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Reinventing Family Holiday Traditions as Kids Grow

December 15, 2017 by Cassie 22 Comments

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Today I am joining a few fabulous home and lifestyle bloggers in stepping away from the home decor to talk a little about some of the traditions that are special to our families this time of year. Thanks so much to Laura at Duke Manor Farm for inviting us to share a little deeper into our home lives this season.  You can find the full list of participants at the bottom of this post.  Our family has many traditions, like matching Christmas PJs, baking cookies and making peanut butter balls together, taking our annual Christmas tree farm trip, and so many more; those are just some of my favorites. We’ve also been one of the families that has an infamous elf on the shelf, and I’ve had a blast creating scenes with our elf, Lolly, in the past. (You can find all of my past elf ideas here, here, and here). This year, however, things are a bit different.  My kids are growing up with Emmy going on 11, and Sawyer being a 12 year old 7th grader.  The time was coming for them to know the truth about Christmas… I was reluctant, but I knew it was the right time.  Even though I wanted them to understand how Christmas happens and how Santa really gets all of those presents under all of those trees to all of those children all over the world, I didn’t want them to lose the magic and spirit of the holidays and decided that rather than ditch some of those “make believe” traditions, we’d reinvent them to involve the kids.  After all, they have a little brother coming soon, and our house will once again be abuzz with the magic of the season in a few years when he is old enough to understand.  As for our elf, I wasn’t ready to ditch him either…. he’s been a part of our Christmas season for something like 5 years already!  When Thanksgiving rolled around, I asked the kids what they thought about each of us taking turns hiding the elf.  They absolutely loved that idea, and a new tradition was created from an old one!  And as mom, I am so happy that we are reinventing family holiday traditions instead of losing them because I know that we’ll be creating so many more laughable memories along the way… we already have! (Note- this post contains iPhone photos that haven’t been edited or modified in the least… that’s not what this post is about!)

Elf on the Shelf Ideas- playing Cards

Gnome & Elf playing cards- staged by me

This new way to use the elf on the shelf in our house has had so many benefits already!  First of all, I don’t have to come up with all of the ideas and hiding spots like I have in the past.  However, the absolute best part is seeing the humorous ideas my family has come up with!

My favorite so far wasn’t necessarily the most creative, but was absolutely hysterical, especially knowing that Emmy set it up.  She put Lolly in Sawyer’s stocking with a naughty tag around his neck!  Ha! While I had a good laugh, Sawyer was slightly irritated…. siblings!

Elf in Stocking with naughty tag

Sawyer set Lolly up as a spy in our dining room, using electrical tape to stick him to our chandelier. (Note the open amazon box on the table… as I mentioned, unstaged and unedited!)

Elf as spy

One morning I came downstairs to this note that Sawyer left on the kitchen island…

Elf note

His elf “to do” list was a hint as to where he put the elf, in a jar of our favorite peppermints.

Elf in candy jar

Most surprising of all is the fact that my husband has come up with some clever ideas.  In the past, if I’ve asked for Chris’ help, he’s moved the elf but hasn’t attempted to create a funny little story with it.  Now that the kids know he’s the one moving it sometimes, he is expressing his humor a bit more.  The first night it was his turn, he set up a little rodeo on our dining room table.  The best part is that I didn’t even know we had these farm animal toys!

Elf rodeo

This week I was in the process of washing sheets and came into Emmy’s room to find Lolly reading a book to the dolls… always trying to impress the ladies.  Lolly & Chris. πŸ˜‰

Elf reading story to dolls

We’ve still got a little less than two weeks to create more elf shenanigans and I am really looking forward to seeing what the kids and Chris come up with.  Mostly, I am thrilled that we aren’t losing this fun tradition, just twisting it to fit our family’s changing needs.  If anything, the elf on the shelf has actually become even more fun than it previously was.  I know that when my kids soon have a toddler brother running around, they are going to have so much fun helping me to create the magic of Christmas for him.

Now check out these other blogs to see what traditions are special to their families as well!

