{12 Days of Christmas Traditions} Day Eight: Wrapping

I LOVE wrapping presents.  And like I mentioned in this post, one day I hope to take on Melanie's tradition and have a girls weekend with my sister and sister-in-laws where we get all of our shopping and wrapping done in one fell swoop.  But while I live in Scotland, I depend on my friend The Internet for the shopping part.  As far as wrapping goes, I try to wrap a little each night so that on Christmas Eve, I'm not up till 2 am like I was last year.  I don't want to be super tired on Christmas morning while my kids are feverishly undoing all of my hard wrapping work!  Christmas Eve is for stuffing stockings and putting out Santa's gift, not wrapping my own!  Here is our tree so far.  I'm about halfway there, but the other half is coming on an airplane with my in-laws tomorrow!

All of the presents are way back behind the tree so as to not tempt little hands

I wanted to share a few wrapping traditions I've borrowed from other bloggers (plus a few of my own):

Blogger Tip #1
Shay's organizational tips for wrapping: put all of your wrapping tools in a tote bag, so it's easy to haul to the living room each night for wrapping while watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies (I've slightly tweaked her method).

You'll notice that I have packing tape in my tote.  That would be because I wrap all of my kids gifts inside of a cardboard box (usually leftover from an Amazon order though some are actually moving boxes!).  I do this for a few reasons:

#1 My kids are little and shiny packages are hard to resist.  Avery's already opened one present, but since the toys are inside a plain cardboard box,  I have those few extra seconds to catch her before she gets the box open and ruins the surprise for Christmas morning.

#2 Original toy packaging is usually a weird shape, is awkward to wrap, and can induce feelings like this on Christmas morning. So if you take the toy out of the box, put it in a plain cardboard box, and then wrap it, you've killed two birds with one stone.  You just have to remember a good pair of scissors on Christmas morning to get through the packing tape.

Also in my tote:
--wrapping paper
--scissors
--regular tape
--double stick tape for when I want to be ultra perfectionist wrapper
--tulle for bows - you can get tulle by the roll super cheap at big discount party suppliers like Arne's for you Houston people - it's a much better value than fancy wire Christmas bows (though I LOVE those too) and it's very easy to make your bow look pretty without taking a lot of time

--gift tags from Costco (taken out of the box and put in a ziplock):

I buy gift tags that I can tie on my presents instead of the stick-on kind.  This way, I can reuse the ones for our immediate family each Christmas instead of buying new tags every year.  For our wider family, I buy inexpensive ornaments to use as tags and write with a sharpie on the back of them.  This is probably only something I will do while living in Scotland since even though they come from a store that is basically the British equivalent of Walmart, they come all the way from Scotland which increases their value significantly.

--Christmas tissue paper:

I like to wrap toddler gifts in tissue paper instead of wrapping paper because it's easier for them to tear into. I use the blindingly gold sheet as the bottom layer because you can see through tissue paper if you only use one layer.  And I think the gold is ugly, so this way it gets used without me having to look at it. Naturally my kids think it's the best paper we have.  (Hopefully they will grow out of this...)


Blogger Tip#2:
My all time favorite tip for wrapping comes from Emily (though I can't find her original post).  Emily has 6 kids.  Her youngest is Avery's age and her oldest is still in elementary school.  Needless to say, she needs a system, and she has a really fun one.  She wraps her gifts ahead of time like I do, but since more than half of her kids can read, she doesn't put tags on her gifts.  She chooses a different roll of wrapping paper for each kid and wraps all of their gifts in that one paper. This way her kids can't snoop!  When she stuffs their stockings Christmas Eve, she puts a square of each kid's wrapping paper in the bottom of their stocking so they know which presents belong to them.  And for those of you Crazies who take the time to wrap each of your Santa stocking presents, you could just use their wrapping paper on those presents too to tip them off though clever kids might put two and two together and well you know I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and all that...but this isn't my problem because in my world, Santa is too busy making toys to wrap them too, but I'll talk more about this on Tuesday when I do my post for Day Nine: How We Do Santa.

Do you have any wrapping tips?

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions} Day Seven: Christmas Shirts

Ok, this tradition isn't very intentional about pointing our kids to Jesus, but it is fun!  And it supports my friend Andrea, so it's intentional in that way.  Andrea owns an Etsy shop and does lots of cute monogrammed things for babies and kids.  She started her shop after her first child was born (she now has 3 cute kiddos!).  Her husband and I taught at the same school way back when!  The pumpkin shirts you saw on my kids in previous posts were also from her shop, as are their St. Patrick's Day and birthday shirts I do each year to go with their party theme (Avery will get this one this year:)), and if you've ever received a baby gift from me, Andrea probably made it!

