'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Our House...

The Night Before Christmas Poem: At Our House

We wish you a Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a Christmas Eve filled with warm memories and  stockings full of happiness. Here are a few photos from around our new house (old farm houseand a poem about our night before Christmas. 

We'll celebrate with a Christmas Eve children's service and then our older children and close family friends will stop by on the eve of Jesus birth for a gift exchange. Christmas day, we'll make the trek over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house. Enjoy!

Stockings hung by the piano with care.

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house,
every creature was stirring except for the mouse.

The stockings drooped from the piano with flair,
hanging onto their reindeer hooks with special care.

Droopy stockings on heirloom piano.

The children wrestled each other banging heads,
while double vision sent them straight to their beds.

Snowy day play! We were blessed with a white Christmas.

A

nd, Mom with her nurturing and Dad with his crap
Tried to settle us down with Angry Bird Apps.

When from the kitchen there arose such a clatter,
I stopped playing to see what was the matter.

Snowy Christmas Village courtesy of my Grandmother.

My small sister shot past me like dynamite
Knocking me into the wall causing a fight

Shattered glass and spilled milk were on the clean floor
And crumbs fell from kitty's mouth as he cried for more.

When what to my wandering eyes should appear ~

Oops, Grandma got tun over by a reindeer.

Waving his finger in the air, a red suited man
stood in a fog standing next to the trash can.

With his furrowed white eyebrows and crumpled red nose
I knew in an instant it must be St. Nick.

More rapid ranting than Mommy's his reprimands came
And he pointed and shouted and called us by name.

Now Jake, now Mayhem, now Tigger please listen...

Santa and the Misses.

Why aren't you sleeping? Are those bumps on your head? March up those stairs and climb into your warm beds.

A tiny tornado erupted inside

lifting the cat's mess and tossing it aside.

My heirloom talking tree courtesy of my Grandfather. 
He sings and scares!

So, up to our bedrooms sister and I flew
with thoughts of toys and fears of Santa too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the wall
the kneading and pawing of each little claw.

As, I covered my eyes listening to the sound
up the stairs my bad kitty lept with a bound.

An heirloom "robot" Santa.

Santa cleared his throat and his belly it rumbled
He tripped on the cat and on the floor he tumbled.

The bundle of toys he had flung on his back
flew out onto the floor emptying his red sack

Santa Claus?

I s

nuck out to spy on old Mr. Kringle
His cheeks were flushed and his smile had lost its jingle

He surveyed the damage and gritted his teeth
And the cat, it encircled his feet like a wreath.

Santa Bunny got covered in snow.
Hey, at least it's not a duck.

Covering my face and trying not to laugh
I saw St. Nicholas twitch his nose at my cat.

He flew up landing next to the Elf on the Shelf.
And I laughed when I saw it inspite of myself.

Infamous heirloom Elf on the Shelf.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon led me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
collecting the toys then he turned with a jerk.

And laying his hand under the kitty's back
he scooped it up giving its head a light pat.

Heirloom elf ousting the angel.

Shaking from side to side he gave a little laugh
And said, "Listen naughty cat, it's time you had a bath.

Instead of punishment, he handed me the cat
At least without our cookies he's a little less fat.

Grandma recovered from her reindeer incident.

And I heard him exclaim as he disappeared from sight,
Merry Christmas to all and to me... 

A cat-free night!


Recommended:

Decorate Christmas Bags

Get Your Own Elf on the Shelf

Ringling Bros. Barnum Bailey DRAGONS at Banker's Life Fieldhouse Circus Trivia

Circus Trivia Questions: Cute Dragon Clipart Printable

Do you like Trivia? How about Circus Trivia? The Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus comes to Banker's Life Fieldhouse every year. We visited in the year of Dragons. Before we went, we caught up on some Circus Trivia. Scroll down to see how much you know about the Circus. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Circus Trivia Questions: Cute Dragon Clipart Printable.

Trivia Question from Previous Post:

So, how far away can a lion's roar be heard? 

Up to 5 Miles.

Click here for a DRAGON printable

RINGLING BROS. and BARNUM  and BAILEY DRAGONS

CIRCUS TRIVIA QUESTIONS

1) What four virtues are required to summon a dragon to Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey^® Circus?  
Answer: Strength, Courage, Wisdom and Heart.

