Hello to anyone who feels like reading blogs today!
It’s Christmas Eve, and I find myself FINALLY with a Christmas Tree in the basement. (at least 15 hours of de-lighting work and re-lighting work….ARGH. My poor index finger. I hope it forgives me one day. Oh, and should you see me in person….no I did not get in a brawl with a kitty cat. Those scratched up arms are all credit of a battle with a Christmas tree!)
But….I have to say I’m EXTREMELY proud of how it turned out. Especially considering that I only spent a total of $40 on the ornaments…and did it all with whatever we could find at the stores last minute. (PS….what the heck is up with all the stores being COMPLETELY cleaned out this year? Is it just me? I couldn’t find a strand of lights to save my life!)
Oh…and another shout-out has to go to the tips I got from Emilie on THIS CHRISTMAS TREE PHOTO TIPS post! I set up my little camera, and got a GREAT shot with glowing lights. I can’t even count how many times I’ve tried to get that to work with NO success! Thanks so much Emilie! I can’t wait to take some awesome ones tomorrow with the kids in their Christmas Sunday clothes!
Last but not least, Christmas Eve brings lots of last minute things at our house. I gotta go in and do some baking. Get the Christmas breakfast cassarole ready to bake. Make some orange rolls. Get the wassail in the crock-pot.
But the worst part about Christmas Eve is watching my cute kids say goodbye to their beloved Elf-on-the-Shelf, Roy.
Don’t get me wrong, I ADORE ELF ON THE SHELF! One of the best traditions of all time!
But the kids get SOOOOOO stinkin’ attached to him. It’s heart breaking!
Here’s a couple tips for saying goodbye:
- We have contacted the “Elf Hotline” (ummmm….only parents have this phone number. It can be contacted for emergency questions regarding the Elf. Like….what if he didn’t move? —oopsie!— Or, what if someone completely accidently touched him?) They have given special permission for the kids to pick him up on Christmas Eve and give hugs and say goodbye. It is a BLESSING. But be prepared, it frequently comes with tears.
- Santa leaves a little gift for our kids under the tree:
It’s a picture of him with our elf, Roy. He leaves a new photo every year. And it’s right in front of our very own Christmas tree. So the kids KNOW Roy went home safely, and he’ll be back next year.
The photo has a special frame, and stays in our son’s room all year.
Yes. They really are THAT attached to him.
My advice, to you, if Santa would like to do one at your house….
Is to find a great picture of Santa. Get a photo editing software.
- I have Photoshop…but Elements or something similar would work) And layer away!
- I do a lot of changing of lighting and contrast to make it look as best as possible.
- The elf photo, I took and cut out with Photoshop as well.
You can send it over to somewhere like Costco or Walmart to be printed out as a photo, or just print it at home with photo paper.
Hope you have an AMAZING Christmas weekend. I’ll be taking a few days off. But I will see you back here next week for an
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUSLY FANTASTIC
LCMF NEW YEAR’S SERIES
You’re gonna love it!!! I promise!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much for getting back to me! My husband is going to work on the Santa picture today. We are going to try and use one of the Santa pictures we have seen for the past 4 years. The same Santa every year! Merry Christmas!
My 9 year old just said “bye” to her elf and was crying in her room. I feel so bad. So I set up an email for him. Great idea about the framed picture… I will do that.
Merry Christmas to you.
Can’t wait for the “One Word Goal”! I’m still thinking on mine and have a few ideas….
“Intentional” – Beginning with the end in sight.
“Back to Good” -Okay, that’s more than 1 word. Over the last year and a half I’ve lost sight of my priorities, and that’s where I’d like to get them…
This was our first year with the Elf on the Shelf and it was a tragic good-bye here too. I guess I didn’t think about that one ahead of time. I was too busy counting down the days till he left and I didn’t have to remember to move him everyday! LOL! Thanks for the tips. They’ll go to good use next year.
How cool! I bet the elf fans over at http://www.ShelfTheElf.com would love to hear about this picture. You should post it!
Hey there! Thank you so much for this! I added a link to your page on mine for an Elf on the Shelf idea compilation that I made. Here is the link: http://kindacrunchymamalife.blogspot.com/2012/11/elf-on-shelf.html I hope that’s ok?! Thanks again so much!
Not a problem at all. Thanks for giving the credit for the idea!
Thanks for such a lovely idea! Going to do this right now.
Merry Christmas,
Cate