Once they're big enough for a shirt instead of a onesie, I always order a size up so it will last for 2 years.  Seth's shirt is the one I bough for him 2 years ago (size 2) .  He also has one from last year with Santa on it (size 3).  Avery's is a size 2.

The kids love their shirts though getting a photo of both of them with their reindeers visible was harder than I bargained for!  

you want us to look at the camera?

what if I just smile instead?

Oh, you're trying to take a picture of his reindeer?

Or mine?
Look Mom, I'm smiling and looking!

This is as good as it gets people.
Note to self, do not schedule professional family photos when you have toddlers.

Here are the links to the previous traditions if you missed any:

Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions} Day Six: Jesse Tree

First off, Avery found Buddy (our "Elf on the Shelf")  - she's a big fan.  Taylor put him inside of a roll of toilet paper yesterday, and she thought that was the funniest thing ever.  I love that we don't have to be super elaborate with where we hide him because apparently even sitting behind a picture frame is super special. :)

We're onto Day Six: Our Jesse Tree.  Halfway done, but at this rate I won't finish 12 before Christmas.  (Psst - there might not even be 12 things...we'll see!) But this one is the best for keeping our hearts focused on Jesus' birth this Christmas season instead of presents!

And how appropriate because the other day Avery came up to me and said, "I want presents!" I couldn't believe this was coming out of my 20 month old's mouth.  Especially since this is only her second Christmas and I'm pretty sure all she can remember of her first was well, nothing.  I was quickly relieved when the next thing out her mouth was, "I want cake!" And I realized she had seen the birthday gift I had set out on our hall bookcase so that I would remember to deliver it later that day to a friend. Ha! She cracks me up.  I wish you could hear how she says presents, it's so cute. But I digress...

Growing up, my mom implemented the Jesse Tree as our advent calendar of sorts, and it is my favorite tradition that we do with our kids.  (If I lived in Houston, I'd dig out an old photo from my parents house displaying our Jesse Tree and my unfortunate 1980s hair choices.) I know it will get better and better as they get older and can understand it more (the Jesse Tree tradition not my hair, though I have to say it's much improved from that severely misguided perm), but basically each day we go through part of the old testament anticipating the coming Messiah and watching God's plan for mankind unfold. It begins with a tender shoot of hope,

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch (Jesus!) will bear fruit.  

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord."  

Isaiah 11:1-2 (NIV) 

When the kingly line of David seems to have ended, when it seems that God's promise in the Old Testament of a Messiah has been forgotten, a shoot springs up.

Each evening (or morning and evening when we get behind!!), we look at the scriptures together as a family using Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree ebook as a guide, tracing God's plan for Jesus' advent into our world.  There is a corresponding ornament to go with each day that the kids take turns hanging on our Jesse Tree.  Click on my sidebar link to get to Ann's site, A Holy Experience - in year's past, if you follow her blog, you can have access to this Jesse Tree devotional.  I'm not sure if that is still the case, but she has it in book form here and you can still get free printable Jesse Tree ornaments from her website.

Seth hanging the ram ornament representing God's faithfulness to Abraham
when he provides a ram for Isaac on Mt. Moriah

Avery checking out the snake and apple ornament representing the fall of man
and God's plan for rescuing us 

If you missed our first few days of traditions, here are the links!

Day One: A Christmas Playlist
Day Two: Elf on the Shelf
Day Three: Christmas Book Countdown
Day Four: Christmas Movies
Day Five: Christmas Shopping

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions} Day Five: Christmas Shopping and A Giveaway

Not my giveaway, but Shay and Sheaffer's.  It's a $500 gift card to Nordstrom - get on it (especially if you're not finished Christmas shopping)! Click here to enter.

I'm back after an unplanned hiatus thanks to Thanksgiving shenanigans and a head cold! Below are my previous posts if you're interested.

Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four

Day Five: Christmas Shopping

Ok, so it's December 3rd, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed - did you get any good deals? I definitely took advantage - yay for the internet giving me the ability to shop from the UK at US stores in my pjs with a cup of coffee and Christmas music of my choosing!  Incidentally, I made all of my Christmas songs from Day One (plus a few extra!) into one playlist on youtube - click here if you want it.  I am almost finished with my Christmas shopping - whew!

