My list of musts for the Christmas season include:
1. Christmas Advent Lessons--Scripture and crafts/service projects
2. Bernard, our Elf on the Shelf
3. Take a small gift from the countdown bags
4. Read a Christmas book
5. Look at Christmas lights Polar Express Style
6. Drive through the Living Nativity
7. Random Acts of Kindness
Our Christmas Advent Lessons include a daily scripture about the birth of Jesus and either a craft or service project. When I began this project several years ago, Hannah was really little and Ty was a baby. It started out as a scripture and color sheet. That has grown into a little more. Each year I decide what Scriptures we will read each day and find a craft to do. This year I am having my kids do more service projects and less crafts! Before we begin, I make a list of ALL of the supplies I need for the crafts and projects and buy all of the supplies at one time. This way we have what we need to complete each day's activity.
Bernard has become quite the little project in my house!! He is up to all sorts of things! Each year I make a list of things for him to do, buy all the necessary supplies, and set myself a reminder before bedtime. If you want to do a good Elf on the Shelf, you MUST BE ORGANIZED!! Organization is key! The first year we had Bernard, I would forget or have trouble thinking of a great idea. So, he ended up going from the Christmas tree, to the stocking, to the kitchen and back! It's so much more fun to be creative and see how the kids react! I don't use Bernard as an incentive for my kids to behave. I expect my kids to behave for no other reason than it is the right thing to do. Bernard is simply a fun little surprise for them each morning. He encourages them to remember Jesus is the most important reason for Christmas. He leaves them crafts to do. He encourages them to do service for others. And, occasionally he is mischievous. Now, don't be misled, we have had Bernard mishaps! Once he fell off the mirror and landed face first on the floor. I told the kids to run hide their eyes and Bernard would be able to move! (Yes, I lie to my kids to preserve the magic of Christmas!) Another time, Hannah found him in a bag in my closet. She screamed and said "It's Bernard!" I quickly lied again and told her that it was not Bernard, but an elf I had bought at the store in case Santa didn't send us one! You have to be very quick to pull of the whole Elf thing!
I don't necessarily set the elf activities by day, but I do have a list to choose from. Each year, the day after Thanksgiving, I have a North Pole Breakfast prepared for the kids. I do the breakfast in honor of Bernard coming back to our house. I don't pretend that Bernard is able to throw a breakfast party! Last year I had him leave the supplies to make a Christmas Countdown Chain the next day and I am going to make that a tradition! Other than that, I just choose what works for that night!
