Ellie and the Magic Teapot Into the Secret Forest: August Blog 5- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Hi Ellie Bean,

I know that most parents think their children are brilliant but I truly believe you are special.  Yes, anyone that meets you (as long as they get through your shy exterior) would agree that you are definitely quick.  But more than that, you also have a witty sarcasm about you, which is far beyond your two years.  For the past week, I’ve been telling you that the park is closed so they can repair the slide (a white lie on my part so that I can push you in the stroller for a long evening walk instead so I can log a few miles in to get those extra summer vacation pounds off).  I’ve also told you after a lengthy visit to Pottery Barn for Kids that we had to leave because it was closing (again another white lie but we were in there playing for about 45 minutes and I had no intention of buying anything as you enjoyed all of their wonderfully fun and beautiful furniture).  So as I was smitten with myself, seemingly avoiding your tantrums, you must have caught on (or perhaps never tricked at all) because when I suggested church to you on Saturday night, you said (without blinking an eye or missing a beat), “I think church is closed Mama!”  You left me speechless and you left your Dad in a fit of the giggles.  Yes Ellie, you may have outsmarted me… but you still made it to Mass that night!  I truly love how your mind works, my sweet girl!

And now here is our yearlong bedtime story/stories (with many chapters to write!) for you. 

So as for our weekly guidelines: I write a piece one week in regular font, and then your Mimi will write a piece in italics the next week.  The only things your Mimi and I agreed on were the characters- Ellie and a magic teapot and the setting (a forest with trolls).  Anything else is fair game and will make our adventure a new tale.  We also need to figure out an illustration to go with our part.  Our goal Ellie is to have a beloved bedtime story for you and future generations.   

And so we will continue our third piece of fiction. 

Ellie and the Magic Teapot: Into the Secret Forest Part 5

Before their very eyes, Lion and Ellie saw the landscape change.  They looked around and saw that they were all of sudden in a field of strawberries.  Lion licked his lips in hunger and started to pick one.  “Wait Lion, I think this might be a trick.  Riddit Riddit!”

“Why are you croaking like a toad El?” and then it occurred to him, “Oh you are calling Tad the Toad for advice!”

Suddenly out of thin air, Tad appeared.  “Hi Tad!  Are these strawberries safe to eat?” Ellie asked. 

Tad shook his head violently back and forth, “NO! They are poisonous.  If you eat these you will fall asleep for a hundred years.”  Lion dropped the handful of red fruit he had in his paw, his eyes large as saucers at the close call.  “Are you guys ok?” Tad probed worriedly.

“We are Tad, thank you.  We just met Tootsie and Hot Dog and we are on the path to get to Trudy.  Wish us luck!”  Tad nodded and said, “You know how to reach us if you need anything else and I think another troll is onto your scent!” He glanced at a few strawberries at his feet that were splattered in green goo.  He waved good-bye after warning them to be very careful… could it be that another troll was close by?

Ellie could hear Lion’s belly grumbling in emptiness but didn’t have time to fish him out a snack because a very tiny green gremlin troll stepped out from behind a strawberry leaf.  Ellie and Lion almost stepped on him- thank goodness he called out in a billowing voice, “HALT!” which made Ellie and Lion stop immediately and peer down in curiosity to find out where the voice came from.

“Uh-Um… I’m down here!” the small creature yelled up, clearing his voice first, which helped Ellie and Lion make eye contact with their new green companion.  Aside from his size, Ellie instantly noticed that this troll was bedecked in bright red polk-dots.  Had it not been for the troll’s bad attitude and manners, Ellie thought he was rather stylish but now understood that his appearance helped him camouflage himself in this strawberry patch against unwanted visitors.  And Lion innately knew that the element of surprise was always a smart tactic.  Ellie and Lion naturally looked at one another assuming that a challenge was forthcoming.

The troll cackled in amusement, contemplating that he had Ellie and Lion right where he wanted them!  Trudy would be so proud… the troll hoped Trudy was watching.  And just to make sure the troll would get credit for his trickery, he called up to Ellie and Lion, “My name is Fruity Troll and you can call me Mr. Fruit!”  Ellie reached out to shake his hand but quickly realized that Fruity Troll wouldn’t touch her, he merely glared at her.

“Ok Mr. Fruit.  I think we understand what’s going on here.  We aren’t ready to meet Trudy yet so if we can pass your test, we would greatly appreciate your word of letting us go to meet the next obstacle,” Ellie, who always shined as a leader, said (hiding her obvious fear behind her brave words).

Fruity Troll burst out in laughter on the floor (the kind of amusement that made Fruity fall on the ground in leg stomping, belly-holding hysterics).  And when he pulled himself together (in between fits of giggles), he said, “I assume you haven’t heard of me.  Because of all the fruit I eat, I am super smart.  My riddles are special.  They are visual, meaning you have to see them to understand them if you can.  And yes, I am so confident that my riddles will outsmart you so I will agree that if you can solve two of them, you can move on through the forest.”