Christmas can be EXPENSIVE, so I try to plan ahead as much as possible; that way when Black Friday and Cyber Monday roll around, I know what I'm looking for.  I also research ahead of time to check out prices so I know what really is a deal when things go on sale. Otherwise I get super overwhelmed and either buy things that I didn't plan on or freeze up and don't buy anything at all. I also keep my eyes open all year so that when things go on sale or I find a treasure at TJ Maxx in October (Air Lighting McQueen marked down from 55 GBP to 16 GBP - yes, please!) or a garage sale/car boot sale in May (Buzz Lightyear for 2 GBP instead of  67 GBP - are you kidding me?!) Here is a useful and free printable I found on Pinterest to organize myself (I need all the help I can get!).  I'd post mine, but I don't want to give any presents away:).

I also love Melanie's tradition for Christmas shopping.  Basically she grabs her best friend, they send their husbands and children to the ranch for the weekend, and they knock out all of their shopping AND wrapping in a fun girls weekend, but you should read her account because she's hilarious.  I can't wait to do this tradition with my sister and sisters-in-law if I ever live in the same city as any of them!  Maybe next year...

I realize this post would've been more helpful BEFORE Black Friday, but as I mentioned above, it wasn't possible.  I am just now recovering from celebrating Thanksgiving twice last week! Taylor commented last night, "Thanksgiving leftovers again for dinner?" He's not a fan of Thanksgiving - turkey in particular.  I told him he's not going to be excited about my weekly meal plan because it looks like this.

If you have any great turkey recipes so I can change it up at all, please leave me the recipe in the comment section!

Here's a peek into our Thanksgiving weekend:

Indoctrinating our Scottish friends!

Avery takes after Daddy and isn't a big Thanksgiving food fan

Thankful for pigtails and dressing them up Christmas-y for church
now that it's December!

Thankful for these Turkeys!

Thankful for Taylor's old pea coat!

Thankful he loves people so much.
His favorite past time after church is
greeting all of our church family coming for the second service.

Thankful for the best daddy and husband ever!

Thankful for our flat!

Happy (late) Thanksgiving!

I'll be back tomorrow talking about our Jesse Tree Tradition!

Love,
robs

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions} Day Four: Christmas Movies

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Ok - I wrote this post on Friday, but it's lame, so I didn't publish, but I'm going to anyway because I just signed up for bloglovin and claimed my blog and it told me to post the above code to my next post.  So here you go!


This is going to be short (I can hear you sighing in relief after my last 3 posts!) because it's Friday night and this mama is tired! It's been a long day filled with being in the car for hours only to go to Costco (and no it's not a long drive from our house; it's just a long story), teaching a German friend how to make Thanksgiving side dishes, reading Gingerbread Baby and Each Peach Pear Plum, racing Miles Axelrod against Chick Hicks (Miles totally won by the way...though I'm unclear on how he escaped from jail), cleaning up spilled milk etc.  I might just have to turn in early and watch a Christmas movie, but first I'll give you my list of top ten must see before December 25th.  Before I start, here are the links for the past posts.

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions}
Day One: Christmas Playlist
Day Two: Elf on the Shelf
Day Three: Christmas Book Countdown

Day Four: Christmas Movies
Here is my top 10:

#10 - Christmas Story

I know,  how could this be #10? Because they play it 24 hours straight on Christmas day that's why.  It's too much a part of Christmas for me not to watch it each year, but once is plenty.

#9 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Last year, I showed this movie to Seth for the first time.  He's a HUGE Dr. Seuss fan and of course loved it.  And yes.  We've already watched it this season. :)

#8 - Home Alone 2

If you loved the first one, you loved this one too! And as you'll see, I LOVE the first one.

#7 - Miracle on 34th Street

Classic.

#6 - Any cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but if you're looking for me at my in-laws house at Christmas time, if there is any down time, it's safe to bet I'm on the couch watching a Hallmark Christmas movie with my mom-in-law.

#5 - Iron Man 3

Taylor said this one shouldn't count, but I plan on adding it to my Christmas movie repertoire.  I know it's a weird choice, but I LOVE all of the Iron Man movies as well as The Avengers.  And Iron Man 3 is set during Christmastime - so there.

#4 - The Family Man

Taylor had never seen this movie before we got married, so it was fun watching it with him the first time.  He loves it and cries every time we watch it when Nicolas Cage gives his speech at the airport. This movie has such a great message!

