Elf on a Mission: Update 1

Well, we’re almost a week deep into Elf on a Mission. I’m prayerful that my pursuit of teaching a toddler the Christmas story is “sticking” and also that I won’t forget another day and have to double up allowing our little elf pal to make an appearance after naptime.

Day 1: And Her Name Shall Be Called … Cereal

Owinn awoke the day after Thanksgiving to a little elf bearing a poem. We read the poem together, tossed the elf around a bit, and after much encouragement, Owinn finally settled on a name for the little elf. She shall be called “Cereal”. Leave it to my child’s limited vocabulary to settle on a carb. I’ll be honest, her interest level doesn’t seem to be worth the time I’ve already invested in this little hat-wearing toy, but I shall continue to keep “watering the harvest”.

Day 2: Kicked Back with Hot Cocoa

Cereal made herself right at home this morning. When Owinn arrived at the breakfast table, Cereal had prepared some steamy hot cocoa topped with fluffy marshmallows. What a lovely surprise that she dropped a couple sugary sweets just in arm’s reach for chubby little fingers to snatch and add to her hot chocolate as well! Then, Cereal read to us Away in a Manger as we enjoyed our frothy treat. Because she’s already quite fascinated by babies, today’s take away was saying “Baby Jesus”. We’ll take what we can get!

Day 3: Messy Little Manger

“No! Mess! No!” Cereal tried to recreate a manger. The pine needles, which double as hay for us city-dwellers, were not welcomed by little miss Owinn. She did not appreciate the mess that our friend, Cereal, left in the living room. After tidying up our shoebox manger, we referred to the pictures of Baby Jesus in yesterday’s book and talked about how He wasn’t born in a place where He had a soft Elsa pillow or a warm, cozy blanket. Instead, he was born in a manger. We felt the “hay” and learned that it was rough, not soft. Today’s take away were the words “manger” and “rough”, and I think she may have understood that conditions of being born in a manger weren’t quite pleasant.

Day 4: Sugar & Spice, Not Very Nice

“Uh oh!” Cereal was at it again today with her messy antics. Owinn instantly grabbed the Windex to clean up the sugar angel created by our little friend. She refrained from destroying my … I mean, Cereal’s creation until after we read Luke 1:26-38. We talked about how the angel came to announce that Mary would have a son named Jesus. Our take away was saying “angel”. She went back to the book we’ve been referencing this week Away in a Manger and pointed out baby Jesus again. I think we’re making connections!