Our Friendly Elf, Peep

(Inspired by Elf on the Shelf)

For the past three years we have had a special guest stay with us through the whole month of December.  He arrives, at the front door, every December 1^st with nothing but a letter for the boys and he mysteriously leaves sometime during the day on December 23^rd.  The boys love their friend Peep and can’t wait for him to come.  This is the letter he brought the first year he came…

Dear Charlie and Oliver,

My name is Peep.  I am one of Santa's helpers and he has sent me to your house for a little while.  Santa has asked that your Mommy and Daddy set me somewhere in your house so that I can see you work, play and sleep.  I will be taking notes from time to time to see how well you are helping, listening and obeying.  On December 23rd I will leave your home and go back to the North Pole where I will give my report to Santa.

I am looking forward to being a guest in your home.  Charlie and Oliver you can take turns sleeping with me if you would like.  We can have some fun sleepovers.

I know I will be able to go back to Santa and tell him what good little boys you both are.  I hope you will make some room for me and that we will have a fun few weeks together.  I don't need anything but a hug from time to time.

Love your friendly elf, Peep

Here is a video of Peep arriving last year (2011).

Organizing Your Advent Calendar

Do you love the idea of creating Christmas memories for you and your family that will last for a lifetime?  Hey...me too!  Since you're just like me you've probably started each Christmas Season off with really good intentions.

• This year I am going to finally get a picture of my kids wearing cute little elf outfits (that I have sewn, although I have no sewing experience) sitting on Santa's lap.
• I am going to fill my grandma's old candy jars with homemade candy, just like she used to.  Oh wait you need a candy thermometer?  Would an ear thermometer work?  I have one of those.
• I am going to teach my kids the true meaning of Christmas by setting up a live nativity in our backyard.  Now where can I get a live camel?

I love filling the whole moth of December with Christmas related activities.  And I have finally discovered the secret to doing it successfully....Are you ready for it?....The secret is PLANNING!  "But Shannon, planning makes me...sad."  You might be saying.

I know, I know, I hear you.  But a little bit of planning is all it takes to create the Christmas vision that dances in your head.   The first thing you need to do is look at your schedule and existing calendar of events.  A lot of the activities will automatically be filled into your activity calendar simply by default. Now events like school programs, recitals, and family, church and company parties become a fun family Christmas activity instead of "just one more thing to do".

Next, fill in the rest of your Activity Calendar with the things you really want to do.  Make sure you take into account you and/or your family's schedule so you don't overlap events and you give yourself enough time to execute.  Notice, December 15th on my calendar, our activity is "cinnamon rolls for breakfast".  When I looked at our schedule I knew there was no way we could fit in an activity after school or in the evening so breakfast became the activity.  One side note here, get rid of your illusions of grandeur and Keep It Simple Stupid.  I did not make cinnamon rolls from scratch, the dough came from a tube baby.  Be satisfied with a regular ol' picture of your kids with Santa, no matter what it's going to be cute.  They're your babies, they're always cute.  Your grandma's old candy jars can be filled with...gasp..store bought candy and your kids can learn the true meaning of Christmas without live animals.

Now, I know you're going to think I'm nuts-o but I try to get all of my Christmas stuff done before December 1st.  Presents are bought and wrapped, the house is decorated and my Magnetic Spice Tin Advent Calendar is organized and filled so all I have to worry about in December is creating memories that will last for a lifetime. 

Spice Tin Advent Calendar Tutorial

My mom made this Advent Calendar for me a few years ago and I love it because it can be used every year, it stores well and it’s super easy to make.

What you will need…

• 25 Magnetic Spice Tins.  Mine are the 6 oz clear ones from IKEA called Grundtal.
• Metal Surface: garage door, refrigerator, framed piece of sheet metal, etc.
• Cardstock.  Christmas theme or prints/solids that match your Christmas Décor.
• Printer or number stickers
• Scissors or circle cutter

Step #1

Decide how you want to add numbers to the paper that will go on the inside of the tins.  I wanted mine printed so I measured the diameter of the inside of the tin and used Microsoft Office Publisher to create a circle and then typed a number in the middle of the circle.  My circles were 3 ¾ inches so I was able to print four circles on each 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper.  I simply cut them out after they printed.  You will need to number your circles 1-24 and add a star to the last circle.  I have changed the colors of the circles and the font of the numbers a couple of times depending on what room I put the calendar in and I use this same template every time.  Super easy!   

***Note:  You can also punch or cut out circles and then add number stickers to the middle of the circles.

Step #2

Place the circles in the lids of the tins. 

Step #3

Decide what you want to put in the tins and fill ‘em up.  I always have leftover Halloween candy (I know…crazy huh?) so I put three pieces of candy in each tin; one for each of my kids.  I also put in small a piece of paper; printed on the paper is the Christmas activity we are going to do for the day.  My nephew doesn’t like candy (I know…crazy huh?) so my sister puts little toys in his. 

Step #4

Place the tins on a metal surface (I use my garage door) in the shape of a Christmas tree.  And…ta-da…you’re done!  Each day, after the kids have opened the tin, I turn the paper around so the number is facing the inside of the tin.  Now it’s easy for the kids, and me, to see how many days left till Christmas.

Step #5

When it's time to take down your calendar you can put the tins back in the boxes they came in and store them all in a 15Q/14L storage bin.