Adopt-an-Elf Holiday Idea

December 11, 2007

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Update:  Designmom has posted about a similar concept called Elf on a Shelf. 

Dee, a friend and local mom, has started a new holiday tradition based on www.elf-magic.com where you can “adopt” an elf from the North Pole. 

First, she had her second grader write a letter to Santa asking to adopt an elf and promising to take care of it.    

Then, to prepare for the elf’s arrival, she purchased some Insta-Snow at the Learning Oasis (next to Tuesday Morning & Hobby Lobby in Fayetteville). You can learn about Insta-Snow at www.beamazing.com (just search for ”snow”).   She added clear glitter to the snow to make it appear magical and sparkle (the snow still grows when you add water, even with the glitter). 

Dee packaged an elf she had purchased in a box addressed to her son from the North Pole.  I will let Dee tell you the other creative things she has done:

Here is how our elf arrived:  when we checked out to purchase our real Christmas tree, the lady taking our money called out my son’s first name.  Then she went to her trailer and retrieved a package that came straight from the North Pole addressed to my son.  He had a pretty good idea that it was the elf that he had written Santa about asking if he could adopt the elf until Christmas and promising he would take care of it and clean up after it — I had heard they can be pretty mischievous. 

So far, the elf has come to life after we’re all asleep and made some pretty big messes.  The first night, he climbed in the Christmas tree where we found him the next morning and then he wrote on the boy’s bathroom mirror with toothpaste and last night he built a mountain out of potatoes on the kitchen
floor!  
   
The elf had an envelope with him telling us his name and providing Magic North Pole snow.  The envelope had directions telling us how to mix it, but before we could get it mixed up (I made the kids wait until bedtime), all the letters including the instructions on the envelope magically disappeared!  And the magic snow that we had spilled out while opening the elf package magically doubled in size.
   
I have heard the elves arrive in different forms, via ups, the mail or just
appearing on kitchen counters everywhere so long as you leave out crackers and water to attract them.  Our son leaves notes for the elf at night and so far, the elf has written answers to the questions.  We have learned our elf is 247 years old, his favorite sport is snow boarding, and he has been adopted by many kids around the world.  He’s still young for North Pole standards, so he’ll probably be allowed to return to our home every year until the kids grow too old to have an elf.

Do you have any creative holiday traditions in your family?  If so, add them to the comments or email me at terri@lifepluskids.com

Posted by Terri Chadick | Filed Under Blog, General Parenting Items 

Comments

3 Responses to “Adopt-an-Elf Holiday Idea”

  1. ClaireElaine on December 12th, 2007 3:37 pm

    This is an adorable idea!! I love it!

  2. christine on December 18th, 2007 9:51 pm

    This is sooo cute! When we were kids, my mom always did leprechan footprints with her hand and green paint for St. Patricks day, but THIS is so much more elaborate and fun! Thanks for sharing!

  3. jonathan gagnon on November 9th, 2008 2:00 pm

    i have one and i beleive

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