2) How far away can a lion’s roar be heard?  
Answer:  5 miles away

3) Kung Fu movements are based on fighting tactics of what animals?  Answer:  Tiger, Snake and Dragon.

4) What Ringling Bros.^® animal has 4 teeth each weighing the same as a nine-pound bowling ball? Answer:  Asian Elephant.

5) What Ringling Bros. performer has an average shoe size of 28EEEEE?  Answer:  A Clown.

6) Shaolin Warriors performing in Ringling Bros. Presents DRAGONS practice how many hours a day?  
Answer:  7 hours a day.

7) What circus apparatus is most like a playground seesaw*?  Answer:  A Teeterboard.

8) What are considered BIG CATS?  
Answer:  Lions and Tigers.

9) How many bags of popcorn are consumed in each city that Ringling Bros. visits?  Answer:  Over 1,000 pounds of Popcorn.

10) What is the average span of a tiger’s swipe?  
Answer:  Five feet.

Recommended:

Glitter Dragon Head Pattern Printable

Circus Crafts

Circus History*





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*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Losing my first tooth!

Losing a Tooth

What do you about the Tooth Fairy? How much money do you give? Is there a different amount for losing the first tooth? Angie shares her experience in this post about, Losing My First Tooth. Enjoy! 

If you want to read our Tooth fairy series, scroll to the bottom.

Finally lost my first tooth!

After a week's worth of trying, my Matt finally pulled his first tooth. Something he apparently felt he needed to do on his own, because he wouldn't let my husband or I try.  It had been loose for weeks and his adult tooth was already coming in behind it.  Just by chance, he got it out while we were at my parent's house for Easter Dinner with the family and his last day of Spring Break. So, it was able to go into his school journaling on Spring Break.

Proud moment.

The next day was the funniest though... after the Tooth Fairy came.  He was disappointed because rumor in Kindergarten is, you either get a two dollar bill or twenty (I want to meet this tooth fairy if that is the case) and all he got was one dollar. Then came this conversation with his sister.  

Matt:  "I wonder if mom and dad is the tooth fairy?"

Ally:  "No way! Trust me, I wake up anytime they come in my room and I don't hear anything when the tooth fairy comes." 

I heard this while eavesdropping from the other room. Panic quickly turned to relief and then a quiet, little laugh after he was quite happy with his older sister's response.  Now, he can't wait for another tooth to come out.

Recommended Reading:


 Tooth Fairy Series

Tale of The Tooth Fairy, Boy*

4M Tooth Fairy Keepsake Box*

Sunday Food for Thought Weight 2011

What have I learned from a year ago today?  Things don't change you nor do resolutions, other people, or guilt. Only the right mind set can you change you. Focus on what you can do and will stick to, not what you probably won't do and can't stick to, filter out everyone else's fodder. Once you start changing that mind set everything else will fall into place.

I'm updating my blogs and my life.
Here is a fun, personal post from a year ago, Weight Loss Saga of an Overweight Food Hater
Do you do the Dew?  Even a vanishing rat won't stop me.  It's my drug of choice.  It improves my mood, cuts the flim-flam from my cough, and seems to keep everything flowing properly.  My teeth and my weight are it's nemesis. I'm gonna be that lady from this old post too.  Chaos (Scroll down and you'll see her, the future me, with her cart and no teeth.)

I gotta run. It is getting late and I haven't had my morning Dew yet.

Read more

Saint Patrick Day Recipes with Leprechauns

Here are a few Saint Patrick Day Recipes I'm going to try- they look so yummy! Wondering when is St Patrick Day? It is March 17.

Gingebread Leprechauns
How about these Lucky Leprechaun Cookies from TasteofHome.com? 










Here's an original idea - Leprechaun Fortune Cookies from Gourmet Cookie Bouquets.

Here's a green cookie those of you who like Girl Scout Thin Mints can sink your teeth into.

Green, Mint, Chocolate Chip Cookies

From Betty Crocker.

Tweet

Toothfairy - Do I have to do this 32 times? Includes Free Clipart

Are you looking for toothfairy clipart or coloring pages? We have teeth clipart and cute stories here just follow the links.

