We’ve had quite the run of germs at our house. First, Andrew had the runny nose, cough, and ear infection. Then Sam got a wicked sore throat that seemed to last for days. Ella has been congested, coughing, not really sleeping and fevers off an on. I have a nasty sinus infection with a cough. It’s not been pleasant!
No parent likes to see their kid sick. Ella has really had it the roughest. She is just miserable. Sam went as far as to say that Ella is like me when I get sick. She’s right. I don’t do sick very well. Ok, honestly, I’m a big baby. All I want to do is sleep. It’s not pretty.
We used real life as inspiration for Twinkles (our Elf on a Shelf) this week.
We were supposed to have some Christmas pictures taken this morning, but with all of us sick, we had to call and cancel. We’re hoping that we might be well enough to do them on Monday, so our photographer moved our appointment. Our fingers are crossed that at least the kids feel better by then.
Rest is best, so I think we’re all going to just hang in pajamas all weekend. Nothing wrong with that, right?
I swore up and down that I would never do the whole Elf on the Shelf thing. Sometimes, however, circumstances make you go back on your word.
My mother-in-law sent home an Elf on the Shelf before Thanksgiving. So now, we’re in it to win it. Ok, we’ll do the best we can to make it happen!
The story (as I’ve heard it) behind this whole thing is that some kids wondered how Santa could know how kids were bad or good. The answer? He sends these “scouting” elves to the homes of children to watch them. At bedtime, they go back to the North Pole and report to Santa. They return before morning and find a different place to keep an eye on the children. The child cannot touch the elf, or it loses its magic and may not return. This could easily get them on the naughty list!
As a parent, it’s our job to find a creative place to place the elf every night. You have no doubt seen many of the humorous things people have come up with. Some are not very kid friendly.
The story says that once the child names their elf, they get their magic and officially become part of the family. After some discussion Ella passed on Snowflake and instead decided on Twinkle (which has since become Twinkles).
A buddy of mine noted that from far away, you can’t really tell if the elf is a boy or a girl. Close up you can see ours is a girl.
And for those who still want to question it … it says she is a girl right on the box!
Anyway, we watched a short movie on Netflix with Ella and Andrew, read the book that told the story, and then they were off to bed. Day 1 was a simple one. Right above the fireplace on the mantle.
Twinkles and her snowman buddy
Day 2’s idea was found in the internet. We grabbed one of her mini Nana blankets to make it work. Twinkles camped out in the fridge.
Chilly, but elves are used to that, right?!
Sam worked the next night, so it was up to me to think of what to do. This may or may not have been influenced by an action movie or two. Twinkles was zip lining to the Christmas tree.
For day 4, I wanted to have her hanging from the ceiling fan, but the bucket/cup I put her in kept tipping and she’d fall out. Instead, I used the cup and hung her from the magnetic clip on the side door. It kinda looks like the hot air balloon ride went wrong and she crash landed on the clip.
This morning, on Facebook, my friends Matt and Tricia posted that they got an elf for their son. I immediately commented and told them I was glad that there would be someone I could steal ideas from!
The elf goes “home” Christmas Eve … feel free to share your ideas, too!! Kid friendly, of course.
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 