Gone Fishin'

Clearly, Gumdrop's mind is already on his upcoming holidays.

Ahhhh, just an elf, his candy-cane fishing pole, and the deep, blue sea.

We've had a good run here, Gumdrop. Enjoy your off-season once Santa takes you back to the North Pole tonight. You've earned it!!

Hot Wheels!

We celebrated McQueen Christmas a few days ago. Declan has never been a huge fan of cars, but he got this little Hot Wheels carrying case and he's suddenly a fan. He filled this little case up to the brim with cars, pulled it around behind him all night, and parked it beside his bed when he went to sleep.

Naturally, Gumdrop wanted to get in on the action as well. He snuck into Dec's room and pulled the cars into the living room!

All Wrapped Up

Look at that mischievous little face! I <3 gumdrop="gumdrop" span="span">

I finally got around to wrapping up some presents the other night, and I guess Gumdrop paid attention to where I stash the ribbons and bows.

High-Tech Elf

Talia loves playing on my tablet, or as she calls it, my phone. She sometimes pitifully says "I wish I had my very own phone" on a day when I say no to her request to play on it. She's getting a LeapPad2 for Christmas, hopefully that will fit the bill as a phone of her very own. Because I will never get a chance on my tablet if Talia, Declan, and Gumdrop all want a turn with mine!

Trapped

Once upon a time, Mommy & Daddy got married. It was the end of November so our decor was kind of Christmasy. The table favours were Christmas ornaments with our names & the date on them. Naturally tons were left on the tables afterward, and even though I didn't really want to ever see another silver Christmas ball ever again, somebody gathered them all up and we came home to a box of them when we got back from our honeymoon. So naturally, I filled a vase with them and they have been part of our Christmas decorations ever since.

Apparently Gumdrop thought they were pretty sweet and last night he wanted to get a closer look. Too bad, looks like he got too close and fell in.

Trapped in a glass box, like a really, really unlucky mime.

Crafty

Okay, I admit it. We've had a long run with Gumdrop this year. The day after he switched the stockings for gitchies, he *might* have forgotten to move. Fortunately Daddyo saved the day and herded the 3 Raine Circus into the potty, giving Gumdrop time to hop down off the mantle into Talia's stocking.  (And in all the excitement I *might* have forgotten to take a picture of him.)

But he seems to have recovered. Here he is from earlier this week. If there is one thing our kids love, it's crafts. The more glue and sequins, the better. Gumdrop totally made their day by bringing them a craft kit to get into!!

Pass the glue, please.

Gitchies

This morning that naughty Gumdrop played a switch-a-roo with the kids' gitchies - a gitch-a-roo, if you will.

Every morning the boy gets up, goes to the potty, and gets himself dressed. This morning I woke up to Declan running down the hall with a "gotta go potty!" and I couldn't wait for him to get dressed. When he went to get some clean gitchies, he said "HEY!!!! What my stocking doing in my gitch?" I said "How did that get in there? Let's go hang it up on the fireplace." But when we got to the living room we found:

*Someone* had hung gitchies from the mantle. With care, obviously.

Oh, Gumdrop!!!!!!

Off to the Races

Gumdrop likes to pull friends into the mischief around here. In fact, if Declan finds Gumdrop by himself in the morning, he will ask "Where Woody? Where Mr. Tato Head at?"

So this morning Gumdrop got the gang together and organized a race:

On your marks....

Best buddies

Ride 'Em, Gumdrop

Giddy up

Rough Night

Apparently Gumdrop had a rough landing, or a bar fight, or who knows what on his way back from the North Pole the other night. He must have been up to no good with his buddy Cupcake Thorberg.

Poor Gumdrop!

Rest your head on your "G for Gumdrop" pillow, buddy. Get some rest.

A nice, cozy bed. Some awesome bandaids. Some Junior Advil. A beautiful Christmas tree. What more could a broken Elf ask for??

This was a big hit with the 3 Raine circus. The benefit of me being behind in Gumdrop posts is you get to see the kids' reactions - this morning they insisted they all had booboos, too.

**Thanks to Megan and Cupcake Thorberg for the inspiration!!**

Spiderdrop, Spiderdrop

Thanks to Auntie Jenn, Gumdrop is joining the ranks of Spiderman fans in this house.