Lion looked at Ellie nervously and Ellie rolled her eyes, “Lion, you know your eyesight is five times better than mine!  Come on, gain some confidence!” She prodded as she poked him in the ribs to lighten the mood.

Fruity Troll ignored their conversation and friendship as she held up a big sign that displayed this:

Ba      Nana

Lion and Ellie stared at the sign and began to ask Fruity questions furiously at the same time, “Can you explain the rules again?”  “What’s the question?” “Can you help me understand?” “Do you hear me?”

Fruity Troll obviously heard them (despite giving any words as encouragement or aid) and a huge smile spread across his small face. He knew Trudy would be proud.  He started to put his sign down, knowing that Lion and Ellie wouldn’t understand the meaning.  Fruity began to appreciate how a winner feels (and he liked that warm tickly feeling inside), when out of the blue (just before Fruity set the sign on the ground) Lion said, “Banana Split!”

Both Ellie and Fruity looked at Lion in astonishment (before Fruity’s emotions turned to anger of course!).  “I told you Ellie, I am so hungry!  Fruity’s poster made me think of my favorite ice cream dessert!”  And sure enough, Ellie realized how important it was for Lion to listen to his feelings before being crudely interrupted by the small troll. 

Fruity refused to give any encouraging words after the correct answer, “You may have gotten that one easily enough but you are only halfway through,” Mr. Fruit sneered, “here is the next visual riddle,” he said as he held up a piece of thin paper bearing this:

BERRY

Ellie immediately stared at the sign and furrowed her brow as Lion started pacing in thought.  But it was only seconds before Ellie started to giggle as she talked aloud, “I love my mom, especially because of what she gave me for breakfast this morning!” 

Lion looked at her quizzically hoping she would offer more information, which she did, “I love pancakes but I also love a side of fruit with them-BLUEberries!”

Fruity Troll couldn’t believe that Ellie and Lion solved his riddles so fast.  He stomped his feet and held his breath.  Green goo splattered everywhere (even on Ellie’s cotton pj’s) in his anger (Ellie saw that goo come out of his ears!).  Ellie reached down and touched Fruity’s arm as she gently said (in an attempt to calm his anger and keep the pact made), “I will tell Trudy you tried your best.  Just keep your promise and let us go on because we aren’t quite prepared to meet her yet.” 

With no words, Fruity pointed Lion and Ellie towards a field behind him.  Ellie couldn’t help but give Fruity a big hug (which made Fruity smile, although the troll did his best to hide it from the two visitors).

As Ellie and Lion, wearily marched ahead Ellie reached into her endless pocket.  But this time, instead of pulling out a new invention to help them reach their goal, she pulled out an apple and gave it to Lion.  Ellie knew that Lion needed the nutrients to keep his energy high, especially because he was so hungry.  Ellie hoped this was enough to dispel his appetite and help him focus on the next challenge that lurked around the next crevice and corner!       

We love you Ellie!!!

Love,

Mom & Mimi

Ellie and the Magic Teapot Into the Secret Forest: August Blog 4- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Dear Ellie,

You are just about 2 ½ years old now Ellie and gone are your temper tantrums (knock on wood).  You have truly become focused on being kind as you observe people’s feelings more.  As you say in your own words without any prompting, “I’m a nice girl!” and yes Ellie, you truly have a wonderful heart.  You say I love you out of the blue and you give kisses spontaneously- it seems like when you genuinely feel, you act.  You say you’re sorry if you made a mistake and you say please and thank you when you receive a gift.  I am so proud of the little person you are becoming.  But don’t think for a second that you lost one of my favorite qualities in you- your willfulness is alive and well!  You are still staunchly independent but a lot more accepting of help if you realize after “I can do it” that you might need a hand.

Of course you share everything with your Mimi and Poppy over Skype including your shared sense of humor!  My favorite part in watching you interact with them is the pure happiness that shines from the screen.  I am so grateful that technology allows us to remain so close despite the distance!

And now here is our yearlong bedtime story/stories (with many chapters to write!) for you. 

So as for our weekly guidelines: I write a piece one week in regular font, then your Mimi has to will write a piece in italics the next week.  The only things your Mimi and I agreed on were the characters- Ellie and a magic teapot and the setting (a forest with trolls).  Anything else is fair game and will make our adventure a new tale.  We also need to figure out an illustration to go with our part.  Our goal Ellie is to have a beloved bedtime story for you and future generations.   

And so we will continue our third piece of fiction. 

Ellie and the Magic Teapot: Into the Secret Forest Part 4

…The five spins around and around must have made them very dizzy because Ellie and Lion had no idea how far they had actually walked.  Trying to comprehend their surroundings, they turned to each other and began chatting at the same time.  “What/Where… do/do… you/you… make/think… of/we… this/are????”

“Sorry El, you go first,” Lion nervously apologized.