How many teeth do little people have?  I feel like we're on our one-hundredth tooth!

I snuck in with a fresh, crispy dollar bill.  When I pushed it under the pillow, it went CRUNCH!

Clipart Teeth are perfect, you don't have to brush them.

Continue for Tooth Fairy Coloring Sheet

My son awoke, and looked at me. He lifted his pillow.  I checked his temperature pretending not to notice (he's been sick).  "Yep, you've still got a fever. I came in to give you your medicine."

Right Click to save to computer and print or click here to get a PDF file.

When I came back with the meds, he was looking under his pillow.

"She didn't come, again!"  "What!? Are you sure?"  "Yes, here's my tooth, and there is no money!"

How can this be?  I just put the dollar there!  
"Well, maybe she got frightened by something and took off."

I'm running out of excuses here, any ideas?  I couldn't get the tooth out from under his pillow. 

"Hey look around maybe it got lost?"  "No!  My tooth is still here."

Then...  I saw the money on the floor. 
"Hey, look there's a dollar under your bed."

"What should I do with my tooth?"  "Save it for me."

The End. 

Wait, no, if you've been counting, we're only at tooth number seven...  maybe eight.

I can't count; I'm still sleepwalking.  Only twenty-two more to go??

"Mom, my friend gets $5 per tooth.  How come the toothfairy only gives me $1?"

That's a good question- How come I only got a quarter?  

"Hmm," I said. "Maybe you get more for the first tooth and less and less each time?"

Silence.


Recommended Reading:


The Night Before The Tooth Fairy (Reading Railroad)*

The Toothfairy Burglary

Someone Thinks I'm Stylish - Blogger Award - About Me

Looking for Blogger Awards to share? We have several snoop around.

I'd like to thank 'New England Mommy' at Muddy Feet for awarding me the 'Stylish Blogger Award'.



Wootily-Woot!

Seven Things About Me:


1.  At twenty-five I thought I was too old to become a mother.
Now (depending how you count it) I have four kids ages 4-22.

2.  We also have three pet kids.  A turtle, I mowed over in the back yard, a cat, and an eleven-year old cockatiel.


3. I use to clean my woodwork with a toothbrush (when I was twenty-five).  Now, I am lucky to find time to clean my teeth with a toothbrush.

4. My career goal was to work on Sesame Street but I never moved to New York. (Elmo Rocks!)

5. In another life, I directed a theatrical troupe and I portrayed the director of a theatrical troupe whilst directing said troupe!

6. I look really interesting on paper- less so in real life.

7. My dream/goal is to write/illustrate children's picture books.


Rules for accepting this award are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded it to you.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their Blog Award!



Here are the 15 sites I am Paying it forward to:



1.    http://www.thecooksnextdoor.com
2.    http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/
3.    http://twobearsfarm.blogspot.com/
4.    http://www.thesnyder5.com
5.    http://frugaltractormom.blogspot.com
6.    http://www.imalazymom.com
7.    http://www.jdaniel4smom.com
8.    http://mommysmidwestmountain.blogspot.com
9.    http://showmemama.com
10.  http://featuredsacredmuse.blogspot.com
11.  http://starsunflowerstudio.blogspot.com
12.  http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com
13.  http://thedaisyhead.blogspot.com
14.  http://www.thetamom.com
15.  http://apocketfullofbuttons.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-bento-7-gingerbread-men.html

Wow!   Fifteen is a lot!  If I award the blog to you how about 7?
That way, you might actually complete the task.  Happy Reading!

Toothfairy Burglary? Includes free toothfairy and teeth clipart

Tooth fairy... the saga continues with Teeth printable.

This really happened.

A full set of teeth makes for a lonely tooth fairy.

 I think I will write a book called "The Toothfairy Sagas", it will include all the free toothfairy clipart.  I know back-story is frowned upon in the blogosphere but you need a little info.  So...

Jake lost another tooth.

Okay. So, in a past life I lived with an alcoholic. If booze came into the house it lasted less than 24 hours nevermind how much of it entered. Thank goodness the past is the past.

