The boys are now 6 1/2 years old (!?) and we are having an absolutely magical year. Their brains are exploding with knowledge, growth, and sassy-pants back-talk. Yesterday, I read an article that referred to "pre-tweens", an age that apparently starts at 8 years old. Are you kidding me?! Right now, I have these perfect little boys that I want to trap at this age. In one day, they will act tough and 'big kid' in one breath, and then ask to snuggle and watch Disney Junior in the next.
The world is coming alive for them. For years, at the holidays, family vacations, Sunday Football games, etc, we have forced the fun onto them. But now they are living it. They understand and remember the traditions. They have expectations and excitement. Now, when Larry & I want to watch Football games on Sundays (All. Day. Long.) they want to watch with us.
And this year, for months, they've been talking about Christmas. In fact, Baby B, with his special brain, loves to sequence the year for us. For most of the year, he just does 'and next?' for each holiday. Not Christmas. Nope, when we get to Christmas, he describes in great detail everything we do - decorations, shopping, parties, family, Smark, presents, Santa, and this year, we've added a little Baby Jesus.
Not going to lie, like most 6 year old boys, they're most focused on the presents under their own tree (and in the Christmas "socks" that Baby B lovingly arranges and rearranges every day). But they have been talking about the decorations and the traditions a TON. This matters to them. They remember what we've done in the past. And woven through our discussions have also been fascinating discussions about the world. About traditions, cultures and beliefs that are different than ours, about people who are not as fortunate as we have been, about how the world used to be before computers, iPhones and Minecraft.
But they are 6. And they have plenty of time to grow up and be anxious about the future, and cynical about the world. For now, they get to still experience some of the magic and mystery and fun. And so...every night after they fall asleep, our two Elves do their thing, return to the North Pole, blah blah blah, and return to our house before morning in a new spot in the house.
Our Elves, Smark and Mystery, sometimes bring little gifts (which are usually one of two things: 1. all those little things that accumulate in the 'surprise room' throughout the year or 2. a way I can sneak new Christmas decorations into the house without *anyone* getting mad at me).
Sometimes they engage in some shenanigans, and sometimes they just move to a new spot in the house. This year, possibly because of Pinterest and my desire to someday end up on a Pinterest Fails site, I've been somewhat organized, and slightly more elaborate, in my plans for the Elves. I even sketched out a calendar for the month. But I built in some 'freebie' nights (which kinda means just move the elves across the room, but really means "something so easy Larry can do it"). And along with talking to the boys about cultures, the world etc, we have added some new elements to the visits. If there are shenanigans (of the elfin or children variety), there are consequences. The Elves are also encouraging the boys to do good deeds in our community. And be kind to others. And what we believe to be the true meaning of Christmas. And all that stuff.
And I've been sharing the antics of Smark & Mystery because I have a lot of friends who are in the midst of their life with their Elf, or have littler ones and are contemplating jumping into the abyss (jump!), and we all like seeing what all the elves of the world are up to (in fact, my boys heard about one elf who was flying on an airplane like a WWII bomber, and I caught Baby A telling Smark all about it!). I hope a few people see our pictures and think "cool!" or "no way!" or "I can do that!" And maybe there will even be a few adults-only posts like last year...
But I know that there are those out there who aren't into the Elf, which I can totally respect. Just like I'm not into ranting about politics and other major divisive issues (other than football - Go Pack, Go!). For those of you not into the Elf, don't do it. Skip over my photos and those of your other friends. Don't give in to the pressure. Because if it's not magical to you, it certainly won't be to your kids.
In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy our Elf on the Shelf for as long as my boys stay little (and I hope that is a very long time), and maybe even longer. I hope that the magic of Christmas, and of Smark and Mystery remain with them for many years. Each year, when we decorate our tree and I pull out the big box of wooden ornaments I painted with my Papa as a little girl, I tell the boys all about the many magical days I spent in Papa's basement listening to him tell me stories, paint the ornaments and sneak me gumdrops. I hope that one day, my boys tell their kids the story of how each year, our magical elves visited our home, hung underpants on our tree, delivered Christmas Pajamas, and added special memories to our holidays.
Fa La La, People. Just Love.
The world is coming alive for them. For years, at the holidays, family vacations, Sunday Football games, etc, we have forced the fun onto them. But now they are living it. They understand and remember the traditions. They have expectations and excitement. Now, when Larry & I want to watch Football games on Sundays (All. Day. Long.) they want to watch with us.
And this year, for months, they've been talking about Christmas. In fact, Baby B, with his special brain, loves to sequence the year for us. For most of the year, he just does 'and next?' for each holiday. Not Christmas. Nope, when we get to Christmas, he describes in great detail everything we do - decorations, shopping, parties, family, Smark, presents, Santa, and this year, we've added a little Baby Jesus.
Not going to lie, like most 6 year old boys, they're most focused on the presents under their own tree (and in the Christmas "socks" that Baby B lovingly arranges and rearranges every day). But they have been talking about the decorations and the traditions a TON. This matters to them. They remember what we've done in the past. And woven through our discussions have also been fascinating discussions about the world. About traditions, cultures and beliefs that are different than ours, about people who are not as fortunate as we have been, about how the world used to be before computers, iPhones and Minecraft.
But they are 6. And they have plenty of time to grow up and be anxious about the future, and cynical about the world. For now, they get to still experience some of the magic and mystery and fun. And so...every night after they fall asleep, our two Elves do their thing, return to the North Pole, blah blah blah, and return to our house before morning in a new spot in the house.
Our Elves, Smark and Mystery, sometimes bring little gifts (which are usually one of two things: 1. all those little things that accumulate in the 'surprise room' throughout the year or 2. a way I can sneak new Christmas decorations into the house without *anyone* getting mad at me).
Sometimes they engage in some shenanigans, and sometimes they just move to a new spot in the house. This year, possibly because of Pinterest and my desire to someday end up on a Pinterest Fails site, I've been somewhat organized, and slightly more elaborate, in my plans for the Elves. I even sketched out a calendar for the month. But I built in some 'freebie' nights (which kinda means just move the elves across the room, but really means "something so easy Larry can do it"). And along with talking to the boys about cultures, the world etc, we have added some new elements to the visits. If there are shenanigans (of the elfin or children variety), there are consequences. The Elves are also encouraging the boys to do good deeds in our community. And be kind to others. And what we believe to be the true meaning of Christmas. And all that stuff.
And I've been sharing the antics of Smark & Mystery because I have a lot of friends who are in the midst of their life with their Elf, or have littler ones and are contemplating jumping into the abyss (jump!), and we all like seeing what all the elves of the world are up to (in fact, my boys heard about one elf who was flying on an airplane like a WWII bomber, and I caught Baby A telling Smark all about it!). I hope a few people see our pictures and think "cool!" or "no way!" or "I can do that!" And maybe there will even be a few adults-only posts like last year...
But I know that there are those out there who aren't into the Elf, which I can totally respect. Just like I'm not into ranting about politics and other major divisive issues (other than football - Go Pack, Go!). For those of you not into the Elf, don't do it. Skip over my photos and those of your other friends. Don't give in to the pressure. Because if it's not magical to you, it certainly won't be to your kids.
In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy our Elf on the Shelf for as long as my boys stay little (and I hope that is a very long time), and maybe even longer. I hope that the magic of Christmas, and of Smark and Mystery remain with them for many years. Each year, when we decorate our tree and I pull out the big box of wooden ornaments I painted with my Papa as a little girl, I tell the boys all about the many magical days I spent in Papa's basement listening to him tell me stories, paint the ornaments and sneak me gumdrops. I hope that one day, my boys tell their kids the story of how each year, our magical elves visited our home, hung underpants on our tree, delivered Christmas Pajamas, and added special memories to our holidays.
Fa La La, People. Just Love.
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