Adventures of Thomas

Thomas is getting sneakier and trickier as we get closer to Christmas.

We've even stepped up our game.

Social Media is giving me a guilt trip... 

Okay it was totally worth it! Especially when my Brown Eyed Girl thought Thomas fishing was so funny and loved that he used an mommy's adult beverage stir stick ice cycle for a fishing pole.

I nailed it Pinterest!

This scene appeared to be a success as well.

Until Mr Blue Eyes saw his dino was part of the act.

Then we had to have a discussion why it was okay for Mr Blue Eyes to have his dino, because touching the dino won't effect the "magic" or hinder their presents, we just can't touch Thomas.
Tears and tantrums avoided.

I on the other had had a flash back of Thomas riding a Horse in 2012...

While I love the little elf visiting, the impact he had on my Brown Eyed Girl last year has faded.

Oh don't get me wrong, she still loves - LOVES - finding Thomas each morning. However, the safety net of at least 25 days of uninterrupted goodness has faded. I am almost willing to venture out on a limb and say she is teetering on the Naughty List.

Just ask Mr Blue Eyes.

When Sissy is especially naughty, he has been tattling to Thomas. 

I catch him every now and then perched in front of Thomas telling him something to the effects of, "Eff, Sissy Brat. Sissy hit me. No pwesents Sissy. NOOO Pwesents! Okay Eff?"

Of course Sissy's head spins and she begins screaming and crying and begging me to make Mr Blue Eyes stop telling Thomas on her. I try to explain to her that Mr Blue Eyes doesn't need to tell Thomas that she is being ______ (fill in the blank) because he is always watching. 

Of course this makes her sob even more.

She then turns to Mr Blue Eyes and screams, "Just wait until we get in the car and Thomas can't see us anymore!"

I then have to remind her that he is magic and can see her EVERYWHERE, even in the car, at school, at daycare, outside... EVERYWHERE. 

More tears, shouting, and a door slams.

Yeah, you just sit there soaking this all in little guy. Throw me a bone will you? Can't you get these kids under control? I'm telling you Thomas, I expected more from you. Six more days of this and I better be getting several, as in copious, bottles of wine from the jolly, big guy in my stocking this year!

That Sneaky Thomas

Our little elf has been tip-toeing around every night in our house. Flying back to Santa with his daily report - the kids should be a little nervous this year... Each morning, our Brown Eyed Girl rises with... well nothing because the birds are still sleeping at 4:45 am, in search of Thomas. Thomas has to be on his game because there is no flexibility for finding a last minute spot in the morning after sipping too much hot chocolate with his elf friends at the Pole.

Quite the busy little Elf.

Peeking out of cupboards.

Swinging on the chandelier. 

 

Hiding behind Frosty.

Our Brown Eyed Girl almost had a melt down when she couldn't find Thomas this specific day. Unfortunately when Thomas returned from the North Pole and froze still next to Frosty, he fell over in the middle of the night... thankfully mommy was given special permission to distract children and reposition Thomas on a need-by-need basis. Smiles returned and all was calm and bright.

Wishing he had some of Handy Man's camo to blend into the greenery.

Bouncing all over the room every day.

Even the bathroom!!!

This was a long day... we weren't quite sure how we felt about using the potty while Thomas was "watching." Mommy and Daddy's bathroom got a little more use.

He's BACK!!

This morning our Brown Eyed Girl found our little elf, Thomas, sitting in our Christmas tree. We weren't sure if he would be able to find us since we moved to a new house this year. Such a relief!

I am not sure Mr Blue Eyes remembered who Thomas was. His initial look was that of guarded fear quickly followed by a slight smile as he looked at Sissy for reasurance that this little red guy wasn't a large dangerous type of bug that would leap out of the tree and jump on his face.

Eventually with a little coaxing, he relaxed.

Well his facial expressions anyways... he might need a chiropractor by the end of the day.

After shouts and cheers, our little Brown Eyed Girl noticed Thomas was holding something.

Paper?

A note! A special note from Thomas.

Welcome back Thomas! We are so happy to see you! We look forward to all of your adventures and sneaky places we will find you each morning.

This mom is personally a little torn because while I look forward to the power you have over my children to be good for at least the next 24 days, I loath the 2 am panic that sets in when I will surely wake and realize that I forgot about you before going to bed....

Welcome back Thomas...

Perfect Corn

Since my Brown Eyed Girl has been little, she has loved to draw and color. I can not count the number of times she has sat at the kitchen table for over two hours coloring. She has done this since the time she was old enough to hold a crayon or marker. She loves art, it's in her blood.

It's in her genes...

My Brown Eyed Girl's teachers have been commenting all year about what the little artist she is becoming. Every time there is a new craft or project to make she is giddy with joy. All smiles. Arts and crafts are her favorite part of the day - socializing a close second.

She is a perfectionist when it comes to art - in a good way. She pays special attention to the directions and works diligently to complete the project so it looks exactly like the teacher's sample.

When learning the letter 'O', the kids made these cute little owls.

She was the only one to nail the face and put the little feathers on the tummy of the owl.

The most amazing masterpiece she has made so far is her ear of corn. The kids had to cut out a little picture of corn and then glue green tissue paper on the leaves and real corn kernels on the ear of corn.

This was my Brown Eyed Girls corn...

I think it's okay to be a proud momma when looking at her corn compared to the other examples from the class.

The project was meant to be three dimensional. She just REALLY made it three dimensional. 

Her teachers said they were in awe watching her glue and layer the corn kernels so meticulously. Taking her time to position each kernel just right.

They were worried what would happen when they actually picked up the project. Would the kernels all fall off? Would my Brown Eyed Girl freak out?

But they didn't fall off. And her corn hung on the classroom wall for two weeks without desinagrating.

Amazing patience.
Artistic ability.

The teachers also said they have never had a student complete this project in such a way to really make it look like a REAL ear of corn.

I told them she might just have a little more understanding of corn than the other kids do.

Thank you Iowa corn and Grandpop!

Training Your Bird Dog

Being a successful hunter means building a relationship with your bird dog. It takes hours of training, and hard work with your dog on the fundamentals like listening to commands, obedience and retrieving. You want to build a relationship with your dog. 

It's good to purchase a few retrieving dummies to use specifically for when you are practicing your hunting commands and exercising your bird dog.

A good hunting dog will come to recognize this dummy and associate it with working and hunting. The sight of the retrieving dummy should rev him up and get him excited. Motivated.

So much so that he will do anything for the bird. Make sure that you are always alert and keep your dog behaving. Don't allow him to snatch the dummy from you when he sees it.

Training takes patience. Don't get frustrated if he misbehaves. 

And don't give up.

It is good practice to ask your dog to sit and stay while you ready yourself. Teaching them to hold and wait is important in hunting.

You don't want your dog to scare up the birds before you are ready. 

He should be focused on your every move, your every command. Practice having him sit still and wait.

When he is focused and you are ready, release the dummy and give him the command for your dog to, "Fetch it up."

 Your dog should retrieve the dummy and bring it back to you. You want to be able to ask him to, "Give" or "Drop it" by command.  He should relinquish the dummy to you with ease.

Often, this takes the most practice (and patience.) When dogs are excited about retrieving, they want to hold on to their prize and can be reluctant to hand it over.

 
Stay calm and ask again if need be. 

Repetition is the key to successful retrieving. Use the same approach every time and the same commands. Keep asking him to drop it until he does.

Be positive.

A positive attitude equals success and a fantastic foundation.
Hunting and working with your dog is fun!

It's all about good communication.

Good body language and consistent commands. 

Work on good throws and don't forget to let the dog do the work...

Oh Boji....