Week of December 2, 2013: Our Elf Comes to Visit

Okay so I love the whole "Elf on the Shelf" concept but, I do not like the creepy little elf.  Seriously...creepy!  So I went on a hunt for a cuter, less frightening version and found Elf Magic.  These are the cutest little elves that visit children just around Christmas and then go home with Santa on Christmas Eve.  I love these because they come in so many different styles and you can buy accessories and clothes to go with them.  Katie wasn't really sure what to think when her elf first arrived but, soon she got the hang of it and has enjoyed Snowy all week.  Snowy's dog Snowball also came to visit and Katie has been even more in love with him!

 

Katie sprinkling Snowy with snow from the North Pole before she goes to bed.  This is so Snowy can wake up and bring special surprises for Katie each morning.

The first thing that Snowy brought was 24 books...one to read each night until Christmas.  Katie has had so much fun opening a present each night.

Evan came over for some candy cane activities.  The kids made some marble painted candy canes, strung red and white beads on a pipe cleaner and did some candy cane science with baking soda and vinegar.

We went outside for one last time before the snow hit.  Audrey got to swing in the swing for the first time and loved it.  Katie loved pushing little sister, too.

Later in the week Snowy brought some candy cane playdough and a candy cane seed so Katie could grow her own candy cane.

We made a collage candy cane and oh my gosh was I amazed at this child's fine motor skills!  She was using her scissors to cut tiny sequins in half!

Katie used some pipe cleaners and beads to make Snowy a necklace.  She loves her little elf.

Audrey and I stayed inside while Daddy and Katie froze in the snow.

Katie's candy cane grew and she was able to pick it and eat it...yummy!

What's the best thing to drink after playing in the snow?  Hot chocolate!  This was Katie's first hot chocolate experience and I daresay she was impressed.

 

Our last project of the week was snow dough...another success.  Katie spent over an hour molding and shaping snowmen with this fun dough. 

We've had a busy two weeks as the holiday season has started.  We've been spending time with family and doing lots of fun activities to keep us busy.

 



Katie used brown playdough and feathers to create turkeys.

 I don't know where she got the idea but, she wanted to use the feather like a quill.  We got some paint out and she wrote letters. 

We made a turkey out of a toilet paper roll and Katie put feathers through the holes in the roll.

We had a playdate with Evan where we learned about turkeys.  Audrey is able to participate more and more in these playdates.

There's been lots of coloring.

Reading is a favorite activity for all of us. 

Katie made turkeys using pinecones and tissue paper.

Mmmmm pancakes.

We were able to get a fun little toy called a hex bug for only $5 and Daddy and his girls had fun putting it together.

Katie made handprint turkeys for everyone for Thanksgiving.

Katie saw a video on how to make paper twirlers and experiment with them.  So we made a twirler of our own and had lots of fun with it all day (until Audrey ate it lol).

Audrey enjoying her sweet potatoes.

We decorated the tree for Christmas.  Katie got her own tree to decorate and undecorated as much as she wants.

Katie wrote a letter to Santa and we sent it in the mail.  (She wants Ariel toys and a horse).

Our elf Laycee arrived and although Katie doesn't really understand the concept she's still having fun playing with her elf.  Maybe as the week progresses she'll start to understand.

We made a jingle bell sensory tub for the month of December.  It has lots of jingle bells and containers.