Elf on the Shelf

Only a couple more nights until Christmas which means you only have to find a couple more locations for your Elf on the Shelf. By this late in the Christmas game, I'm sure that you, just like myself,  have found yourself standing in the middle of your house, elf in hand, searching desperately for a place to put it. Well, I have decided to share all the locations I have put my elf into one handy post in the hopes that together we can get through those last couple nights of elf brain freeze.

1. I'm Back

    This handy location was perfect for when our elf reappeared. But it can be used as a going away as well. Simply position your elf on the window and write on the window with the dry-erase marker.

2. Mistletoe Mischeif 

3. Trim the Tree

     Our Elf brought a special gift from Santa as a reward for good behavior. 

4. Hanging Around for Movie Time

5. Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

6. Riding a Reindeer

    Don't forget to use other Christmas decorations in your elf's adventures! 

7. Video Game Downtime 

8. Tea for Three

9. Fishing Fun

10. The Reason for the Season

      Even an elf can bring the focus back to Jesus.

11. Mouse Chase

12. Snowflake Craft

13. Self Portrait

14. Picture Perfect

15. Bat-Elf

16. Candy Land with Friends

17. Gingerbread Village Fun

      Our elf brought magic "seeds" to plant in our gingerbread garden (bowl of sugar) and we planted them and found they grew into candy canes. 

18. Bathroom Decoration

19. Hanging in There

20. Having S'more Fun 

21. Christmas Cookies

22. Stocking around the Christmas Tree

23. Story Time

Well, there you have it! 23. ideas for your elf that aren't really messy or crazy. Even the more elaborate scenes only took a few minutes to put together. 

Merry Christmas!

The Eleventh Day

This morning our Elf, Bell, reminded us of the reason we celebrate Christmas. He had joined the nativity scene under our tree and was kneeling next to Jesus's manger. 

Our activity for today, as dictated by our countdown penguin, was to turn off all the lights in the house, turn on the tree lights and sit and look at the tree. Of course, we waited until it was dark outside so it would have the best effect. After dinner, Client One turned off all the lights while I plugged in the tree lights and pulled up some Christmas music in my phone. Honestly, it was peaceful and beautiful.

Tonight's book was Counting Christmas by Karen Katz. It starts with number ten and counts down to  number one. Of course, everything you count is Christmasy. 

And that's all for today! Good night! 

Day Ten of Our Christmas Countdown

This morning Bell was found fishing for Goldfish crackers in one of our bathroom sinks. He even brought Christmas colored Goldfish! Sitting next to him was a bag of Goldfish for us all to snack on throughout the day. 

Our activity slip today instructed us to make a present. Now, yesterday, Client One went out and bought presents for just about everybody on her list. One of those people was her daddy. She picked him out a cute little orange teddy bear and I could tell right away that she loved that bear and would want to keep it. Sure enough, when I asked her if she wanted to find her daddy something else she was more than willing. So, today, she colored him a little wooden picture holder. Client Two also "colored" him a little snowman ornament. (By "colored" I mean that I attempted to guide his hand while he tried to eat the markers.) Both projects turned out well.

Client One had AWANAs tonight since it is Wednesday, but she asked if she could go ahead and pick out her book and unwrap it before she left. I agreed since I knew it would be a later night and letting her unwrap it early would probably make bedtime smoother. Tonight's selection was Santa Paws which features adorable animals. What's not to love? Even Client One's cat wanted to check it out. 

 

And that completes our day! Merry Christmas!