Non-Candy Easter Egg Fillers

If you're anything like me I get a little overwhelmed with the amount of candy my children receive on holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations. When my pantry starts to be overtaken by candy I beg for some alternatives. Easter is coming up quickly and there are already a couple of Easter egg hunts planned in our community. I decided to make a list of some of my favorite Easter egg filler ideas. I am sharing this list and including some pictures just for you! Hopefully, others will consider filling their eggs with other fun stuff besides candy...

1.     Plastic army men

2.     Fake bugs

3.     Rings

4.     Legos or Lego mini-figures

5.     Stretchy or plastic animals, dinosaurs, etc.

6.     Erasers

7.     Spinning top

8.     Mini nail polish

9.     Mini Bubbles

10.  Rainbow Loom (type) Rubber bands

11.  Play money or plastic coins

12.  Key chain

13.  Magnetic letters or other cute magnets

14. Bouncy Balls

15.  Cross, Rosary, or other religious items

16.  Stickers (Seasonal and character)

17.  Mini Tattoos

18.  Stretchy/sticky hand

19.  Stamps

20.  Crocs "jibbitz" shoe charms

21.  Bunny, chick, or other Easter trinket/toy

22.  Hair ties, mini-bows, or hair clips

23.  Foam Stickers

24.  Silly Putty or play-doh

25.  Small lipgloss

26.  Bracelets

27.  Balloon

28.  Necklace

29.  Dollar bill or coins

30.  Earrings

31.  Small figurine

32.  Disney trading pins or other attachable pin

33.  Whistle

34.  Mini car

35.  Barbie accessories or clothes

36. Mini wind-up toy

*Don't forget to check the party aisles and the Dollar Tree for small toys and trinkets. Party favors are cheap, small, and fun!

 Maybe this list of Easter egg fillers will help you when you are staring at a pile of empty Easter eggs. I know I will be referring back to it when I am preparing for our Easter egg hunts and baskets!

Adventures of Elf on the Shelf (The Last Week)

It is a very sad day in this house for today marks the last official day of our visit from Elfie Scout! Well, the kids were sad, but then they also realized this meant it was Christmas Eve. My son talked about the presents that they would get tomorrow. He also remembered that tonight would be the Christmas pageant at our church. All three of my kids will be participating. My seven-year old will be the "light child" who lights the room in the beginning of the pageant. She then hands the light over to the Angel Gabriel. (A very important part!) My son will be a Shepard. He looks so cute in his costume by the way. He was very happy with this role because this meant he would be taking care of my three-year old daughter. She is an adorable sheep :)

Anyway, today it is good-bye to Elfie. He will be back next year I am sure! Here is what he was up to in our final week with him.

Elfie on top of a tree of photo albums.

He found the Christmas pictures in one of the albums.

Elfie and his army vs. the enemy army.

Elfie hiding on the rocking chair and surrounded by lovies and stuffed animals.

Elfie on his last day with us. He built a "Bye" sign with legos.

Good-bye, Elfie Scout! We will see you in 2014!

Adventures of Elf on the Shelf (Week 3)

 This is our last full week with our Elf on the Shelf. It has been eventful, and fun! As I said before this is our first year with Elfie, and I have found that his time with us has really flown by!

 



Sunday was the day I hosted my annual Cookie Exchange Party. My daughter was convinced that Elfie Scout would do something with cookies on this day. We woke up that morning to find that he had left each child a container of "elf-sized" chocolate chip/mini M&M cookies. He had taken a bite of his own cookie and was sitting on the TV stand with a "Will Work For Cookies" sign.

 

 

On Monday, he made it to mommy's Christmas village. He was sitting on top of one of the houses and holding onto the chimney.

 

On Tuesday, he borrowed a bike from the dollhouse and rode through some of my son's mini construction cones. Apparently, he took a bad fall. We found him on that morning with a bandage on his arm and two tiny Band-Aids. Poor Elfie!

 

On Wednesday, he took the time to recall the "reason for the season." He found his way to my dresser and knelt before Baby Jesus.

 

 

 

On Thursday, he was quite naughty. He got into my flour in the kitchen. We found him that morning lying on his back where he had made "snow angels" in the flour. The counter and Elfie were a floured mess!

