Advent 2024: Review: Frederick and Holly Belle

 

Holly Belle: >Satisfied sigh< Another successful advent calendar.

Well, a couple of hiccups, but overall, a resounding achievement.

Holly Belle: >Grrrr< I forgot about this one.

Mikko and Tyler are overdue for a good talking-to.

Frederick: Holly Belle!  Holly Belle!  It's here!

Holly Belle: What are you talking about?  What's here?

Frederick: Mrs. Claus!  Daddy John called the Lego people and

 they sent us a replacement prize!  We can complete the advent calendar now!

Holly Belle: How delightful!  I just knew it would all work out.

Let's put her together and get her on the playmat.

Frederick: You know, I can't quite put my finger on it 

but this figure reminds me of someone...

Holly Belle: There, with Santa right where she belongs.

Frederick: Oh!  I know!  She looks like that presenter on that 

British baking show...Prue Leith!

Holly Belle: Don't be ridiculous.  Who's Prue Leith?

Frederick: She writes picture books about gracious baking.

I worship her.  

Frederick: I can just imagine her judging this girl's Christmas cookies.

Prue says "Your sugar cookies are neat as a pin..."

The Girl says "Thank you, they're in honor of my great-auntie Mabel and

I found the sprinkles in a little Christmas market in Weston-Super-Mare."

Then Prue says "Unfortunately, while they look lovely, 

they taste a bit claggy.  What a pity."

We hope you enjoyed this year's Advent Adventures.

Gregoropolis will be taking some much-needed time off 

and will return in February 2025!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from all of us at GREGOROPOLIS!!

Advent 2024: Day 24: Nanny Wendy, Toddlers Mikey and Albert, and Baby Conor

 

Nanny Wendy: Okay boys, time to open the last door of the Advent calendar!

That means Santa comes tonight and presents tomorrow!

Boys: Yayyyyyyyy!!!

Nanny Wendy: So, we'll open the door and see what the prize is.

Then it's bath time and big brother Stephen Orange will read you a bedtime story.

Mikey: Will Steeben read a Christmas story?

Nanny Wendy: Oh, yes, indeed!  

Albert: And do the voices?

Nanny Wendy: He certainly will--he knows that's your favorite part.

Mikey: We got the toy!

Albert: It's Santa!!

Conor: Sanna!

Nanny Wendy: That's good cooperation, boys!

Conor: Coppershun.

Nanny Wendy: That's Santa and his bag of toys, Conor.

Conor: Sanna an' doys.

Nanny Wendy: There, he belongs up top with his reindeer.

He looks like he's flying through the air, delivering the presents.

Nanny Wendy: We'll place him next to the, uh, oh my.

Heavens, what is that?

Conor: Sanna an' bug.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS from everyone at GREGOROPOLS!

Advent 2024: Day 23: Holly Belle and Meghan

 

Meghan: Well, what do you think Holly Belle?

Looks to me like another successful advent adventure.

Holly Belle: Yes, you're quite right.

This has been the best one yet, if I do say so myself.

Meghan: There's our door, upstairs of the house.

Holly Belle: I do hope our prize is something good.

That missing Mrs. Claus-extra snowman debacle nearly derailed the whole thing.

Holly Belle: The picture shows it's maybe a little sled?

Meghan: But these pieces are odd colors 

and don't seem to match the picture on the door.

Holly Belle: What IS this? This is NOT a Christmas sled!

Meghan: Some sort of outer space bug?

Holly Belle and Meghan: AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

Mikko: What's all the yelling?

Holly Belle: YOU!! You two have RUINED Christmas!!

Tyler: We had NOTHING to do with it!

Why does everyone always blame us?!?

Meghan: Wait a minute, Holly Belle.

I've found another package behind the door.

Meghan: I think someone added in the space bug to fool us.

Holly Belle:  The actual sled.  >Whew<

Meghan: I'm inclined to believe Mikko and Tyler.

This kind of trick doesn't fit their style.

Holly Belle: We'll put the snow sled in the snow.

>Whew< We've saved Christmas from total disaster.

Meghan: I think you might owe Mikko and Tyler an apology...

Holly Belle: >Hmmpf< Well, we'll just see...I bet they know who did this.

Advent 2024: Day 22: Kaveh and James

 

James: Did you hear Mikko and Tyler yesterday?

Kaveh: Yes, muttering between themselves.

James: Never a good sign.

Kaveh: I dare say they're up to something.

Kaveh: Now then, what day are we looking for?

James: 22!  Only two more nights before Santa and presents!

James: Is that what I think it is?

Kaveh: What are you thinking? 

Kaveh and James: It's a train!

Kaveh: I just love trains!

James: It is pretty great, yeah.  

Kaveh: And look at that smoke plume!

James: Of course he has to go around the tree!

Kaveh: >Sigh< A train around a Christmas tree

is just about the best thing ever.

James: C'mon, a mug of Uli's hot chocolate

will make it even better.

Advent 2024: Day 21: Mikko and Tyler with Kirwan Mahoney

 

Tyler: Hey, kid...

Kirwan Mahoney: Kirwan.  >Sigh< My name is Kirwan Mahoney.

Tyler: Oh, right.  Anyway--

Mikko: Rumor has it that you were the one who pranked last year's

Advent calendar.  Y'know, hiding Susana's Barbie doll 

and adding the Batman Lego figure.

Kirwan: I can neither confirm nor deny.

What's it to you?

Mikko: We want to learn from you!

Tyler: Yeah! What's your secret for not getting caught?

Kirwan: Ah, I see.  I've seen the mischief you two get up to.

Blundering about like drunk elephants.

Tyler: I think we've been insulted.

Kirwan: A good prank has finesse.  It is never deliberately

cruel or hurtful.  A light, subtle touch!

Ideally, one should never pull the same prank twice.

But when opportunity knocks...well...

Mikko: What does 'finesse' mean? 

And what was that bit about 'opportunity'?

Tyler: I dunno, but he seemed pretty wise.

Do you think he knows about the noodle incident?

Mikko: I keep telling you no one 

can prove it was us.

Tyler: Alright, alright.  Let's get this going--that kid

has given us a lot to think about.

Mikko: Okay.  Hey, this could be fun...

Tyler: It's a person...

Mikko:...with a hat...

Tyler and Mikko:...AND A SWORD!!!

Tyler: He's some sort of soldier.

Tyler: He can guard the Christmas tree.

Mikko: And if anyone gets too close-- >whish, whish!<

Tyler and Mikko: COOOOOOLLLLL...

Advent 2024: Day 20: Antonia and Jennifer

 

Antonia: Mamma mia! Amica, have you heard?

Jennifer: What's going on?

Antonia: La signora Natale!  She has left Babbo!

Jennifer: Oh, that.  Don't fret, Antonia.  It's only the Mrs. Claus toy

was missing from the Advent calendar set.  

Antonia: Veramente?  I am much relieved. 

Jennifer:  Wow, the more, uh, dramatic of our siblings

sure can get things all garbled.

Antonia: Let us find our toy with any more thought!

Jennifer: What do we have here?

Antonia: Che cos'è? What is she, amica?

Jennifer: Well, it certainly isn't another snowman!

Antonia: >Whew!<  The toy, she does have many pieces, though.

Jennifer: Not to worry, I've seen this before.

Antonia: Molto bene! The albero di Natale!

The toy, she is the Christmas tree!

Jennifer: I always think they look like traffic signals.

Antonia: There, she sits in the piccola casa.

Jennifer: Waiting for Santa and all the presents.