#3 - Elf

Do I need to give a reason?

#2 - Christmas Vacation

This one narrowly misses #1.  I love the family dynamics and the neighbors too! But can someone please explain to me why the grandparents were given the room with the bunk beds and the brother and sister had to share a bed?  This always bothered me.

#1 - Home Alone

There are a handful of movies I can vividly remember watching in the theater as a child: The Little Mermaid, Father of the Bride, and Home Alone and so each of them are dear to my heart.  My memory of watching Home Alone is one of pure laughter (and I'm a tough sell); it brings back such great memories from my childhood. And I'm pretty sure it's my brother's favorite movie of all time - Mark, we'll have to watch it on Skype or something this year :).

I left off It's a Wonderful Life on purpose - maybe this makes me a terrible person, but bo-ring!

Oh and as a side note, did any of you children of the 80s watch that Alien Santa Claus movie?  I can't remember what it's called, but my grandmother owned it and Mark and I looked forward to watching it every year - not sure why we loved it so much because I'm pretty sure it was super lame, but that was one of our favorite Christmas traditions when we celebrated with that side of the family. :)

What are your must see Christmas movies?  What about kid Christmas movies?

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions} Day Three: Christmas Book Countdown

Warning - this post in LONG.  We Inces love books, so I can't help it.

Seth (2011), 18 months old

This blogging every day is kind of killing me because it's coinciding with Seth dropping his afternoon nap.  The topic today has provided somewhat of a solution for turning nap time into "rest time" so I can actually get stuff done!  If you missed the first two posts from the series, here they are:

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions}
Day One: Christmas Playlist
Day Two: Elf on the Shelf

I stumbled upon the Christmas Book Countdown on Pinterest last year.  The idea is to wrap all of your Christmas books, and let your kids open one each night and read it as their bedtime story.  The idea would be to have 24 books so that it acts as an Advent calendar of sorts in the month of December.

Now, I love books.  So much.  And I love Christmas, so this idea made me really excited.  I immediately amped up my Christmas book collecting.  But as I thought about it more, I didn't want my kids to not have all of their Christmas books at their fingertips during the month of December.  I put these books away the rest of the year so that they are extra special once Christmastime rolls around again.  So I was conflicted. I loved the wrapping idea and how that would cause each book to be treasured instead of a glut of Christmas books December 1st (Ok November 23rd!). So I decided we'd start mid November so that they'll have access to all of their Christmas books the whole month of December before I pack them away again for next year.  I've been letting Seth open one after "rest time" is over which has helped with the transition from nap time somewhat.

Grumpy Seth after having his nap shortened significantly

2 seconds later, happy Seth opening his first Christmas book

If this idea interests you, but you're feeling overwhelmed at the thought of  getting up to 25 Christmas books, here are some ways we've done it.

Get the grandparents in on it:  We live in Scotland so the grandparents love giving my kids recordable Christmas books. I've also put Christmas books on my kids wish lists - they have been a huge help in contributing to our collection.  They probably have some you could borrow for the month too.

North Pole Breakfast: Instead of having Buddy give our kids an ornament like Andrea does, he's giving each of us a Christmas book.  This is one way I am going to try to take the focus off of the gift receiving and focus more on Jesus (you'll see my book choices below).

Christmas parties: Our baby and toddler group gives each child a Christmas book each year at the annual Christmas party.  If you are a part of organizing any Christmas parties or gift exchanges for your kids preschool or Sunday school or whatever, you could suggest Christmas books as the gift to bring. Also, our church has a Christmas party each year where the parents are asked to provide a 5 pound (currency not weight measurement!) gift for their child, so naturally I always give a Christmas book.

Children's Bibles: Wrap up your kids' storybook Bibles and read the first Christmas story.

Stocking Stuffers: Christmas board books make great stocking stuffers!

Christmas Eve Presents: Each Christmas Eve we give our kids a Christmas book to open.  This was a brilliant idea I got from Emily a couple of years ago.  Her reasoning behind it is that they're going to have trouble sleeping anyway, so this gives them something to do Christmas Eve.  I love this - I remember counting sheep for hours on Christmas Eve as a kid.  Plus it gives me another excuse to give a Christmas book!

The Library: If you don't want to buy them, check them out from the library - who says you can't wrap them up?  Just remember to return them on time (says the girl whose library books were due on October 27th...guess what we're doing tomorrow?)