We have a big tickle trunk that Santa brought last year. (I, er, I mean, *he* went shopping on November 1st and got tons of awesome costumes for next to nothing.) It's been played with a lot by our kids, and is also a big hit with any of the boys and girls who come here.

Gumdrop has obviously been paying attention and tonight he decided to get in on the action. Here he is in his Spiderman costume, waiting for the kids on the tickle trunk:

Wheeeeeee!

Gumdrop must have been casing the joint all summer, because he somehow slides just like Declan - head first, full speed.

Mt. Laundry

Last night, Gumdrop got lost in the last remaining basket from Mt. Laundry.

Declan - "Gumdrop went for a swim in da basket!"

Drowning in laundry? I know the feeling, Gumdrop.

All-You-Can-Eat

Apparently Gumdrop has a lot of free time on his hands when he gets back from the North Pole every night. Last night he kept himself busy making breakfast for everyone again!

Sure, this time it's just cereal, but STILL.

Why Gumdrop, you look delish!

Hangin' Out

Gumdrop is pretty excited that the Christmas cards have started to roll in! I hope he has a good grip up there because I feel there is a very low probability of the teeny-tiny Raine kids finding him waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up there.

Baby Jesus

Our kids are currently obsessed with Jesus. Have we taught them tons and tons about Jesus? No. Do we take them to church regularly? Not really. Have they spent the last 3 months living with their very Catholic Grammie? Yes.  However, Grammie may be dropping the ball a little when it comes to the rest of the holy family, since when we put our "real" nativity scene under the tree today, Talia cradled Baby Jesus "to keep him safe" and then asked "...... do we need these other guys?" ie. Mary and Joseph. Whoops.

But don't worry about the Raine kids, Christians! Gumdrop and the Little People to the rescue!

So holy

Gumdrop, the 4th Wiseman

 

'Tis the Season

Gumdrop clearly feels a little thing like Grammie & Grampy's move is no reason to get behind on Christmas decorating. He assembled our new tree all by himself so it's ready for us to decorate tomorrow!

Here's Your Hat, What's Your Hurry?

Tonight Gumdrop brought what we've all been waiting for..... the keys to Grammie & Grampy's new place!

Gumdrop is one tough landlord.

Couch Potato

Sometimes, after a long night of flying to the North Pole and back, Gumdrop just can't wait to curl up on the couch with a snack and watch a show.

Time to put your feet up and see if the game is on, hey Gumdrop?

A nice & cozy Tinkerbell blanky, a bowl of Plentils, and a cup of syrup. What more could an elf ask for? Well, okay. But they don't make elf-sized Snuggies.

Hey Gumdrop, quit hogging the remote.

Ah, the glass teat. How we all love letting you turn our brains to mush.

If You Build It.....

Well actually, if Gumdrop builds it.... the Raine kids will knock it down. At least I'm pretty sure that's how tomorrow morning is going to go.

Gumdrop, architect and builder.

Enjoy it while you can, Gumdrop. The Rainezillas are coming.

Look Out Below!

Gumdrop and some friends headed over to the toboggan hill tonight to get a few runs in.

Wheeeeeeeeeee!

Hey, no texting and tobogganing!

What a daredevil. Gumdrop should really get a helmet.

Take A Hint, Woobs

Sometimes nature calls, even if you're an elf. I'm totally taking advantage of this fact in hopes Gumdrop might inspire Ruby to get a little more interested in the potty.

What's an elf gotta do to get a little privacy around here?!?

Snow Angels

Gumdrop must have been looking out the window today while Talia and I were making snow angels in Grandma and Grandpa's driveway!

Da Bears

Ever since Talia was a wee babe, she's loved all the knick-knacks at Grandma's house. Her favourites are the bears that are in adorable poses both inside and outside.  This time Ruby finally noticed them as well, and spent a fair amount of time screeching about "Dat bee-yah! Dat bee-yah!!!" After we determined she was not demanding Grandpa get her a cold one, we figured out that the bears are Woobs' favourites as well.

Gumdrop is as big a fan as the girls are. Here he is, hitching a ride with one of the bears.

Road Trip

This weekend we took things on the road and headed out to K-town to visit family and take in the Santa Claus Parade. That little sneak Gumdrop followed us all the way to Kenora!!

 Gumdrop! So glad you could make it!

 "Going to Grandma's.... Where life is good."

Peeking in the window from the porch, waiting for someone to open the door in the morning.