It All Started With Paint     Our Southern Home     Confessions of a Serial DIY’er 

  In My Own Style                   Kelly Elko                      Town and Country Living     Artsy Chicks Rule

  Duke Manor Farm                Cassie Bustamante                 Savvy Southern Style

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Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    December 15, 2017 at 8:15 am

    I love the elf hanging upside down from the Chandelier. So cute. When out shopping this week, I can’t remember where I saw them, but I saw that you can buy different outfits for the elf now to change up his look. Just like Barbie has. πŸ™‚ I imagine he will have a whole wardrobe soon.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:27 am

      yes! we have an aviator outfit for ours, and one year i dressed him in a metrosexual ken outfit!

      Reply
  2. Linda Braden says

    December 15, 2017 at 10:11 am

    Love this new tradition! And, yes, my traditions have evolved too as the kids have grown.

    Oh, and I would not trust my husband with elf duties. I fear it would be a NSFW scene (if his antics with Barbie’s and Ken is any indication). πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:27 am

      OMG i am dying!!! haha! and yeah, our elf did some subtly adult like humorous things over the years, but it was always over the kids heads so that i could just make my husband laugh!

      Reply
  3. Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says

    December 15, 2017 at 10:38 am

    Oh my gosh, those are so funny!! I love it! We never did the elf on the shelf as it wasn’t really a thing when my kids were little (or if it was, I didn’t know about it! πŸ˜‰ ) Would have been so much fun!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:26 am

      it really is so much fun! i know some parents despise it, but i always have enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. Kelly Elko says

    December 15, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    Lolly is swinging from the chandelier – what a party animal! Love that everyone moves Lolly around too. Maybe when it’s time to go back to the North Pole, he (or she?) can swing by for Hot Tamale and they can paint the town read. (P.S. my post is iPhone photos too)!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:26 am

      lolly needs a sia wig….

      Reply
  5. Kim says

    December 15, 2017 at 12:25 pm

    We have never used the elf, but my daughter does at her house. What a fun tradition and your kids are really showing their creativity.
    Merry Christmas, Cassie!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:25 am

      it really is fun to see what my kids come up with! merry christmas!

      Reply
  6. [email protected] of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says

    December 15, 2017 at 11:03 pm

    I loved seeing what your family did with Lolly and it is probably more fun now than it ever was when it was just you and your husband moving it around! Fun share…Merry Christmas! XO

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:24 am

      oh it truly is! love seeing what they come up with!

      Reply
  7. [email protected] says

    December 16, 2017 at 9:23 pm

    Ha–love that the kids are sharing elf duty now! And they have great ideas πŸ™‚ “go to the bathroom” is cracking me up because apparently I, too, am a 12 year old boy πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:22 am

      it is so nice having them help with it, and i love that your humor is in line with mine. πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  8. laura janning says

    December 17, 2017 at 7:34 am

    cassie- i love that everyone in the family is sharing in on your holiday tradition. perhaps next year when it’s “that time” i will do the same thing. we have 4 little magical creatures that we hide around here, it’s like a part time job! merry christmas.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:21 am

      it really is- i can’t imagine having to move 4!!!

      Reply
  9. [email protected] says

    December 18, 2017 at 7:12 am

    Love that your hubby comes up with stuff now too. Jarrid never wants to do it and I have to complain about it. So many great ideas by everyone.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 18, 2017 at 11:21 am

      the best part has been seeing what everyone comes up with!

      Reply
  10. Christy @ Our Southern Home says

    December 18, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Such sweet memories! I love your Elf on the Shelf ideas especially your husband’s steer roping! Congrats on the upcoming little one. What an exciting time! Merry Christmas and thanks for opening your heart and home to us! XO

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 22, 2017 at 8:00 am

      thank you so much, christy! merry christmas to you and yours!

      Reply
  11. Lisa says

    December 18, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    Cassie this is such a fun take on the Elf as your kids get older. They are going to have so much fun doing this for their baby brother!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      December 22, 2017 at 7:59 am

      they are so looking forward to playing santa to their brother! i can’t wait to see it!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I'm a simple girl with a love for design and DIY, and making a beautiful home on a budget. I thrive on vintage finds, coffee, sarcasm and puns. More than anything, I love my family and want to create a cozy personal space where we can create memories that will last our lifetime. Life is what you make it, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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