Elf on the Shelf (Snowflake)
Often times, Elf on the Shelf is a naughty elf that is always in to mischief. Our elf, Snowflake, is a nice elf that brings gifts every morning from December 1-25. A lot of the gifts we'll re-use through out the years. For instance, this year Snowflake brought the boys the cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After the holiday is over, I'll pack the movie up and Snowflake will bring it again next year. Here's our plan for the month.
December 1: Advent Calendar. I think I brought out the advent calendar a couple years too early. Easton was so excited about all the chocolate, we'll just say it was gone in a few days. We're still opening the doors with empty chocolate on a daily basis.
December 2: Christmas Pajamas. Growing up, my parents always gave us our Christmas Pajamas on Christmas Eve. I want my kids to enjoy their pajamas the whole holiday, so Snowflake brought my boys their Christmas pajamas today. This is a gift idea Snowflake will bring every year.
December 1: Advent Calendar. I think I brought out the advent calendar a couple years too early. Easton was so excited about all the chocolate, we'll just say it was gone in a few days. We're still opening the doors with empty chocolate on a daily basis.
December 2: Christmas Pajamas. Growing up, my parents always gave us our Christmas Pajamas on Christmas Eve. I want my kids to enjoy their pajamas the whole holiday, so Snowflake brought my boys their Christmas pajamas today. This is a gift idea Snowflake will bring every year.
December 3: Christmas Books - The Little Blue Truck Christmas, That's not my Snowman (Touch and Feel book), and The Little Snowplow. We love books at our house! I like the idea of packing our Christmas books up after the holiday and having Snowflake bring them back the following year.
December 4: Christmas Train. I bought this train from Costco last year and already had it in the garage. Eason has LOVED playing with it this year. He even requested sleeping with the train for almost a week. Connor loved watching the train go around the track. Snowflake will be bringing this gift back next year as well. Click here to buy the train on amazon.
December 5: Christmas Crunch Cereal. I found this cereal at Target and couldn't resist. Easton LOVED it. We also used the cereal pieces to decorate a Gingerbread House later in the month.
December 6: The Story of Christmas Board Book - Today is Sunday, so I had Snowflake bring a book about Jesus' birth. Easton really loved this book and I think it does a good job of simply explaining the birth of Jesus. This is another thing Snowflake can bring back next year.
December 7: Christmas Slap Bracelets. Easton has loved wearing these around the house. I found them at Target in the stocking stuffer section. I think they were a dollar for the set.
December 8: Snowman Stuffed Animal. Out of all the stuffed animals at Walmart, Easton liked this one the best. I bought it back in November.
December 9: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Movie. I always loved the cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and was hoping so badly that Easton would enjoy it this year. Easton enjoyed it so much that he wanted us to call him "grinch" and his stuffed animal dog "max" for multiple days. I'll have snowflake bring this movie out again next year.
December 10: Tree Glasses. I also bought these from the stocking stuffer section at Target.
December 11: Penguin Pooper. Easton thought this waddling penguin was so funny. You can put candy inside the penguin and when you wind him up, he "poops" the candy out.
December 12: Finger Puppets. I found these at Target. These were a big hit! Easton and Connor both loved them - obviously close supervision is required with little ones. I could re-use these next year as well.
December 13: Playmobile Nativity Set. Today is Sunday again, so we had a quick family lesson on the story of Christ's birth and then Easton found Snowflake with this nativity set. Easton absolutely LOVES it. He has been playing with it daily. This is another thing we'll pack away and have Snowflake bring next year.
December 14: Spray Chalk. It snowed a ton last night, so Snowflake brought blue Spray Chalk to our house this morning. You squirt the chalk/water mixture in the snow to make it turn blue.
December 15: Gingerbread House Kit. I found this kit at Walmart and we had a fun time decorating it today. I'm sure you can see all the finger marks in the roof. Easton mostly ate the frosting and candy and really enjoyed himself.
December 16: Touchable Bubbles. I found these at Lakeshore Learning. They weren't as neat as I thought they'd be.
December 17: More Christmas Books - The Polar Express, The Night Before Christmas, and God Gave us Christmas. We could never have enough books!
December 18: Reindeer Popper Toy.
December 19: Ticket to see Santa. A few weeks ago, I bought a ticket at the Storybrooke Cafe for Easton to see Santa. Easton will get a picture with Santa, listen to a Christmas story and leave with a special present. Snowflake will give Easton the "red ticket" to get in to the event.
December 20: Blue Dum Dum. Easton's favorite treat. It's not every day he wakes up to a sucker. Lucky boy!
December 21: Christmas Cookie Cutters. We will most likely use these with play dough today. I found a similar pack at Walmart for $1.47.
December 22: Christmas Magnets. I found these at the Dollar Store.
December 23: Christmas Stickers. I bought these from the Dollar Store.
December 24: Peppermint Sippy Cup. We'll make a special breakfast on Christmas Eve and Snowflake can bring this fancy sippy cup for Easton to drink his chocolate milk. I bought this from Walmart for 97 cents.
December 25: I'll most likely have Snowflake bring one of Easton's Christmas presents to him today.