Now for the stash...  I researched and researched and researched different Christmas books because I didn't want just any story that slapped a Santa Claus (or Baby Jesus for that matter) on it.  I wanted quality and variety.  We have some that are secular, some that are the nativity story, we have some that incorporate Christian themes but aren't nativity stories; some are simple board books, some are lengthy stories, some are mostly illustrations. I used Honey for a Child's Heart as a reference as well as other blogs from Pinterest and Amazon.com/co.uk.

Here is an annotated list of our collection in no particular order (sorry the links are to Amazon.co.uk):

1. Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett - one of my favorite board books ever!  The best part about it is the illustrations, and your kids will get a kick out of "that naughty Gingerbread Baby." We put this in Seth's stocking his first Christmas.  He actually loved it so much that I had to get a new copy for Avery's stocking last year because it literally fell apart.

2. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg - The Jolly Postman was one of my favorite books as a child and Janet and Allan Ahlsberg's children's books are the ones that I most enjoy as an adult (especially Avery's current favorite Each Peach Pear Plum and the classic Peepo).  Like The Jolly Postman, The Jolly Christmas Postman is a collection of letters written from one nursery rhyme character to another.  As a child, I loved carefully taking out all of the cleverly written letters.  Last year when I was researching Christmas books, I quickly put it on Seth's wish list when I saw there was a Christmas version.  It back fired a little bit because he's scared of the Big Bad Wolf, but I'm sure some day they will like it. :)

3. Song of the Stars - If you love Jesus Storybook Bible, you need this Christmas book.  It's a rhythmic story with beautiful illustrations - I am a HUGE Alison Jay fan (illustrator for Listen, Listen which might be my very favorite children's book of all time and a couple of Christmas books I have listed further down).  We gave this to Seth for his first Christmas.  This is my favorite nativity story.

4. Christmastime by Alison Jay - I am in love with her illustrations.  Period. This was the Christmas Eve book Seth got last year. This is probably my favorite secular Christmas picture book.

5. Toys by Alison Jay - cute touch and feel book

6. The Nutcracker by Alison Jay - I'm pretty sure this is the version we have.  I can't remember because I already wrapped it up!  Avery got this from her grandparents last Christmas so we haven't had much of a chance to enjoy it.  Can't wait to get my hands on it this year!

7.  Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury - as the title suggests, this one has multiple stories in it.  I only read about 3 of them to the kids as some of the other stories are scary.   I found this via other bloggers who raved about it, but I have to be honest, while the illustrations don't disappoint, I'm not a huge fan of most of the stories - it would've been better to buy the individual stories that I prefer (ie The Mitten).

8. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg - classic Christmas story; memorable illustrations

9. Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson - I was specifically looking for Christmas stories that pointed to Jesus as the reason for Christmas, but weren't necessarily a re-telling of the first Christmas since we have a lot of nativity stories, and this fit the bill.  It is illustrated by Jane Chapman who does the bear books which Seth especially loves.  This will be what Buddy gives to Avery this year at our North Pole Breakfast.

10.  The Elf on the Shelf - if you do this tradition, you're supposed to read this the day after Thanksgiving.

11.  Silent Night - this is a large board book that plays the song silent night and tells the nativity story.   Seth received this at our baby and toddler group Christmas party 2 years ago.

12. Maisy's Christmas Eve by Lucy Cousins- we're crazy about Maisy over here, so this is what I got Seth as his church Christmas party gift last year.  I got it at Costco in a pack of 10 Maisy books for 10 pounds - I'm not sure if they have this in the States, but my kids love Maisy books, so was a great deal!  I'm pretty sure Costco is doing this again this year.

13. Ten Little Christmas Angels - not sure if I linked to the right book because our cover looks  different than this one, and since I've already wrapped my books, I can't double check the title.  This is a board book Avery received at our baby and toddler group Christmas party last year.

14.  My First Story of Christmas by Tim Dowley- Seth received this at our baby and toddler group Christmas party last year. Great nativity story - simple and clear.

15. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - classic Christmas; great message!  We also have the old version on DVD.

16. Frosty the Snowman - Hallmark recordable book - they don't have this one anymore, but there are some other cute ones this year.  Taylor hates these, but I tell him it's because he's not home all day. :)  I love being able to say to Seth and Avery, "go let grandpa read to you!" when it's 5 o'clock and I'm trying to get dinner going.

