Wela and BobBob recently went on a quest and found an Elf on the Shelf for Ro and Ree. The girls were tickled pink, named him Elfala (they’re a little ambiguous about his/her gender), and can’t wait to figure out where he’s hiding every morning.
We don’t do the whole “you can’t touch the elf” or “the elf tells Santa if you do something naughty” malarkey that it talks about in the accompanying book (I never have been good at following other people’s rules, heh). In our house Santa is just a fun, jolly guy who fills the stockings and brings one great present on Christmas – there’s no spying on children to see if they’re naughty or nice, or taking gifts away, or delivering coal. And now Elfala ties into the fun by hiding somewhere in the house every morning. When Ro and Ree find him they get to add something to their Christmas lists and then Elfala magically heads out each night to make sure that Santa hears about the lists and also gets a chuckle from something good/sweet/cute that the girls did. I just grin to see them holding Elfala over the lists saying “Now see, Elfala, do you see what I wrote here?”
And it is AWESOME to see what they write on their lists. That’s the best part.
Can you decipher Ro’s list?:
In case the spelling is a smidge too creative, Ro is interested in the life-size Rapunzel doll, a map book with the whole world, the giant lollipop (we saw some of these in HomeGoods recently), recipe for my birthday (hm? I think she heard that Ree wrote recipe on her list and decided to go for it also), toy numbers (I’m a little vague on this one too)
How about Ree’s?
Ree would like a lava lamp, pretend kitchen to cook, recipe for baking cup cakes, blue hoppy ball, and leotard that’s blue.
Hee! Once these lists are done, they’re going in the keepsake box for sure. I heart these lists. In the meantime, it’s a fun elfin hide and seek each morning.
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CUTE! I was able to read all of the lists except for the leotard, darn! :o) I just ordered hippity hops for my 9 year old and my 2 year old at jumpingballs.com! FUN!!!
ReplyDeleteAhh their lists are adorable! I love the elf idea. Can't wait until my little one is old enough to play along.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT!!! Funny how mommy's can translate....hehehe. You may have to make them a recipe book. We are going to see Santa on Saturday and the girls have been working on their letters. They even offered to write their brother's I can't wait to see what they come up with.
ReplyDeleteLove all the fun with the girls... You may enjoy doing this as well..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home
A friend posted about this on facebook for her son...I'm a G'ma so not sure how long this has been available but sure is sweet for the littles
~~HUGS~~
Excellent spelling for Kgn.!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking that the numbers requested might be the Fisher Price magnetic numbers. That is all the play numbers that I can think of.
ReplyDeleteThe elf is WONDERFUL! My granddaughter loves it!
You absolutely must laminate these and frame them. Precious! I could read every word. I have a Kindergartener who requested an "apbol" for lunch. Apple. Clearly!
ReplyDeleteI like your Elf story better. Sara is keeping her play room "extra clean" to impress Santa. She really wants that Felicity American Girl Doll Bed!
I swear, I thought Ro wrote on her list for #4: Respect for my birthday.
ReplyDeleteHa! Nearly laughed myself silly until I read on what it really was. Too cute!
We started too only, Cadence is FREAKED out! She doesn't want him to come back.....waaaaa!!!!! I was hoping this would be fun!
ReplyDeleteAs a 3rd gd teacher, can I just tell you that your kids are genuises? I could read it all- and for them to have phonemic spelling at this age- WOW. Great work!!
ReplyDeleteDoes Elfalfa get into trouble while the girls are sleeping? Ours used to: snow angels out of flour on the counter, knocking ornaments off the tree, hanging upside down from light fixtures. Try it, that part is so much fun for us parents!
ReplyDeleteCute lists and what neat handwriting both girls have. Enjoy your elf!
ReplyDeleteI am like you... Santa fills stocking and a big gift... Not as a punishment. I just might copy you on how the Elf is used in the house.
ReplyDeleteAh Jen, you are too kind. Thanks for making my night.
ReplyDeleteAnd Kate -- I LOVE that idea!!!
Too cute! I see that elf every time I go into Pottery Barn Kids and am so tempted to buy it. I love their lists. Seems a lot easier than Linhsey's list of ...let's see,,, Lalaloopsy Doll, Orbeez, Playtime Woody and Jesse, Karaoke machine etc...
ReplyDeletelove the way you guys are using that elf and these lists are SO precious. i love that a map of the whole world reads as "a map of the whole word (wrd)". there's something profound in that ,you know?
ReplyDeleteI am doing the "Elf on the Shelf" ideas but I didn't get the original Elf and book. I got a different Elf.
ReplyDeleteWe love our Elf "Christmas" too. SHE surprised us this year by including a note that explains she is really a girl - Mrs. Claus found time to sew her a skirt(!) If you go on Elf on a Shelf website you can purchase a cute flannel skirt for the elf ($7)...our girls were delighted. She now also sports a beaded necklace. Love the idea of having the elf be a tad silly with flour snow angels on the counter...I think our elf needs to lighten up a bit(!) When we went to see Santa, the girls chatted on about the elf and Santa knew all about it...I was impressed. Such fun.
ReplyDeleteBest book for cupcake recipes...Tina Cocolina. Bought it for the kids in my family as it is too cute.
ReplyDeleteTime for an Easy Bake Oven! Do they still make them?
ReplyDeleteI totally use Santa as a December threat! And, Lisa W,...Tate told me clear as day when I was babysitting her that you have to be good or "Santa no bring presents"! LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I just decided this year that Santa brings one gift and fills stockings and the rest is from mommy. Not sure if I'll stick with it though? We'll see after this year.
Can you believe this Canadian has never heard of Elf on a Shelf! Is it a new idea? Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you when it comes to not using Santa as a threat. It's a fun time of year filled with lots of excitement, sugar and late nights. Kiddos may be a little extra cranky at times but normally it's mama who has pushed the limits.
The girl's writing is GREAT! Wow!!! They're doing so well!
lovely - i came up with a similar elf idea before seeing the elf on the shelf, and this is the first year C gets into it. Elfred appears every morning with a little surprise for C as soon as the christmas tree goes up; holiday pjs the first day, then various christmas books or other trinkets i picked up on closeout the previous year. sometimes may be as small as a sticker ... haven't thought about Elfred getting into trouble, but may consider it!
ReplyDeleteWe end up getting lots of new holiday stuff to enjoy, and this way we extend the magic a bit. Have copied the elf on the shelf idea that he reports back to santa and then brings a little something home from the north pole.
I have never heard of Elf on a Shelf.....but I have these elfs. They are old. I inherited the elves from my Grandmother when she died. They look the same as the one in the picture, only with a green suit. I will have to google more information about them. I have them stuck in my christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteMelissa