Our Elf On The Shelf... Meet Ruxin

Ever since our Elf Ruxin came to our family, Lucy has been over joyed. She absolutely loves him and has been waking us up early every morning to find her new friend... which we, do not love. But its hard not to get excited too when we see her face light up. Here is what our elf has been up to :)

Dinner Manners For Kids

Trying to teach kids respect and manners can be a hard and long road for us parents. It isn't a simple rule or just a few tips... there are so many situations/rules/social settings and it can get very confusing for children... and well, us parents as well. But at least a fun way to help at the dinner table is a friend called Little Piggie.

Little Piggy is a dinner time companion that comes out every time someone burps, reaches across the table, doesn't say please and such. Who ever is left with the piggy when dinner is over has to clear table... which is a win for us parents.

Elf on the Shelf

Have you been hearing a lot about Elf on the Shelf this holiday season? No? Well let me enlighten you. Elf on the Shelf was a tradition that started with one family. When the children asked their parents, "How does Santa know when we are naughty or nice" their parents informed that each family has an elf that watches over them during the holiday seasons and every night it flies back to the North Pole and reports to Santa. Then the elf flies back home and hides some place new to watch some more.

It is a really cute story and amazing how one family's tradition has turned into such a world wide movement. People get really into and find the most creative ways to hide/pose their little elf. Some elves are simply hiders, while others play funny little pranks... some elves ever made naughty little choices and get into the strangest things.

You can buy Elf on the Shelf from Target for about $29. It comes in a really nice box set... it provides an elf (different colored elves and features too, so check the box to see what kind of elf you want), a book explaining the story of the elf, and it all comes in a nice case that helps you keep the book and elf safe while in storage during the year.

The way we introduces Lucy and Calvin to the elf was we places the book under the Christmas tree. When we woke up Curtis and I started complaining about hearing noises last night that kept waking us up. After a little bit we all noticed the book under the tree. After guessing discussing how it got there we decided to sit down and read the book. The book explains what the elf does, how his magic works, when he leaves, and his job. After the book Lucy looked up and saw the elf sitting in our Christmas tree.

She was very confused and a little skeptical. She started asking questions and looking through the book trying to get some questions answered; leave it to our child to question EVERYTHING :) . Finally after a few silent moments she looks up from the book and stares at the elf and whispers, "This must be real". Curtis and I about died.

Lucy keeps telling me to talk to the elf and tell him "I love him" and she asked me to tell him what she wants for Christmas. It is already pretty cute and we are loving it already. I just excited for how we are going to hide him tomorrow.

The book even comes with a page to write when you started this Christmas tradition and the name of your elf (because the book says you need to name your own family's elf). You can even go online and register your elf on the official website and see other families elf.

So if you are looking for a fun family tradition to add to your holiday season, check out, Elf on the Shelf.

Here are some of the cute elf mischief I've seen and here is a link to some wonderful Elf ideas.

Winter Activities - Colored Ice Blocks

Finding ways to play outside in the winter can be tough... especially if you have a little ones that need to stay close. Which is why I am LOVIN' these; homemade ice blocks

Collect some of yogurt cups, the Yoplait cups aren't good cause they have a inward edge. The off brand open cups are the best... plus cheaper :) You can wash the cups in the dishwasher (on the top rack) without them melting. Now just fill them with colored water and let the cold nature do the rest.

We are doing other containers too, old butter tubs, sour cream tubs, and old milk cartons that are cut down work nicely too. You can even make rainbow bricks if you want too and have the time.

How To Make An Infinity Scarf

I have been wanting an infinity scarf sooooo long for myself and have probably bookmarked a dozen. I so need to make me one, but I thought first it would be cute to make my sweet Lucy one, and she does look pretty cute :) I made this one from an old shirt that I just don't wear any more.

First get a shirt that you don't wear anymore, I wanted to find some with a pattern or that had a good textured knit look.

Cute where you can get the biggest and longest continuing strip, cause the bigger and longer the strip.. the fluffy/more gathered your scarf will turn out.

Cute your fabric down one seam so it wont be attached, but in a flat strip like so.

Now just fold it hot dog style with the pattern facing inward and sew. Once that was done you can turn the fabric facing outward and sew the ends together. Now you should have a completed infinity scarf!

If you find your strip isn't long enough, feel free to get areas of fabric from other parts of the shirt, cause this scarf is bunchy so you wont really be able to see all the seams/mistakes :) Gatta love that :)

Time Out Mat

Ahhh the lovely sounds of tantrums and whiny... what parent doesn't love to hear their child scream "Nooooo". But, surprisingly, there are a few of us parents who don't enjoy the blubbering sobs and fits that some parents do... and for us there is a magical, wonderful place called Time Out.
Time out can be a hard thing to get your child to agree to though.... shocker, I know.... who would have though that getting your child to sit quietly in one spot for a few minuets would be hard? :) But if you are starting with time outs or have a child that fights the time outs or you just love time out and want a better way to have them; I would suggest making your self a time out mat.

I got the idea from Lucy's development specialist a while ago (Lucy was behind when she was a year and our state provided a personal therapist to come over and make sure she was on track and that it wasn't something more serious) But she suggested that when we use time outs, that there be a designated area... that kids will be able to relate to time out betters and will then know their boundaries and the seriousness of the time out.

Well, I thought it was a little odd (and hippie-ish), but sure enough, it worked... like a charm. I made a Time Out Mat and soon as we started using it Lucy would not get off the mat and knew she had to stay there and would stay quiet.

All you need for a Time Out Mat is...

2 squares of fabric (large enough for a child to sit on)
4 buttons
Thin batting

You are going to want cut out 2 squares of fabric, mine were about 21 1/2 by 18 inches. Turn the 2 squares of fabric to face each other (pattern side together) and sew 3 of the sides together (you will want to leave 1 side open so you can slide the batting in). Then remeasure the size of your square because you will have lost a little length with sewing the edges... measure how big the squares are now and cut your batting to almost the same measurements. Turn the fabric squares right-side out and slide in your batting through the opening. Now close up that last side, either by hand or by machine.

You now should have one square mat with batting inside. Now you will need to secure the batting in place with the fabric. Take the whole mat and sew a line, about an inch or 2 inches from all 4 edges. This will keep everything nice and in place.


Now for the final step... sew your buttons on. The buttons are just decorative, so sew them on if you wish or find something else that is more to your liking. And now you should have one portable Time Out Mat.

These are really great. Since they are soft and small you can easily throw them in your diaper bag and take them with you places. We take ours to friends' houses and on trips, this has truely been a life saver.