This is the first year we have “Judy” the elf in our house. We named her Judy after the elf on ‘The Santa Claus’. If you are not familiar with elf on the shelf, it is a newer household holiday tradition. Your elf comes with a book to learn about the tradition and each night your elf moves around your home getting into mischief. Your elf reports your behavior to Santa all season long so Santa knows if you have been good or bad!
It is a cute tradition and I am a little overly excited to kick it off in our home this year. Ella definitely does not get it, and Aria seems to have it mostly figured out. It is a great first year for me to get my practice for future years to come! I have drawn up a plan of where Judy will end up each morning and what kind of trouble she will get into, and I have drawn it up to coincide with our Advent Calendar! I will leave the list below if you need any inspiration for your own elf!
My friend Casey and I decided to throw our girls an Elf on the Shelf welcome party to kick off the Holiday season, introduce our girls to the tradition, and to make it fun and memorable! The idea was a breakfast party, and it turned out so cute!
We used holiday colored sprinkles and made pancakes and then used holiday cookie cutters to cut the pancakes into fun holiday shapes like Christmas trees, Mittens, Snowflakes, and Gingerbread Men. I found a box of Elf on the Shelf cereal at the store the other day too, so we served them up a bowl of that. It is actually really good cereal if you want to try it! (Click Here).
After breakfast they got to pick out a Christmas cookie while I read the Elf on the Shelf story to them! You can buy the Elf on the Shelf HERE. Then they got to open their gifts that the Elf brought for them! (Lip gloss and Frozen II toys). Along with their matching pjs, whole party was super cute, and I hope to make it a tradition each year!
Elf on the Shelf Schedule (to coincide with our Advent Calendar)
- Jumping on Cyber Monday Sales Early – Make Cyber Monday Shopping List
- Scaling the Christmas Tree – Visit a Christmas Tree lot
- Hanging off the front door knob – Decorate front porch
- Popcorn mess on couch – Watch a Christmas Movie
- Playing in Flour – Decorate Cookies
- Blowing Balloons – Girls Bday Party
- In Mom’s purse – Go Christmas Shopping
- Playing in Wrapping paper – Wrap Christmas Presents
- Open Day!
- Eating Frosting – Celebrate Ella’s 1st Birthday
- Hiding in Baskets – Make Neihbor Gift Baskets
- With a microphone – Play Christmas Music all day
- Candy Cane Zip Line – Kids Christmas Party
- By Mom’s Wine – Mom’s Christmas Party
- Yoga by Diffuser – 12 Days of Essential Oils
- Drinking Hot Cocoa – Drink Hot Cocoa
- Playing in Craft Supplies – Make a Christmas Craft
- In Winter Scarf – Visit Mall Christmas Tree and Ice Skating
- Riding a reindeer – Make Reindeer Treats
- Checking the List – Visit Santa
- Playing in Snow – Christmas Parade
- “Lighting” Candles – Celebrate Aria’s 2nd Birthday
- With rolling pin – Make cookies for Santa
- Relaxing by the Fire – Say goodbye to Judy!