Since I missed yesterday and have a busy tomorrow, thought I’d just tackle 3 Blogmas topics at once today.
Elf on the Shelf
We do have one but Buddy is usually lost in a snowstorm and tends to arrive late. That’s my solution to not having to think of so many days of things.
Thankfully, this wasn’t the trend when my boys were younger. We didn’t get our Elf on the Shelf until J was in 5th grade and talking about the one in his classroom. And we’ve never really followed it in the traditional book “he’s spying on you and taking notes for Santa” way. For us, Buddy was just a bit of fun mischief and we did it more like a scavenger hunt. Sometimes, he also brought funt treats like special holiday cereal.
J used to think that he moved on his own but now everyone knows. We still keep up the fun tradition of hiding him around the house though. G has always thought the elf is a bit creepy.
If my kids were young, I’d go with the Kindness Elves instead. I think that’s such a great concept!
Christmas Cards
Sigh, I miss and do not miss this tradition if I’m perfectly honest. I love the idea of Christmas cards and absolutely loved decorating the kitchen doorway with them. However, it seems each year we get fewer.
And not to be obnoxious here as I love seeing the photos but really what do you do with those photo cards after Christmas?
Full confession, I’m bad about sending them. Always start out with the best of intentions….and then, time just slips away. Plus, the price of postage might do some serious budget damage if I send all the cards I want to send. I do usually make an effort, however, to send them to family members and people I know might be lonely this time of year or that really do enjoy getting the cards.
Will I send all the Christmas cards this year? It just depends on time, money, and my mood. If you send me a card will I be thrilled and honored you took the time to think of me? Absolutely!
Favorite Childhood Memories
While we’re speaking of cards, one of my memories is of my mom making gift tags from the front of old Christmas cards. And she’d save those tags each year as well. It was always fun seeing a special gift tag on a present. We sometimes thought certain tags were on better presents.
Not a childhood memory but a fun one for me is the first Christmas I spent with my husband’s family and their confusion at the tags on my gifts as they looked for the to/from stickers. Turns out not everyone made those gift tags from old cards. I use stickers now myself.
As the youngest child in the family (with an age gap), it was often just my parents and myself on Christmas Eve. And I remember my mom would always let me open one present of my choice that night (as we did the big family Christmas on the day) sometimes gently guiding me away from choosing my “big” present. I also remember many Christmas Eves where we’d travel over the big bridge (as a child it was big) to visit my grandparents over in Kansas. Waking up early and digging through my Christmas stocking. Big loud Christmas dinners with all my siblings on Christmas day.
And of course, I remember the Christmas morning where Santa brought the Donnie and Marie stage and dolls!
************
Thinking as I write on these topics that maybe I’ll ask my young adult children what memories they have of things. Might be fun to know. Are you an Elf on the Shelf participant? Christmas card sender? What are you favorite holiday memories?
Elf on the shelf wasn’t a thing with my kids either, just fun now for the nieces and nephews. And I’m with you on the Christmas card pictures – you can’t just throw them away (can you?), but what else to do with them? Grams taught me to use the Christmas card fronts to make next year’s gift tags also so I do miss that. I still get quite a few and hope the tradition continues for “real” cards. I LOVE the idea about asking the kids about their memories…
One year I did cave and simply throw away a bunch of the photo cards (from previous years) as they were piling up. Maybe we could make a book of them? I don’t know, the idea and thought is nice, it’s just the after the season what to do with them problem…
I do love getting the real cards as well.
Hello! Our elf Zip returned today! He is the same as your Buddy, and even though we are all grown, we still love him and enjoy his visits! He brought a cookie mix. I look forward to sharing this Christmas season with you, my friend!
I always love reading all your holiday posts and reminders to simply take in the season. Enjoy your cookie baking!