My S.O.and I  have a liquor cabinet above the fridge and another above the microwave.  We have lots of liquor.  His Dad sends us various things from various countries that he visits and we purchase rum, vodka, even whiskey to make mixed drinks for New Year's Eve or other celebrations. We have liquor as old as our oldest child who is twenty-two. The cabinet has survived two teenagers without a locked door.  Needless to say... we don't really drink. I guess I should throw some of it out but that requires work.

This info may seen irrelevant, but I figure some may assume 'I got my drink on'- that would explain a lot.

Now, those of you who know us personally might become fearful as you read this, but I think I solved the mystery. So hold your breath until the end.


Wait, don't, it's kind of a long story, you might die.


THE SAGA BEGINS...

During the trip home from a holiday party last Saturday night, Jake lost another tooth. It was late. We were tired!  It was the day I took all of the kids sledding for the first time after a long day at a craft fair. When he held his tooth up in the air with a big smile- my smile turned upside down.

I must stay awake until he went to sleep or worse wake up in the middle of the night. Luckily, he was worn out and fell asleep quickly.

Around midnight I snuck into Daddy's wallet, snuck into Jake's room and tossed (yes, tossed) a dollar at his face quickly returning to the warm bed awaiting me.

I slept. It was to be a spectacular night for sleeping. No one would wake me up!  Everyone was so tired.

When what to my wondering ears should I hear?
But a boisterous crash at the top of the stairs and several loud bangs that brought me to fear.

Earlier in the evening I could not sleep for fear- no one had remembered to lock the front-door.

Begrudgingly, I drug myself out of bed, headed downstairs and found I was right as my feet hit the foyer floor.
I trodded back up and fell fast asleep until ...

All of a sudden I arose from my bed, threw off the blanket, slammed my feet on the floor and flew out the door. I shouted at Daddy but he did not care. "Go away, go away, I'm trying to sleep!" He began to swear.

As I approached the hall I saw the stairway gate crashed to the floor.
I shouted to Daddy, "Please wake-up! I think someones here."

He mumbled and grumbled and closed his eyes tight.
"I'm sure its the cat.  Now come back to bed it's the middle of night!"

Of course, I couldn't listen.  I must see for myself.  So, I ran to the kid's room where...

Jake had been sleeping, "Hey Mommy she came, but this time she forgot my tooth!"
"Jake did you hear that?"
"Did you try to go downstairs?"
"Hear what?  I woke up because you're yelling."
"Shoot!"  At least he didn't suspect me the tooth fairy.

I ran to my teenager's room where she lay- fast asleep.
I switched on her light, tore open her covers-
and sure enough she was sleeping, just like the others.

My mind could not rest so in a flash; I ran back downstairs.

Grabbing a roll of holiday wrap, held up like a bat-
Looking in closets, behind chairs and under couches- all I ever found was the cat.

Until...

The sliding doors in the kitchen were unlocked and slightly open!

I held my gift wrap tightly and started to shiver.
This detective work is not for those with a lily liver.
No wet footprints dirtied the floor.
No water from melted snows tickled my toes (that's right, snows).

So, still clutching my wrapping, I ran back upstairs defeated and scared.

Amidst the snoring, I quickly uncovered a rather difficult clue.
At the end of the gate was a Budweiser bottle cap in a Christmas-red hue.

Was it a drunken Christmas mouse?
No one here had any beer at the party.
We don't have any beer in the house.

My first thought was fear.
My second one anger.
Tooth Fairy is having a very bad year.

The Tooth Fairy.

Disclaimer:

Although the story is completely true after some digging I remembered a clue. All of the children claimed not to recognize said bottle cap.  "Did you find it outside playing in the snow and put it in your pocket?"  I just couldn't let it go.  "No, no, no!"

I seem to vaguely remember the littlest one collecting a cap after a late, November trike ride. It was shiny, she liked it.

Although I assumed she threw it away, I suspect said cap came here to stay.


Recommended Reading:


Toothfairy Failed

Toothfairy Failed Again

Dear Tooth Fairy*

The Night Before The Tooth Fairy (Reading Railroad)*

The Toothfairy Fails Again and Free Clipart

Our tooth fairy saga continues with more free fairy clipart printables for you.

The Tooth Fairy is watching.

So, the toothfairy struck again. 

