Constant Beginnings

We've been doing "elf on the shelf" for the past 3 years or so. Our elf does crazy things, the girls laugh, but basically forget that he is "watching." The impact on behavior isn't significant. In fact, the whole idea is kind of ridiculous. Sooo, when/if I find that elf (Our last move threw us for a loop. We have the box, but the elf somehow escaped.), we are going to mix things up. I typically put together an advent calendar filled with good deeds and family activities/projects, but I am going to change gears and include those good deeds directed by the "kindness elf." We work hard to show our children the "giving" side of Christmas and we donate/do random acts of kindness as a family, BUT I like the idea of doing something special/different each day of the month. Our Advent calendar is going to focuse more on the Bible verses that correlate with Christmas. It should be a fun change. For more information on the kindness elf, see the lin...

a few weeks ago we received a special present from santa. he sent an elf to come and watch over us until christmas. claire and mya were very excited. maggie the elf has been with us ever since and she runs back to santa each night while we sleep to tell him of the good and not so good things we've done. claire and mya enjoy looking for her each morning, but little miss maggie has found herself in the same spot the last few mornings. gasp! i tell claire that she must really like the view from on top of the air conditioner. thankfully, claire is satisfied with that answer. the elf on the shelf is a great little find that i came across last year. i didn't buy it then, knowing our kiddos were a bit too small, but i am so glad that i remembered it for this year. it has added to the christmas spirit and will become a little tradition of our own.