yes, he wrapped the toilet! This has been the favorite thus far by the Littles. I had to leave it wrapped all day and night because they thought it was hilarious!

He has gone fishing, been trapped in the tree lights looking for gifts and a few other things. Tonight, his wife will be here. Her name is Holly. More on her in a bit.

~Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh

Just breathe

In a moment, so many lives were changed; Forever. A moment to us, but a lifetime to others. We may not know them, but we are all a part of them. Their faces and names fill our thoughts and television sets while prayers fill our hearts.

Please continue to thank God for your children. When they are too loud, too hyper or just too....much, remember that from now on; 20 families no longer have the opportunity to hear the chaos their children make. To tuck little bodies into the beds and recite "snug as a bug".

I can't fathom the loss, but as a fellow parent, I CAN honor them by cherishing my Littles more and more each day.

To the families touched by the Sandy Hook tragedy, you are forever in my prayers.

Holy tooth loss Batman!!

I knew it! I knew her tooth would pop out today. I had that feeling. That "I know because I'm the Mom" feeling. You Ladies know what I'm talking about. I'm glad I had that feeling because I was ready! 

Tooth Fairy Door?

Check!

Tooth Fairy box?

Check!

Letters TO and FROM said Fairy?

Check! And check!

Her note says: Dear Tooth Fairy, I love you to the moon and back. Stay safe! Love, Brynnan

The letter from Happy reads: While you lay sleeping I came in the night. Under your pillow was a marvelous sight. Your very first tooth had come unstuck. I'll keep it forever; it will bring me good luck!

OH! She'll get $1 for her first tooth.

Fairy Money!

I took a few pictures of her today just doing random stuff like checking out her tooth.

Seeing the new tooth growing in.

And then POP! Out came the tooth and her smile went from mega cute to 

OH EMM GEE ADORABLE!

 ~Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh

 A few details on stuff.

The door. (Sorry about the crummy picture. That's just awful.) The door says Happy so that's the name of our T.F. I made this a week or two ago. The door came from Hobby Lobby and was $9. I had the paint and all the other things on hand already here at home. And just encase you were wondering, the tree came from Party City and was $.99. It's actually a place card holder. 

The box I've had for around 15 years. While living in England I purchased it from one of the store in the BX. I fell in love with the tiny fairy. I used it for my first child's teeth and now that tradition continues with the Littles.

The stationary. Isn't that cute? I have to thank Handmade Charlotte for that. Here's the link for the free download.

She'll also get a receipt that will accompany her compensation and that was found here via Pinterest. I also came across these that I thought would be fun for future teeth.

Her money was super simple.  I sprayed it with hairspray and sprinkled it with pink glitter. I then, sprayed it again to make the glitter REALLY stick. 

Winter Program

Tonight, Little Miss had her first concert of the year. The whole Elementary sang songs and the Orchestra played as well. It was adorable. 

Here she is with her little Brother. My heart runs over when I see them.

And Mama had to jump in!

Can you spot my Peanut?

They sang Jingle Bells, Rudolph, Feliz Navidad to name a few. I got some video and gushed at how precious the whole thing was. When it was over, we came home and celebrated her performance with  Orville and his movie theater butter popcorn. Ahhh, what a way to end a night!

~Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh

You've got mail

Well, that's what happened to the Littles yesterday anyway. Since Jingles won't be here for a few more days, they get gifts and surprises til then. Today, they each got a letter from Santa!

Each letter was personalized for each child and they were excited to have gotten them. I think I was more excited though. Sometimes, I swear my children are their Father. They get so hyper and then 2 seconds later are over it. Either way, Pinterest came through for me, yet again! All I did was answer a few quick questions and hit print. Viola! Letters from Santa. The envelope was more tricky since there wasn't anything I could print on it for free so I just doodled. They couldn't tell a difference so thank God for small favors on that one. Next year though, I'll have to up my game on that part.