(Be sure to click around for free clipart)

Last night before going to sleep, Jake informed me that he lost his tooth...  literally. He refused to go to sleep until we found it. Mommy won the battle. I explained that the Tooth Fairy had a list of all the teeth that came out each day. Every time someone lost a tooth a bell rang at her house. She knows she is behind schedule and will surely come to our house first (in other words; GET TO BED).  

On his way to bed, Jake grumbled, "If the tooth fairy doesn't come tonight, I'm over it!"

Around midnight, I tripped over some shoes, fumbled to turn the volume down on his television, and did the necessary deed. He rolled over and looked at me! So, I calmly kissed him good night and went back to bed.

This morning, the noisy Daddy woke him up. Daddy found the money sticking out of a pillow and handed it to Jake. When I entered his room to get his clothes, Jake held up the empty baggy. Confused, I asked him if the tooth fairy had come.  

"No!"

  

"No?  Where's your tooth?" 

"I told you, I lost it!"

"Ohwww...  I thought you lost the whole bag!  You lost just the tooth?"

"YES! She didn't come. She didn't take the bag!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes; I have $2, but I think Daddy just gave it to me right now!"

"?#$% ^&!"

Well, I don't know about Jake, but I'm over it. Next time it is Daddy's deal.

Post Note:  

To his credit, Daddy tried to explain he had found the money under the pillow, but what kid is gonna believe that?

Recommended Reading:

The Night Before The Tooth Fairy (Reading Railroad)*


The Tooth Fairy Failed

The Toothfairy Failed the first time (includes cute free toothfairy clipart)

Toothfairy Stories and Clipart

Last night, the tooth fairy must have stayed out late partying. 

Today, she's a no-show, no-call. Apparently, she has a hang-over.  How rude!  She didn't even call to apologize.  

Of course, I didn't tell my son this theory. No, I thought it best to shelter him from the wild doings of a floozie fairy at least until he's a little older.

Check out the cute toothfairy clipart

Print as a gift tag from the tooth fairy.

What do you say to a six-year-old who let his tooth float by a thread for a week, carefully sheltering it with his tongue, as each murderous morsel attempted to fling it to death?  He protected that tooth like a precious diamond. With each day, the idea of the gifts it would bring filled his little head with joy- and now this...

Tooth Fairy Free Printable Coloring Sheet right click to save and print 
or click here for Free PDF.

I was up late blogging, learning the ropes to make buttons and baubles. I simply refused to stay up past 'Saturday Night Live'. Egads! When the ending credits started rolling, I turned off my monitor and headed to bed. Discreetly, I tip-toed into my kid's bedrooms to confirm that everyone was safe, sound, and breathing. I turned down "Todd World", and then I hit the hay. 

The next thing I remember, the sun began seeping through the crack in my curtains beckoning my busy children out of their beds. My son awoke groggy. I sent him to the potty first to buy some thinking time. He moved slowly, as I waited impatiently.  

"Jake, hurry I need to pee too!"  

He didn't hurry. In fact, he stopped in his tracks holding a tiny, plastic bag in the air.

"She didn't come."   

"What?"  I said in mock shock.  

"The tooth fairy didn't come!  I still have my tooth."

I interjected, "Don't you have to pee? I know I do." Then, I danced around the issue both literally and figuratively while searching for a fabulous excuse. As I waited for my turn at the potty, I said, "I bet you got up too early and nearly caught her in the act. Let's try again tonight."  

His toothless frown turned to an angry rant, "No!  I didn't see her. She just didn't come."  

Finally, I got my turn at the potty and took a moment to gather my runaway thoughts. Returning with a renewed mind and spirit, I explained that the tooth fairy is a very busy lady. "I stayed up too late last night, and we all got up too early this morning. She didn't have a chance to sneak into your room. She probably planned to come back, but got busy with all the other kid's teeth. I bet she feels terrible! I am sure she'll make it up to you tonight."

And then...

I reprimanded his Daddy who had tucked him into bed the night before. "A little help here please. I can't remember everything!"   

That floozie fairy better not forget us again tonight! I'm gonna set a trap...


Recommended Reading:


The Night Before The Tooth Fairy (Reading Railroad)*

The Tooth Fairy Fails Again