17. The Night Before Christmas - Hallmark recordable book

18. God's Promises (Nativity story) - Hallmark recordable book

19. Nativity - Hallmark recordable book

20. Charlie Brown Christmas - recorable book

21. Mickey Mouse Christmas - recordable book

22. The Nativity Story by Juliet David - board book for Avery's stocking this year; shhhh, don't tell her!

23. Bob by Sandra Boynton - we LOVE her books so I thought Avery would enjoy a Christmas one.  She'll get it when Seth gets his church Christmas party book this year.

24. Paddington and the Christmas Surprise - Seth's church Christmas party book

25. Merry Christmas Curious George - taking a gamble on this one; haven't read it, but Seth loves Curious George.  I guess we'll find out!

26. Auntie Claus - the kids I grew up babysitting for LOVED this book, so it's nostalgic for me.  Cute, creative story.

27. Santa is Coming to Edinburgh - this book will commemorate our first and only Christmas in Edinburgh.  I love seeing the familiar scenes in this book.  I know the kids will barely remember living here, so I couldn't pass it up when I saw it in the Rosslyn Chapel shop.

28. Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck and Laura Godwin - illustrator is Felicia Bond the same who did Margaret Wise Brown's The Big Red Barn which both of my kids love.  Simple board book nativity story.

29. Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien - this is a compliation of letters Tolkien wrote to his kids over the years posing as Santa. Taylor got this in his stocking last year because of his affinity for The Lord of the Rings.  It's a bit too old for our kids right now, but we look forward to enjoying it with them in a few years.

30. One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham - I'll be getting this one from Buddy

31. Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer- Taylor will get this one from Buddy

What are your favorite Christmas stories?

about to open their books for today!

Happy Amazon-ing!:)

{12 Days of Christmas Traditions} Day Two: Elf on the Shelf

I know it's technically the same day because I didn't finish my day one post until 12:30 am here in Edinburgh, so the date is the same for day one and day two, but I slept between the two posts, so that's two separate days in my mind.  Yes I am tired and this post may or may not make any sense...

{via}

Here we go! Elf on the Shelf - should we do this?  Everyone else is, it's really cute, it promises to ensure great memories of your children's childhoods, and not to mention it's a helpful threat reminder when kids are pouting and crying etc.  But do I want my kids to behave well to please Santa? So that they can get more presents?  Um, the answer is an emphatic NO.  Does having Buddy the Elf (we're really original at the Ince Household) show up at our house day after day in creative places promote thoughts of Jesus' birth, the advent of Christ becoming a human so he could save the world and forgive us when we're naughty?  No it actually promotes the controversial D.C. bus slogan of years past, "Why believe in God?  Just be good for goodness sake!" Actually just be good for increasing possessions sake.

Ok, hold the hate mail!  Just stirring the pot a bit.  It's good for us to think about these things before we do them.  Implication is education (not me, Chesterton).

So if you're wondering if we do Elf on the Shelf, the answer is yes.  We started it last year because everybody else is doing it (even my sister-in-law who is not afraid to be counter-cultural though she refused to pay 30 bucks for the elf and bought a reindeer at Michaels instead and calls it Rodney - love her!  I had a coupon...)! I knew I wasn't totally convinced that it was sending the right message, but I figured for a 2.5 year old and 8 month old it wasn't a big deal and that I could really decide the next Christmas (now!) if we'd stick with it since Buddy the Elf is not yet in their retrievable memories.

As I contemplated if Buddy should become a permanent Christmas tradition, I would try to brainstorm how I could be intentional about Jesus and still keep Buddy around, but nothing was coming to me.  I was reluctantly leaning toward dropping the whole thing until I came across this really creative idea from Andrea: the North Pole Breakfast.

I love her idea of having Buddy put on a breakfast for the kids to remind them of how this whole Elf on the Shelf thing works.  Now you're probably asking yourself what does this have to do with Jesus? And the answer is nothing.  But after seeing what Andrea did with the letters and gifts, it dawned on me that I can have Buddy tell them whatever I want. I think it's beneficial to show them that Santa and Jesus aren't at odds.  Every day Buddy shows up at our house, we'll have more opportunities to talk about why we choose to obey Mommy and Daddy, be kind to our siblings, tell the truth etc instead of the majority of those conversations happening at times when we're correcting our kids behavior.

So Buddy gets to stay, and Taylor and I can't wait to have a morning off of breakfast duty on the 29th! :)