“Don’t be sorry Lion, I’m as perplexed as you.  I don’t remember reading anything about this place in the storybook.  Unbeknownst to us readers, do you think Trudy captured another child and turned them into a new Troll?”  Ellie questioned without expecting an answer.

“I don’t know.  But I do know that the forest trees in front of us have some weird things dangling from their branches.  The problem is Ellie that I am too short and can’t quite make out what they are.  Can you?”

While looking upwards, Ellie tried squinting hoping to bring the dangling things into focus, but no such luck, “Hold on Lion.  I think I have something in my left side-pocket that will help.”  Rummaging around she answered only to herself, “Nope, it’s not there.  Hmmm… maybe it is in my right side-pocket.”  Since that pocket was much shallower it only took a moment for her little fingers to find the miniature shiny brass circular tube and pull it out.  “Got it!” she whispered loudly.  With a quick slap to her palm the brass object clicked and expanded a foot.  With another quick slap to her palm the brass object clicked again and expanded another foot.  One more slap expanded it one more foot making the cylinder object three feet long.  Bringing it up to her eye, she rotated the front piece until she could see the dangling objects clearly.  “Thanks to my trusty telescope I see… Ahhhhhhhhh.  Interesting.  Very interesting,” she repeated.

“What Ellie?  What are those dangling things hanging from the tree branches?” Lion asked anxiously, “And can I look through that cool thing?”

“Sure.  Here,” she said as she handed over the telescope to Lion.  “Well, as weird as this sounds, it looks like they are Ribbons.  Blue 1^st place Ribbons.  And the writing on them says they are for winning all kinds of races,” added Ellie.

Handing the contraption back to Ellie, Lion craned his head and neck upward, “Hey El, put me up on your shoulders and I will grab one from a branch and pull it down.”

“Ok,” she answered as she scooped him up and balanced him on her shoulders while he reached for one of the ribbons.

“Uh-oh.  I’m stuck Ellie.  There is something gooey on the end of this ribbon that has a permanent hold on my hand.  What am I going to do?  Help me El!” Lion panicked.

“I bet it is a trick Lion.  There must be a Troll lurking near by.  Calm down. I won’t leave you.  Let’s just wait a minute and see what happens.

And sure enough only a few moments passed when a snorting Troll poked his green head out from behind the nearest tree trunk.

“HA!” the troll grunted, “I knew it!  I knew my trap to capture children would work!  I can’t wait for Trudy to see this!”

“Excuse me Mr. Troll… may I ask you your name and what is this trap you’ve concocted all about?”  Ellie calmly asked.

“Huh. Since you’ve asked I suppose I can answer.  Trudy, the one in charge, calls me Hotdog Troll because she says I always show off in races.  But I have the right to show off you know… because no one has ever beaten me.  So when she gave me this section of the forest to patrol I begged her to let me take my blue ribbons with me.  She hesitated at first but then I convinced her that I knew a way to use them to capture happy children.  And you two proved it works!  Most of my ribbons I hung on the trees right in this area because these trees have oodles of thick sticky sap.  That’s what I brushed on the tippy edge of my ribbons so when someone tries to grab one they would get stuck to it!  Woo Hoo!  It works, it works!  Now I am going to blindfold you both and take you to Trudy… and she will reward me!” Hotdog Troll grunted and snorted while jumping up and down and clapping his stubby clawed hands together.

All the while Hotdog Troll was talking, Ellie was trying to access their situation and it didn’t take her long to think up a solution where she was pretty sure the troll would have to free them.  “Mr. Hotdog Troll… before you blindfold and take us to Trudy, you first have to release Lion’s fingers from the sappy ribbon so that he can get down from my shoulders and stand on the ground.  Have you thought about how he can do that?” questioned Ellie.

“Ummmm… oh.  Actually no I didn’t think about that.  OK.  Give me a minute.” Hotdog grumbled as he repeatedly tapped his warty fingers on his warty chin. “Ha!  I’ve got it.  I’ll go get my pogo stick!  Then I will jump and jump and jump until I get high enough to pull him down!” he added quite pleased with his solution.

But Ellie was smarter.  “Hotdog, how about we make a deal… one I don’t think you can refuse.”

He was intrigued, “What kind of deal?’

“Do you possibly have two pogo sticks?” she asked sweetly.

“Yes I do.  And if you could just giggle because that would really please Trudy then I will go get them!”  Hotdog grunted with a smidgeon of excitement.

A perplexed Ellie did as he requested and directed Lion to chuckle also.  Lion did not think the situation they were in warranted one but he did his best to chuckle too.  “Ha, ha, ha, ha!”

On the end of Lion’s chuckle Hotdog hobbled off disappearing into a lush thicket only to return seconds later with two pogo sticks.  Holding on to one, he handed the other to Ellie, “Now what is the deal?”

First Ellie had to step away from Lion leaving him dangling from the branch.  “Wellllllllll… what if we make this a race?  If you jumped faster and higher releasing Lion first then you can blindfold and take us directly to Trudy.  But if I jump faster and higher releasing Lion before you do, then you have to let us go so that we can find Trudy on our own.  Deal?”  She baited Hotdog Troll.

Hotdog knew he couldn’t pass up a race that would be easy for him to win so he snorted out, “DEAL!  On the count of five start jumping.  One… Two… FIVE!” Hotdog yelled out giving himself a head start.

A startled Ellie wasn’t about to let him beat her so she jumped hard onto her pogo stick making the first bounce go quite high into the air.  Up and down the two jumped each taking turns jumping higher than the other.  Lion was getting quite dizzy as he rotated his head back and forth watching to see who would reach him first.  Remembering that trolls can’t see very well, Lion stretched his right piggy toe with all his might down for Ellie to grab first.  Good thing too because on Ellie’s and Hotdog’s next bounce they were almost even.  Hotdog was slightly higher, so Ellie quickly grabbed Lion’s toe and tugged him free of the ribbon where he fell onto Ellie who fell off the pogo stick and both rolled on the ground.  Startled they stood up, brushed themselves off and looked around for Hotdog Troll who was nowhere to be seen.

“Hotdog?  Hoooooot-dooooooooog?” they both yelled.

“Uhhhh.  I’m up here!” snorted a somewhat annoyed Hotdog Troll.  “I must have jumped a tad bit too high because my ear got stuck on the sap of my blue 1^st place ribbon.  Trudy is not going to be happy with me!” he continued mumbling knowing that he was in a somewhat foolish predicament.

The sight of Hotdog dangling from the ribbon by his ear gave Ellie and Lion a fit of the giggles.  It also gave Hotdog some hope.  “Ha!  Trudy is going to love that sound from you two!” 

Again, Ellie and Lion looked at each other quizzically not understanding the meaning behind Hotdogs words.  Shrugging their confusion off Ellie reminded him, “Yes Hotdog, but a deal is a deal.  I won the pogo stick race so Lion and I are free to travel on.  Agreed?”

“Fine.  Be that way.  But if you do find Trudy, don’t tell her you saw me!” grunted Hotdog in a pleading voice.

“OK,” Lion bravely roared out now that he knew he was safe.  Taking Ellie’s hand, together they pivoted in a full circle.  While doing so, they noticed two distinct paths leading further into the forest.  “Which one do you think we should take Ellie?” asked Lion.

“Let’s ask Sebastian. “Ssssssssssss. Ssssssssssss,” sounded Ellie.  

Sebastian who was curled up inside a log nearby slithered out and coiled at their feet.  “Sssssss How can I help you?” He hissed.

“We have no idea which path to take,” Ellie responded, “Can you give us some guidance?”

“Aaaaaaaaaah.  Yessssssssss.  The one to the far left is the mossssssst dangerous.  Definitely ssssssssstay away from that one as it is almost impossible to find the way back. There are lotssssssssssss of sssssssscary thingssssssssssss hidden on that path.  I think you should take the one on the right.  It too hassssssssss trapsssssssss but Tad may be able to help you if you should need it.  Good luck!” he hissed as he slithered away.

Again, hooking their arms and tightly entwining their fingers together Ellie and Lion walked cautiously on the dirt path to the right.  Trying to calm their heart rates down they took deep slow breathes with each step inhaling on one and exhaling on two.  It wasn’t long before they found themselves being drawn forward towards a delightfully sweet smell…

We love you Ellie Bean!

Love,

Mom & Mimi

Ellie and the Magic Teapot Into the Secret Forest: August Blog 3: Letters from Mom & Mimi

My Dear Ellie,

You are officially a toddler, a little girl- no longer bearing baby features or ways.  You talk in complete detailed sentences, sleep in a big girl bed and run without wavering.  You can do summersaults and jump off the side of the pool without fear.  You insist on being independent.  Your latest quote is, “I can do it!”  I hope you never lose that will to try your best with any obstacle because I firmly believe (after seeing your resolution that you can do just about anything!). 

You have imaginary friends who pop out of your pocket or the refrigerator or really any place that your creative mind can come up with.  Sometimes, the pink chipmunks join us, other times it’s Ben and Nico (your real life playmates that I assume you must miss at home!).  You pretend to seatbelt them in the car and push them down the slide. 

Your new favorite game is to play doctor (thanks to your Mimi and Poppy introducing it to you and buying you a kit).  And you do it so well, I wonder if you really have a knack for diagnosing patients.  You can take my temperature and read it in degrees (yesterday, mine was 4 degrees- your numbers are a bit off but you definitely get the concept!). 

You call yourself Stephanie and you always ask your Dad and I to make up names for ourselves too.  Basically Ellie, your mind is fascinating and I love that I am your mom and I get to watch you grow and love life.  You are so much fun!   

And now here is our yearlong bedtime story/stories (with many chapters to write!) for you. 

So as for our weekly guidelines: I write a piece one week in regular font, then your Mimi has to will write a piece in italics the next week.  The only things your Mimi and I agreed on were the characters- Ellie and a magic teapot and the setting (a forest with trolls).  Anything else is fair game and will make our adventure a new tale.  We also need to figure out an illustration to go with our part.  Our goal Ellie is to have a beloved bedtime story for you and future generations.   

And so we will continue our third piece of fiction. 

Ellie and the Magic Teapot: Into the Secret Forest Part 3

Lion hooked his paw under Ellie’s arm and his nervous fast breaths calmed, as he felt stronger with his friend.

Ellie looked over at Lion and winked, “It’s ok Buddy.  Just keep your mind focused on the goal.  We need to stop mean Trudy from turning the children into trolls!  And in order to find Trudy, we need to find a troll.”

“Trolls are exactly what I am afraid of!” Lion said exasperatedly, “Have you ever met a kind troll?”

“Oh Lion, you and I both know that neither of us have ever met any kind of troll so we need to keep an open mind!  But I do wonder how to find them… did Tad, Sebastian, or Oliver say how to locate them?”

Lion shook his head and then Ellie remembered that she could call upon her animal friends for help, “Hoot Hoot!”  Ellie murmured aloud.  Lion recalled that by whispering their animal sound, they would appear.

And sure enough Oliver the Owl materialized in the branches of the tall oak tree to Ellie’s right.  “What can I help you with Missy?”  Oliver flew down and Ellie reached in to give him a big hug.

“Well, we don’t know how to find these trolls that you speak of.  Where do we look for one?” Ellie asked.

Oliver’s face tightened as he told Ellie, “You don’t find them, they find you.  I would guess that at least one troll is hot on your trail,” he added as he pointed to some green goo on the leaves of the tree that Oliver flew from.

“Thank you Oliver!  It really means a lot to know you here when we need you,”

Oliver winked at the duo and then disappeared into the thin air.  Lion and Ellie continued walking ahead on the path hand in hand shivering slightly despite it being a warm afternoon.

Lion needed to distract himself from the nervous dread he was feeling in the pit of his stomach so he decided to turn his attention on the dilemma, “I wonder why Trudy turns children into trolls?”

Ellie scrunched up her mouth and made a very perplexing face squinting one eye, “Why does anyone take things that doesn’t belong to them?” she mused aloud. 

And then it came to her suddenly, her eyes wide, she added, “Maybe she needs something from them!”

Lion nodded in agreement but wasn’t totally satisfied, “But what could she possibly neeeeeeeeeeeeeeed?” he yelled as both he and Ellie fell through a leaf covered hole. 

They realized quickly that they were freefalling down a very deep hole.  Ellie knew that the landing would be brutal so she dug into her waistband pocket and pulled out what looked like a balloon. Lion looked at her quizzically.  She put it against her lips and blew into the red piece of rubber.  In three puffs, an inflatable windy slide popped out.  Lion forgot about the scary trolls and started laughing in excitement as they sailed fast down the curves of Ellie’s slide.  They reached the bottom and flew off with a loud thump.  Lion rubbed his behind.  He was sore from that jolt.  Instinctively, Ellie hopped up and looked around.  She could see two torches dimly giving light to this underground cavern and in the far dark corner; she could make out a large dark green scaly creature.  The beast moved toward them slowly.  Ellie reached for Lion’s paw to give her courage.

“I’m Ellie and this is Lion. Who are you?” she asked bravely.

“I’m Tootsie Troll.  And I am in charge of bringing you to Trudy blind-folded!” the olive ogre snorted.

“Oh no!  We aren’t prepared to meet Trudy yet and we certainly don’t want her to know we’re coming!” Lion panicked.

Tootsie Troll snickered and drooled through her big yellow teeth. “Trudy will like the two of you,” she seethed, “You are very nice and happy!”

“Tootsie, isn’t there something we can do to change your mind?  Our forest friends told us there were many trolls and we need more time to prepare.  Please don’t send us to Trudy yet,” Ellie politely begged as she pulled a brown piece of chewy candy out of her pocket and popped it into her mouth.  Tootsie noticed and immediately wanted that piece of deliciousness too.

“Ok,” Tootsie breathed noisily, “I’ll make a deal with you.  You give me three pieces of your candy and answer my riddle correctly and I will put you in the direction of the next troll.  But be forewarned, you will have to deal with Trudy sooner or later!”

Ellie shook Tootsie’s three-fingered hand and Tootsie’s long fingernails scratched Ellie’s arm, “It’s a deal!” she said rubbing the nick and then fishing for more candy to hand over to Tootsie.

Once Tootsie ate the candy, she began the riddle that Lion and Ellie had to solve.  She licked her cracked lips, sucked in her breath and spat out, “What am I?  The more you have of me, the less you see.”

Lion and Ellie looked puzzled at each other.  Tootsie grunted as she retreated to her corner, “You only have three minutes or else it’s the blind-fold and off to Trudy!”  Tootsie cackled as she got pleasure from looking at the bewildered stares from Lion and Ellie.

The torches on the wall started to dim as a gust of wind blew through the cavern from Tootsie’s shadowy corner.  Ellie wondered if there was another way out back there.

 “Oh Ellie, I think we’re doomed!” Lion cried out.

“Not so fast Lion,” Ellie said peering around at her surroundings, “It’s getting darker in here,” she noted aloud.

“Ellie, now is not the time to observe your surroundings!” Lion screeched.

“There couldn’t be a more perfect time Lion!  Darkness!  The more darkness you have, the less you see!  Darkness is the answer!” Ellie called out as she peered over to Tootsie.

“Well done Dear,” Tootsie sneered, “I suppose I need to keep my end of the bargain.”  She led Lion and Ellie into her corner revealing a hidden staircase that they used to ascend back up to the forest.

Back on to solid ground, Tootsie itched her wart-covered nose and spun Lion and Ellie around and around counting the 5 rotations but Ellie and Lion weren’t blindfolded.  Tootsie was sending them into new direction to meet a new troll.  Ellie had a fleeting thought that spinning with Lion and Tootsie was very much like Ring Around the Rosie so she began to hum the melody.  Tootsie shot her a nasty glare before disappearing in a whirl of fog.  Lion and Ellie dropped their hands and took in their new setting, which was nothing they had expected.   

We love you to the moon and back Ellie Bean!

Love,

Mom & Mimi

Ellie and the Magic Teapot Into the Secret Forest: August Blog 2- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Dear Ellie,

Our family and friends from back east are missing you terribly so let’s just reflect in photos a few of our fun moments from this summer.

And now here is our yearlong bedtime story/stories (with many chapters to write!) for you. 

So as for our weekly guidelines: I write a piece one week in regular font, then your Mimi has to will write a piece in italics the next week.  We decided to divide up our parts each week for a few reasons.  First, the feedback from our beloved readers thought that our blog was too long with far too much to process with both of our pieces.  Second, your Mimi and I were stressing so much about the time we put into our weekly chapters- it consumed us (as we fell in love with the characters, the more hours we would pour into it).  So unless writing our books becomes a full time job, we need to step back just a bit without taking away from the quality of our words.  In this way, your Mimi and I have the responsibility for adding every other week (and I’m sure both of us will agree we will still write each day but under far less pressure). 

The only things your Mimi and I agreed on were the characters- Ellie and a magic teapot and the setting (a forest with trolls).  Anything else is fair game and will make our adventure a new tale.  We also need to figure out an illustration to go with our part.  Our goal Ellie is to have a beloved bedtime story for you and future generations.   

And so we will continue our third piece of fiction. 

Ellie and the Magic Teapot: Into the Secret Forest Part 2

“Oh my Lion!  Are you thinking what I am thinking?” she asked while drinking in their surrounding.

“Ummmm…. Yep.  That is if you are thinking that we have somehow ended up in the storybook El,” he replied with a bit of apprehension.

“That’s exactly what I’m thinking!  How cool is it that our magical teapot set us down right at the beginning of the path that leads into the Secret Forest!” Ellie continued, her excitement building.  “Lion maybe it is US, you and me, who can free the children from that wicked old woman who snatches them up.”

“Yeah, maybe El.  But I think you are forgetting a big part of the story,” he stated.

“Oh?  Like what?” she answered blankly.

“Ahhhh… the Trolls?”  Lion responded while chewing one of his claws down to the quick. 

“OH.  Those.  Hmmmmm.  Well, we’ll just have to figure out what to do with them as we come upon them.  I’m sure they have no idea that you and I have read their book many times over.  So what we need to do is try to be one thought ahead of them.  I don’t think Trolls are very smart Lion, so maybe that will be to our advantage,” Ellie said not totally convincing.

Lion shook his head while fretting.  “I don’t know about this adventure El.” 

Ellie grinned and grabbed his hand, “Come on!”  Hooking Lion’s arm underneath her own and securing it close to her body helped ease his fears some.  Hers too.  Then together they walked along the flowery dirt path quickly at first and slowing their pace down a bit as the forest came into sight.  Strolling up to its edge, Ellie and Lion came to a complete halt in front of the big brown crooked sign with the large black-crayoned letters.  Looking first at each other and then back at the sign they read it out loud together.  “THE TROLLS SECRET FOREST… tresspassers welcome… enter at your own risk as you will not be returning!!”  Lion’s eyes widened!  And so did Ellie’s!  Taking a deep breath she hugged Lion’s arm a little bit tighter while entwining her fingers tightly around his and without a word they slipped into the deep dark forest.

“Whoa Ellie.  I-i-i-i-it’s really d-d-d-dark in here!” stuttered Lion.

“Not to worry,” she soothed.  “You should know by now that I always make sure to wear an outfit with plenty of pockets, and I always make sure my pockets are filled with cool and useful stuff!  Now let me see.” 

Ellie was wearing her favorite pj’s, the lime green and magenta fairy princess set.  Its ruffled top had a button pocket on each sleeve as well as two snap pockets right above the front side hem.  And the bell-bottom pants had a deep row of hidden pockets encircling its waistband.  It was one of those pockets that Ellie fished around in. 

“Ahhhh… here’s what I was looking for,” she called out triumphantly as she pulled out a battery operated votive candle.  Turning it upside down, she found and flicked the operating switch to the on position giving Lion and herself just enough light to continue on their journey while walking deeper into The Secret Forest.

“Whooooo, whooooo.  Whoooooo goes there?” screeched something scary high above them.  “Riddit, riddit.  Are you friend, or troll?” croaked something scary below them.  “Sssssssss.  Sssssss.  State your names!” hissed something scary somewhere in between. 

Lion trembled in fear while Ellie waved the votive candle all around trying to see what scary creatures were calling out to them.  As she swung it above her head she yelled out, “Ahhhh Lion, look.  It is a beautiful white owl perched in the evergreen tree!” 

“My name’s Oliver missy!” the white owl screeched.

Then she swung the votive candle very low near her feet and yelled out again, “Ahhhh Lion, look.  It is a chubby old toad sitting on the moss covered root of the evergreen tree!” 

“My name’s Theodore missy, but you can call me Tad,” the toad croaked.

Lastly, she swung the votive candle straight out in front of her first swinging it to the left and then to the right.  And she yelled out one more time, “Ahhhh Lion, look.  It is a silky green snake coiled around the trunk of the same tree!”

“My name’s Sebastian missy and don’t you forget it!” hissed the snake.

“Oh my… we certainly won’t Sebastian,“ Ellie promised.   “Let me make our introductions.  My name is Ellie and this here is Lion,” she said as she pointed to her very furry and not so brave best friend.  “Oh, and we are NOT trolls.  We are friends to The Secret Forest.”

“Riddit, riddit… well that is a relief.” Tad sighed.  “This forest has way too many trolls already, thanks to Trudy,” he added.

Lion beat Ellie to asking the question first.  “Who’s Trudy?”

“Ssssssss she’s the troll in charge,” Sebastian answered.  “Trudy is old and mean.  When children come into the forest to play, Trudy has them captured and she turns them into more trolls.   She needs to be stopped but no one knows how to stop her.”

“Ooooooooo. We know her from the storybook as just a mean old lady who captures children.  That must be her disguise,” deducted Lion.  “This new information is good for us to know,” he reasoned.

Oliver Owl chimed in.  “No one has outsmarted her yet because she is very, very clever.  She has placed her troll army (I think there are seven as we speak) throughout the forest in tricky hiding sssssss..spots.  Once you are captured the troll blindfolds your eyes, ssssss…spins you around 5 times so you don’t know what direction you are going and then leads you to Trudy’s cave… which we the forest animals have no idea where it is hidden.”

“However… riddit, riddit… if you two are brave enough to find and stop her, we three will help you in anyway we can,” uttered Tad.  “Oliver can guide you from above should you find yourselves in riddit, riddit…trouble, I can guide you at ground level and Sebastian can guide you at eye level if need be.  All you have to do is whisper our animal sound and we will appear…riddit, riddit.  Just remember, DON’T GET CAUGHT!”

Ellie contemplated this idea and with a firm nod in Lion’s direction agreed to it.  “Sounds like a plan forest friends.  Let’s do it!”  Grabbing Lion’s hand once again, Ellie led him further into The Secret Forest in search of finding Trudy the Troll….

We love you to the moon and back Ellie!

Love,

Mom & Mimi

Ellie and the Magic Teapot Into the Secret Forest Book: August Blog 1- Letters from Mom & Mimi

The Family Reunion and Kyle was there in spirit!

Dear Ellie,

My summer break is quickly coming to an end and that makes me so wistful.  I love our time together and I really enjoyed our busy summer.  Spending time with family throughout these months was very special (especially all the days we had with your Mimi & Poppy).

Last weekend before flying home, we were in Philly and you truly should have been a Wheeler Street kid.  You had so much fun with all of your cousins. 

It makes me wish we could shrink the United States so we could be closer.  

I suppose our timing for starting our next story this week couldn’t be any better.  After all, it seems to fit into our real life journey… a new chapter will ensue as school begins. 

And now here is our yearlong bedtime story/stories (with many chapters to write!) for you. 