 

 

 

On Friday, he was found in the domino's tin can. He set up the dominos in a swirl or an "e" as my daughter pointed out.

 

 

Oh, how this elf has kept my kids on their toes! Just a few more days of his wild and silly ways!

 

 

 

 

The Adventures of Elf on the Shelf (Week 1)

We have survived the first week of having our new guest, Elfie Scout, in our home. The kids have followed the number one rule of "no touching," and he has made it to and from the North Pole each night. Thank goodness he has not forgotten. ;)

I have been documenting the places he has been showing up, and I will continue to do so until Christmas Eve. He has not done anything too crazy yet, but only time will tell. I showed you his arrival last Friday, and these are the rest of the places we have found him.

 

Elfie on our mantel. Maybe Santa doesn't let him ride the reindeer back home.

 

 

Elfie on our chandelier. (Not my best picture, but you get the idea.)

 

Elfie was found roasting marshmallows by the fireplace on this morning. (He had stuck a mini marshmallow, just his size, onto a stick from outside.) He even left each kid a bag of mini marshmallows! They loved that!

 

Elfie was found on our Christmas tree. His arms were hooked on our gold ribbon, and he used the ribbon to climb up the tree.



 

 

 

Elfie left a clue on the refrigerator. He had spelled out "Brrr" with magnetic letters.

 

 

The kids opened up the fridge to find Elfie wrapped up in a scarf!

 

Elf found my son's blanket and pillow that I had made for his stuffed animal. He tucked himself right in and took a nap on my son's little couch. He was also wearing an eye mask for sleeping. (He used felt and yarn to make his mask.)

 

 

This time Elfie made his way to my daughter's stroller. I think he's been wanting someone to take him on a stroll.

 

 

 

 

The kids wake up each morning and immediately go hunting for Elfie Scout. They have thought his hiding places have been hilarious so far. Come back next week to see what other adventures Elfie has been on!

 



 

 

 

A St. Nicholas Tradition

I love traditions, and a favorite family tradition of ours is one centered around Saint Nicholas! 

Our Tradition

Each year my husband’s family took part in a German tradition that celebrated St. Nicholas. All over the world people celebrate St. Nicholas’ Day on the 6th of December. Now my husband and I carry on this same tradition with our own children. Our family is Catholic so this is also a good time to learn about saints. The night before St. Nicholas’ Day we like to read the story about this favorite saint. Then the kids create their Christmas lists. The children put their letters to St. Nick in their shoes or boots. They leave them by the front door and hope that St. Nicholas will fill them with fruit, nuts, candy, and treats that night. In the morning, the kids are overjoyed to find their shoes stuffed with some delicious and fun treats.

 

Who was Saint Nicholas?

St. Nicholas was a real person and a very generous one, too! His parents were rich and when they died, he inherited their wealth. Because he was a devout Christian he  knew that God wanted him to help people in need. A famous story about St. Nicholas is  one where he helped a poor man with three daughters. The family did not have enough money to pay a dowry for the daughters to get married. St. Nicholas dropped a bag of gold down their chimney to help them out. A sock was hung by their fire to dry. When the bag of gold was dropped, it fell into that “stocking.” (Hence, the tradition of stockings hung by the fireplace.) He continued to drop money down the chimney each night to help the family. The father waited up one night to see who was leaving the gold. He discovered it to be St. Nicholas, who quickly became known for his generosity!

 

Image Source: To Europe With Kids

 

If you are looking for a tradition to start with your family this one may be the one for you. It is a tradition of fun mixed in with a little history.

 

 

 

Elf on the Shelf Arrives

Thanksgiving is over...and, now it is time to officially move into Christmas mode. Last night we had a new visitor. An Elf on the Shelf scout joined our family for the first time! The kids were so excited this morning when they saw who had arrived from the North Pole! My seven year old had been wishing that he would come to our house this year. She called it a miracle. Haha!

He was sitting in a Christmas cup waiting for them to wake up. A table runner was made with red and green felt pieces. He brought them each their own Christmas cup, the Elf on the Shelf book, and Christmas foam stickers. After going back and forth a while they decided to name him "Elfie Scout."

 I cannot wait to see the many adventures our Elf on the Shelf brings this Christmas season!

Is your family participating in the tradition of Elf on the Shelf? What adventures will your elf go on this year?