Happy Day After Thanksgiving! As some call it, Black Friday...I do wonder however if it should continue to be called Black Friday when many stores opened on Thanksgiving...I have such a huge problem with that, but that's another soapbox... for never. This morning, I did score 60% off a coat for Karsten at Carters and 60% off + 25% off of frames and a few needed things at Michael's. There are some great deals out there, but not much we need!
Now to what this blog post is really about...to elf (on the shelf) or not to elf (on the shelf)? I'll be honest, I really went back and forth on whether to add this to our Christmas tradition or not.
I think it's a cute concept.
Kids totally dig it.
The elf is adorable.
It creates excitement for the season.
It's a great way to get your kids to behave, or to scare them into behaving.
I even read a great blog post last year about how a Christian family incoorporates the elf into the real REASON FOR THE SEASON!
However....we've decided that the Moore family will not be partaking in the elf on the shelf tradition. Please know there is seriously no judgment on those who make this a part of their Christmas season...it's just not for us.
For one thing...I'm desperately seeking simplification in my life. Having to remember to move an elf around the house every night (or heaven help me...create scenes for the elf) just seems like one thing that I don't need to add to my already too long list!
Trust me...we are not scrooges...in fact we're adding three new, simple traditions for Karsten this year. He's old enough to get "it" and certainly teachable enough to begin learning that Christmas is a time for giving in celebration of Christ's birthday. We've already been sorting through his toys and clothes and making piles for Baby Sean, my cousin's baby. In his precious little voice K will say "Give to baby Sean?" We're also going to be buying a few things to send to our World Vision child, Edison (who is Karsten's age).
I'll be sharing our new traditions soon, but one of them is based on the ebook Truth in the Tinsel that I purchased yesterday. Scroll to the bottom of the Truth is in the Tinsel link to see a video of what's it's all about! The Mom Creative reviewed it yesterday and it's exactly what I had been looking for. I purchased the additional ornament add on because I don't think K is quite old enough to make the craft ornaments...so this year we'll just color an ornament each day and hang them on the tree in his playroom. I LOVE that there is Scripture each day that we'll read and then we can talk about it as he colors the ornament. I plan on dating and keeping his ornaments each year to see how his coloring/craftiness improves with age :)
So, there may be no elf excitement in the Moore house, but there will certainly be some Jesus excitement and that's exactly what we're going for!
We aren't elfing either. Like you, I know I won't remember to move that critter around every night. I actually bought one last year, but he never left his box. I gave him to a new home this year. I like the Truth behind the Tinsel idea.
Posted by: Amy Pyle | December 03, 2013 at 09:25 PM