If you would like to get your own letters from Santa click this link. I hope it brings a smile to your kiddos face like they did mine!

~Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh

For other letters click here.

It's WINTER!!

OK, so, it's been winter for a few weeks now but here in AZ it isn't exactly snowing or freezing cold. We have chilly mornings but by 9 it's bright and sunny and in the 80's. This past Sunday the Hubs and the Littles and I decked our halls and had a great time making the place look festive. I lugged out all the decorations and it went from this...

to this...

Ahh. So sweet. I love when the house is all pretty-fyed for the Holidays.

 It took a few hours and by the end of the night I was exhausted. The OCD in me wanted to move the ornaments the Littles hung. They like to put them groups all together but I didn't. I refrained and took a deep breath. Then another one and left them. They did that and it was perfect. Here are a few pics from along the way.

The Hubs putting up the icicle lights along the entire front of the house.

Little Miss stopped to show me a heart and to say "Look Mom, a heart! Love always finds a way!" Be still MY heart! She is so special.

Little Man decorating his tree. He has a thing for Wood crackers, aka Nutcrackers.

Little Miss getting her groove on for her tree. All her decorations are purple and silver and glitter. Imagine that.  

Puttin' on the glitz for the family tree!

Our Elf Jingles hasn't came to stay with us yet. He comes for the twelve days of Christmas. He did, however, send the kids a gift. It was a Mickey and Minnie ornament. Something to help them remember their trip to Disney!

I made those bad boys thanks to some hot glue, cardboard, Dollar Tree ornaments, a Sharpie and buttons! Thanks to Pinterest for the idea! It took about an hour and came out super cute. The Littles loved them so that's all I cared about.

How about you? Have you decked your halls yet? I'd love to see your home or tree or Monora if you have! So whatdya' say? Link on up and share the sights!

~Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh

Taking a moment

I just wanted to take a moment and share with you a picture or two of Little Miss from Saturday. She's awesome. She can kick booty and look adorable doing it. She had her 4th belt test and she passed with flying colors. She is one of the youngest (a boy named Kaden is 4 and then it's my peanut as far as age goes) but she can hang with the older kids!

On the way, we saw a hot air balloon in the sky. Little Miss said it was for good luck since it was yellow and that's what color she is going for!

After, she had to sit and wait for other Students to get their belt tied on. The orange around her neck is her old belt.

Here she is with her instructors, Master Park (6th degree black belt) and Mr. Brandon. 

Meet Chief Master Choi. He's small but a first class Bad @**! He's an 8Th degree black belt, former Asian Military and trainer of the Asian Olympic Tae Kwan Do team! (Don't ask what year he did that. I have no idea) He also was an Officer and he trained fellow Officers as well in the art. He was in town for the Graduation and it was so awesome to have him there!

This is the progression of belt colors. The stripe belts are in between colors. So, if your child is white and graduates, their new belt will be white with an orange stripe and so on.

She did so great. After graduation, we took her to lunch at her favorite place, Chuck E. Cheese, and had some fun! 

~ Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh

Did you ever wonder

why at the end of my posts I put bugs & fishes? Well, it's not my love of those things. It's actually what I say to the Littles when I want a hug and/or a kiss. 

It's our code. Our secret. Our...thang! 

So since it's a term of endearment I also say it to you. The few who stop by to read or pass along on your way to the next blog on the list. We all need to feel love even from a stranger at least once a day. There's so much that little token can do to change someones attitude. 

So in true Aleigh form...

~Bugs & Fishes!

Too many blessings

Over here on my side of the world, I have too many blessings to be thankful for. Not just today, but always. I pray that God knows this. I do my best to convey it when possible.

I hope today you enjoy yourself as well as your family and friends and the time you have with them. Should you find an empty place at your table this year from a loss, remember the things they did today that made you laugh. Then, be thankful for the time you had them. For you are a better person for it.

Happy Thanksgiving from mine to yours!

~Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh