Ellie and the Magic Teapot Off to the Park: June Blog 4- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Hi Ellie!

Unfortunately your Poppy had to go home on Sunday but your Mimi is still visiting and we are having the BEST girls’ week!  During their time here, we have stayed very busy playing at the park, 

walking around the zoo, 

shopping at the mall, 

hosting an ice cream sundae play date with your close friends, 

and making delicious dinners.  You had your first mani/pedi (done by your Mimi), 

had your first tent experience, 

and you tried to join our game of UpWords.  

Your Mimi and I have even made some grown-up time for the two of us by going to see the play Adams Family last night (such great talent and a wonderful script),

getting our nails done, and watching The Borgias first season.

It has been such a hectic and eventful week that your Mimi didn’t get a chance to write her chapter of the blog (Aunt Joanne has dubbed you Velcro Baby because you are attached to your Mimi’s hip- hence the lack of computer time for her!).  So I have added my chapter and your Mimi’s will be added next week.

And now here is our yearlong bedtime story/stories (with many chapters to write!) for you.  Our goal Ellie is to have a beloved bedtime tale for you and future generations.   

And so we will continue our second story. 

Ellie and the Magic Teapot: Off to the Park Part 11 (Mom’s chapter)

"Well, it looks like we gave it a good run boys.  Oh sorry Ellie, you're not a boy.  And Ellie too," Abner said with his head down discouraged.

"What are you talking about?  No giving up yet.  The race isn't over," scolded Lion.  His last name was very fitting, Braveheart.

"But the Red Team was already here and gone in search of their last item," Ajax said not entirely convinced, "We haven't even stepped off The Hill yet.  And our last item, the watermelon rind, is going to be too heavy to carry back from the pavilion."

"Who said we have to get it from the pavilion?" Ellie offered hope.

"Where else would we get it from?  That's where most of the families were having picnics throughout lunch.  And Ellie, you don't have any more helpful gadgets to get something so heavy back up here.  It's ok; we are always losers when we play against Skeeter.  We're used to it," Alfy went to sit down (showing that he had quit) but his legs got tangled up and he ended up rolling backwards down The Hill. 

This time Alfy's fall wasn't so funny.  This time, it looked very severe as he tumbled like a wheel down the steep decline.  The Pink Team, still staring in disbelief from the top, yelled down to him, "Alfy!  Alfy?  Alfy!"  They couldn't see him anymore because once he got to the bottom; he rolled right into the thistle bush.  Ellie, Lion, and the two ants shuddered thinking of poor Alfy's discomfort, thistle bushes hurt!

The rest of the Pink Team took off still screaming his name.  When they approached the enormous thistle bush, they stopped because they heard Alfy's voice and they tried to assess where it was coming from before they started into the maze.  They expected his voice to be full of pain and panic but instead he sounded excited and energetic. 

"Hey Guys, you're never going to believe this," he cried running out of the bush smacking into Abner.  Thistles covered Alfy's body but he didn't seem to notice.  As Alfy explained what he found, his friends picked the thistles out of his body (they weren't very deep as Alfy's armored body protected him from deep cuts), "Remember when the Red Team used the slingshot to get their watermelon here and missed The Hill?  Well there are still pieces left from when it broke.  Guys, we have our watermelon rind!!!"   

Lion and Ellie looked at each other not quite believing their ears (and their luck).  Abner whispered, "Could it really be that easy?"

Before anyone could offer him an answer, they heard lots of bickering coming from the Red Team.  The Pink Team knew the Red Team wasn't far off.

"We haven't lost yet boys and Ellie!" Alfy shouted taking the lead.  The ants told Lion, and Ellie to stay where they were (they didn't have the tough exterior like the ants did).  Alfy, Abner, and Ajax ran in (ignoring the thistles that poked them) and pulled out the edge of the watermelon rind.  It was a small piece so with teamwork the Pink Team easily carried it quickly up The Hill. 

Just as they deposited the rind on their pile, the Red Team came up the other side with their last find.  Skeeter, seeing the thistle thorns covering the ants on the Pink Team, realized how he had lost.  "NO WAY YOU CHEATERS!  THAT WAS OUR WATERMELON RIND!"  He looked like he was about to explode. 

Ellie said gently, "We didn't break any rules Skeeter.  We won fair and square."

Love you Bean!

Mom & Mimi