So as for our weekly guidelines, we have again switched up the rules after reflecting on our last story.  I write a piece one week in regular font, then your Mimi has to will write a piece in italics the next week.  We decided to divide up our parts each week for a few reasons.  First, the feedback from our beloved readers thought that our blog was too long with far too much to process with both of our pieces.  Second, your Mimi and I were stressing so much about the time we put into our weekly chapters- it consumed us (as we fell in love with the characters, the more hours we would pour into it).  So unless writing our books becomes a full time job, we need to step back just a bit without taking away from the quality of our words.  In this way, your Mimi and I have the responsibility for adding every other week (and I’m sure both of us will agree we will still write each day but under far less pressure). 

There is still much that will stay the same.  The only things your Mimi and I agreed on were the characters- Ellie and a magic teapot and the setting (a forest with trolls).  Anything else is fair game and will make our adventure a new tale.  We also need to figure out an illustration to go with our part.  Our goal Ellie is to have a beloved bedtime story for you and future generations.   

And so we will continue our third piece of fiction. 

Ellie and the Magic Teapot: Into the Secret Forest Book Part 1

Ellie was in her room pacing back and forth.  She stumbled over her footie pajamas that were slightly too long.  The monkey ears on the sides of her toes kept getting caught under her foot as the extra pink and brown material slid down past her knees.  Ellie hiked them back up at the hip as she straightened and walked out to the banister in the hallway.

“Mom? Mom?  I’m ready for you to come read me my bedtime story please,” Ellie called down in a sing-song voice.  Reading was one of her favorite things to do and this was a story she had read many times with her mother. 

“I need one more minute Spaghetti,” her Mom called back up to her, “Did you brush your teeth?”

Ellie blew her breath into her hand and inhaled.  Mmmmm… it smelled just like the bubblegum flavored toothpaste she just used.  “Yup!” she answered.

“What about your bedtime prayers?” her mom yelled from downstairs.

“Done Mom, I even asked God to watch over Joe,” Ellie responded.  Joe was Ellie’s cat and they had a love-hate relationship.  Usually Joe was mean to Ellie and never wanted to play with her even though Ellie had the prettiest doll outfits she wanted to share with him.

Ellie’s mom came up the stairs then breathless.  Ellie knew that she was very busy answering work emails and was slightly distracted.

“Ok baby girl, pick out the one you want to read,” Ellie’s Mom said as she scooped Ellie up, brought her into the bedroom, and gently held her in front of her book case.  Ellie’s fingers immediately went to a story called the Secret Forest.

Her Mom giggled, “we already read this one twice today and last night too.  I bet you can say it word for word without opening the book!”

Ellie’s Mom tucked Ellie into her big girl pink butterfly bed where Lion, her beloved stuffed animal, was already waiting.  She snuggled up to him and gave her Mom some room to sit on the edge of the bed.  Her Mom tucked Ellie underneath the covers, switched on the dim bedside lamp and turned off the glaring overhead light before she sat down. 

Ellie’s heart raced with the thrill of knowing the plot of this story so well.  Her favorite part was when the children met the trolls.  But then Ellie knew her own excitement would dissipate into fear… the last troll that was introduced ate children!  Ellie couldn’t wait to open the book.  Just as her Mother began, “Once upon a time,” a cell phone rang downstairs.

“Sweetheart, it’s one of those days.  Work was crazy today and I need to tie up those loose ends,” Ellie’s Mother briskly kissed her on her forehead, “You know this story better than I do at this point.  You get started on it and I will be back up to finish it with you when I get off the phone.”  Ellie didn’t hide her disappointment but her Mom rushed out so fast to reach the call, she didn’t notice.

Ellie turned over to Lion, “Do you want me to read the story to you Buddy?  I promise I won’t run out on you.”  Ellie saw Lion wink at her.  She rubbed her eyes to be sure.  Ellie knew that glimmer he had in his eye.  She heard her Mom from downstairs talking on the phone about percentages.  Her Mother wasn’t coming back up anytime soon.  “Ok Lion, let’s take another adventure!” Ellie whispered as she jumped out of bed but she tripped on her pajamas again.  “Urrghhh… Wait one second Lion,” Ellie said frustrated with the silly monkey feet that kept getting trapped under her toes.  Quickly, she changed into a more comfortable set of knit pajamas, “You never know if this journey will make us run, skip, jump or even spin!” She gave Lion a smile as she twirled in anticipation.  She grabbed her teapot and tiptoed into the bathroom where she filled it up.  She peeked over the banister where she could see her Mother was now talking about responsibility into the earpiece.  

Ellie crept back into the confines of her bedroom and sat Lion at her table.  She set two places for tea using her plastic set.  And as she poured the water into their teacups with a mischievous grin, she said the magical words “Baooohhhaoooahaljaljljljafooj.”  Glitter and music swirled around Ellie and Lion and they were swept up above the table.  When the spinning ended, Lion and Ellie fell from the sky landing gently in a pile of leaves.  Lion smiled at Ellie to make sure she was ok.  Ellie was so happy to see Lion come alive but then she looked around and couldn’t believe her eyes…. 

We love you to the moon and back Ellie!

Love,

Mom & Mimi