The Toy Box Years: The Adventures of Chippy the Elf

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Chippy the Elf is back!

Chippy returned to our house Thanksgiving weekend with much fanfare. Ok, maybe not so much since he was two days late....but you can read about his return here!

Shortly after Chippy's arrival, he disappeared for two days. The girls were told it was because of their bad behavior -- which is a whole other post coming shortly. But in reality, I had hidden him in the car, ready for the girls to find when we went to school. Then my oldest got sick and we didn't leave the house for two days.

So on Wednesday, when we finally got to go for a car ride (Yay!).....the girls found Chippy securely selt-belted in the booster seat.

The next day showed Chippy working on his Christmas Bible verse........

On December 1st, Chippy left a gift to help the girls countdown to Christmas......

Shortly after this.....Chippy's naughty side started to show through....

"Flour Angels" on the stove

"Oh Chippy!"

Chippy went on a bender with Twinkle & Jingle....finishing off the bottle of My Marine's Jack Daniels

Daddy Doll was NOT happy that Chippy drank his Jack Daniels......so Chippy pulled latrine duty....

"You call this a clean latrine Private Snowball?"
"Sir...no sir!"

But, the Daddy Dolls rallied together to take back the house from Chippy......

Daddy Doll #1 - "You wanna mess with us? You wanna keep messing with the kids? You wanna keep your kneecaps? Do you have kneecaps?"
Chippy - "MMmnnn...mmhhuuuppp"

We'll have to see if Chippy will take his revenge.........