JOY the Elf 2017 (elf on the shelf)

Week 1- Nutcracker

Dec 4- Arrival from "Russia"
Our elf returned with her passport and suitcase.  She had been in Russia learning the Nutcracker ballet and wanted to introduce it to us!  The kids loved her costume.


Dec 5- Dancing Snowflakes
When we woke up this morning, we found beautiful, intricate snowflake ballerinas.  The kids tried paper snowflakes for themselves but found them a bit difficult for their skill level.


Dec 6- Nutcracker Music
Joy spent time in the Christmas Tree.  Easy.  We watched sections of the Nutcracker on Youtube and were surprised to hear many musical pieces that we recognized.


Dec 7- Nutcracker and Nuts
I thought I had a Nutcracker doll in the house, but I think I gave it away (minimizing/organizing kick).  I was wanting to show the kids the difference between the two types of nutcrackers.  Joy brought us a modern nutcracker and a bowl of nuts.  The kids had never cracked nuts before and really enjoyed the activity.  Next time, I need to give them less nuts.


Dec 8- Family Movie Night Frosty
For our first Christmas movie of the season, we watched the old Frosty movie.  Joy dressed as a snowman to kick off our special event.  The kids enjoyed their snowballs (donut holes), snowflakes (popcorn), snowman noses (carrots), and melted snowmen (water) snacks.


Dec. 9- Sickness
Joy had a head cold and spent the day in bed.  Another easy one (mommy win).


Dec. 10- Snowgies
When Elsa is sick, she produces Snowgies.  I thought it would be fun for Joy to create some as well.  The kids ate all the Snowgie as soon as they left their rooms that morning.  Oops!


Resources and Ideas
- preschool printable pack
- illustrating the Nutcracker printable book
- snowflake ballerinas (and the kids' version)
- Nutcracker Montessori preschool ideas 
- Montessori printable pack
- Nutcracker books for kids

Click on the Numbers for More Elf Fun!

Week 2- Gingerbread

Dec. 11- Gingerbread Elf
Joy started Gingerbread week with another cute costume (they're all hot glued).  The kids all learned to "read" her sign and enjoyed reciting the "Can't catch me" taunt as they chased each other around.


Dec. 12- Can't Catch Me
Today, Joy played the gingerbread girl game with the kids, but it took them like 3 seconds to find her.  Oh, well.


Dec. 13- Gingerbread Houses
The easy way to make gingerbread houses is not to use gingerbread!  Joy made a house of graham crackers for herself and one for each of the kids.  Then, later that day, we got to decorate them.


Dec. 14- Gingerbread Hunt
Joy brought the kids some gingerbread man cookies, but when they woke up, the cookies were gone!  In their place was a clue.  We followed the rhyming cards until we found the cookie.  Then, everyone got to eat the gingerbread men right up (printables linked in the resources section).


Dec. 15- Book
Joy brought the kids a book.  All week long, we watched/listened to gingerbread books read aloud (linked in the resources section), but this was their own book to keep.  Dragonfly made the hot cocoa cups for Joy after watching mom and daughter crafting videos on Youtube.


Dec. 16- Countdown
There was a bit over a week left until Christmas, so Joy made us a countdown chain.  This was a new concept to the kids, and they enjoyed seeing the length get shorter.

Dec. 17- Elf Food
Everyone knows that elves love sugar.  Joy's candy spaghetti was inspired by the Elf movie.  It doesn't look very appetizing.  I think it needs more color.  I also think it would be better with pretend food.


Resources and Ideas
- gingerbread man hunt
- Gingerbread Pirate Read Aloud
- Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers
- Ninjabread Man Read Aloud
- Gingerbread Mouse Read Aloud
- Gingerbread Cowboy Read Aloud
- Gingerbread Baby Read Aloud

Week 3- The Grinch

Dec. 18- Grinch Book
Somehow, my hot glue gun got misplaced so the Grinch week didn't go as planned.  Oh, well.  I got to build a new doll background, inspired by all the tutorials at My Froggy Stuff (she's amazing).  On Monday, Joy was reading a printable "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" book that I got from the MFS website.  The type is large enough that we were able to read it.

Dec. 19- Bubble Bath
I got the most compliments for this set up as any of the others.  It was also a perfect place to use up stale marshmallows (which the kids ate anyways).  The rubber duck is a Safari Ltd toy and the candles are just Dollar Store glue sticks with wire in them.

Dec. 20- Olaf
We got about 20-inches of Christmas snow where previously there was none, so Joy invited them to build a snowman.

Dec. 21- Candy Cane Seeds
The printable for the envelope came from the Ribbons and Glue blog.  Inside the envelope is three candy sprinkles, which the kids planted before bed.  It was so fun to hear their excited voices as they told each other to sleep so their candy canes would grow.

Dec. 22- Candy Canes
The magical seeds sprouted "Grinch" candy canes.

Dec. 23- Grinch Movie Night
Joy dyed our milk green for Grinch-mas!  We had a special family movie night with both versions (and did you know they're making another one for next year).  We made green treats and cookie for the movie, and got to unwrap our presents too.

Joy's House
She's a part of our family, and the kids enjoyed making things for her all season.

Dec. 24- Hidden Treats
Christmas Eve was on a Sunday, so it was a busy day of travel and church.  Joy had a quick candy cane hunt for the kids as her farewell.  By the time we arrived home from our Christmas trip, Joy was gone.

Resources and Printables
- Candy Cane Seeds Printable
- Elf-Sized Christmas Movie Printables
- Family Christmas Movie Date Night Ideas
- Don't Be a Grinch sign

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