With this week being the start of December (!), the kids are SUPER anxious to get Pip the elf out of his box. If you haven't been around long, Pip the elf was a gift from Amy (who made one for her son, too). Every day in December until Christmas they hide and have a fun treat or activity for the kids. It's like Elf on a Shelf (which is crazy popular this year it seems) except I really like the activity part of using Pip.
So yeah, every day he hides, and has a teeny tiny note. The kids run around trying to find him (this is usually after lunch) and surprise me constantly with what bad 'finders' they are.
Amy and I documented our first two advents with our elves on their own blog. It got to be a little much keeping up with it, but it was fun to go back today and remember (and get a ton of ideas). Here's my list I'll be referring to this year:
Pick out a tree
Decorate the tree
New ornaments
Christmas printable (maze/coloring page, etc)
Set up the nativity
Go downtown to see the lights
Dinner by candlelight
Watch a favorite Christmas movie together
Dance party!
Bowling
Board or card game (new or otherwise)
Gingerbread house
Make cookies
Moon sand
Make a banner to welcome Santa
Deliver gifts to neighbors
Paper snowflakes
Go find some 'reindeer' (or elk...)
S'mores
Christmas thumbprint pictures
Letters to Santa
Christmas craft
Go see the nutcracker
Lucia
Build a blanket fort
Sledding
Go out to the movies
Play in the snow
Out to dinner
Pomanders
Spruce up the nature table
Park (on a warmish/dry day)
New Christmas music (I'm thinking maybe the Phineas & Ferb one?)
Okay, that will help! There are lots of other places to get good advent activity ideas, too - my favorite is Grace's. And you can head on over to Pip & Ollie's site, too - it's pretty cute.
Pip has been a really nice tradition for our family. He's helped us make some major memories!
