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Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Best. Morning. Ever.

I know we're not even to Halloween yet, but I also know that the Holidays get CRAZY and that if you're like me you like to plan ahead.  So.... today I thought I'd share one of my FAVORITE Christmas traditions - our North Pole Breakfast!!! 

I started Elf on the Shelf with my kids when Luke was 4 and Mason was 1. Luke TOTALLY got it and Mason was along for the ride.

Look how excited Little Luke was!!!  Our elf, Buddy, arrived for the season and brought an extra sweet breakfast with him :)



At our North Pole Breakfast 2013 the party moved to our little table, but the treats, surprises, notes and fun decorations stayed the same.





In 2014 Buddy brought his A-Game along with matching jammies!




And last year!




And more matching jams!


While things are tweaked and change a bit each year a few things have stayed the same.  Buddy always leaves the kids a note...






And each of the kids always gets an ornament.  Typically the ornaments have special meanings for that year.  In 2012 Mason got a sandwich with a bite taken out of it because 18 month old Mason ALWAYS used to say "bite! bite! bite!" and wanted bites of all of our food.  Luke got the Rise and Shine school ornament because it was his first time at school and Griffin (who was still in my belly) got a popcorn ornament because that's what the boys called her.


Bacon for our bacon-loving boy...


... and an army man because that's what Mason always said he wanted to be when he grew up that year. 


Buddy also brings a little surprise for the kids.  Christmas socks or slippers, a Christmas movie, pencils, etc.  Just something little and fun.



A couple of notes...

- I picked up the Christmas dishes at Hobby Lobby back in 2012.  Hobby Lobby already has their Christmas dishes out so if you're thinking of picking some up now is the time.   I think these would also be precious (click on the pics for more info)








These straws are so fun and since there are 25 in a pack you could use them for multiple years :)




- Our elf usually comes sometime between Thanksgiving and December 1st.  We just pick a morning that allows us some extra time to lounge and enjoy.

- I think my boys MAY have outgrown the matching long johns so this year I'm leaning toward something like these with a plain t-shirt (click on the pics)


 

and I'm loving these for Griffin...


- Our elf usually brings the kids a little something fun and here are a few ideas I'm thinking through this year (click on the pics for info)...

  


 

   


And why does Buddy go to such great lengths to make it special???  This right here...



Your North Pole Breakfast could be as elaborate or simple as you'd like to make it - I err on the side of "over the top", but simple powdered sugar donuts on some fun paper Christmas plate could totally do the trick :)  We read the book, enjoy a fun morning together and kick off the Christmas season.  My kids look forward to this every year and while I know that one day the elf part won't be as important I hope that the breakfast tradition lives on.  

So, pick a date and mark it in your calendar, order some matching jammies and start thinking of a few fun touches to make the morning extra special for your crew.

Also, I'm ALWAYS looking for fun Elf ideas so if you have a great one leave it in the comments!!!

Happy Wednesday, Friends!


PS - This post contained  affiliate links which means that if you clicked on an item and made a purchase I may receive a commission.  THANK YOU!!!

50 comments :

  1. I love how you go "over the top" for this breakfast! The memories will be well worth it!
    Can't wait to see your North Pole Breakfast this year!

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    1. Thanks, Heather!!! I have a couple of fun ideas up my sleeve for this year :)

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  2. My kiddos look forward to our breakfast too. It's not everyday they get powdered donuts for breakfast. Now if I could figure out a way for that elf to bring me a breakfast taco, that morning would be perfection. :)

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    1. Maybe he should fly one in special just for you! hahaha

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  3. You literally read my mind! I was just thinking about this in the car yesterday and how I needed to go and check back at your post last year to see what you did! This will be our first year with the elf and I wanted to start this tradition!! Saving this post right now!

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    1. YAY!!! I've had lots of people email me and ask about it so I figured it was time to post :) Hope you have SO MUCH FUN with your elf!!!

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  4. Please come to my house and do this for my kids. It's just magical!!

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  5. I always love reading about your breakfast!! You always have the best ideas!! Xo

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  6. I always love reading about this on your blog! We do a North Pole Breakfast but it's more a send off when Buddy leaves, so we do it on Christmas Eve morning. I love the idea of giving ornaments and plan to do that when our elf arrives this year!

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  7. I absolutely LOVE this post! I love the kid's table all beautiful and festive. You are one incredible Mama!

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  8. Thanks for sharing!!! My daughter will be nine months (ten months right after Christmas!) but I think I'm gonna do the elf anyway! ;)

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  9. Can I please come live at your house?! You make the holidays so much fun! Oh my goodness. I aspire to be the kind of mama you are one day. We're on a tight budget, but I need to think of creative ways to work around that to make a special tradition like this one. I love it!

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    1. Hahaha! You're so sweet!!! I don't think it's necessarily about how much you spend... it's more about the special time together. I'd check out the Dollar Spot at Target as Christmas gets closer and I bet you could put something super cute together for under $20. Pulling decor items from your current stash is budget friendly as well. Best of luck, Hannah!

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  10. Love it!
    Do you remember where you bought the sandwich ornament? Would love to buy a few of them for my brothers for Christmas in memory of my mom... she used to always take a bite out of their sandwiches, and then put them in their lunch boxes �� It was something that they remembered and always laughed about, and we included it in her eulogy at her funeral. They would love those!

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    1. What a sweet story. I lost my mama too so I know how hard Christmas is and what it means to have little reminders of her. I found a few for you:
      http://m.ebay.com/itm/Peanut-Butter-And-Jelly-Sandwich-Christmas-Tree-Ornament-Xmas-Funny-Food-Glass-/232069598596?nav=SEARCH

      http://www.personalizedornamentsforyou.com/Personalized-Grilled-Cheese-Sandwich-Glass-Ornament?gclid=CjwKEAjws5zABRDqkoOniLqfywESJACjdoiG8rXQ11933hWStBJDdww4yVFESVzJOMmC1__XBZgKyBoCGkPw_wcB

      https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00REMZBE2/ref=mp_s_a_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1476903832&sr=8-29&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=sandwich+ornament&dpPl=1&dpID=51qb%2BoxO6BL&ref=plSrch

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    2. This is the sweetest! I picked this one up at Hobby Lobby. Best of luck finding the perfect ones for your brothers.

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    3. Thank you girls! I saw those on Amazon, very cute!
      I will look at hobby lobby, they have great ornaments!

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  11. Thanks to you, we've been doing this breakfast for a few years now. It's one of my favorite days of the whole year! I've been thinking about it a lot lately, so thanks for the great ideas!

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    1. YAY!!! I'm so glad y'all are having fun with it. You're so welcome!

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  12. So now I'm shopping on abercrombie for my boys some pjs! Thanks!!

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    1. Ha!!! Aren't they cute?!?! I'm a sucker for the reindeer.

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  13. You are making memories that will last a lifetime! This is something I can see them recreating with their own children. Good job, mama! Can't wait to read about this year's elf breakfast!!!

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    1. Awwww!!! Thanks, Holly! Dave and I talked the other day about how our little table was one of the things we wouldn't ever be able to part with and how one day I may get to host north pole breakfasts on it for our grandkids. WAAAAAHHHH!!!!! #holdme

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    2. Our tradition was making gingerbread houses which we continue to do with our 8 grandchildren. I see a whole lot of North Pole breakfasts in your future:).

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  14. I started this 2 years ago with the youngest of the 5. The older kids love to eat the donuts as they pass by and the youngest love that it's just for them and Emma our Elf. Though are kids are 10 & 11 this year and their older siblings have slipped and shared some unmagical news to them, we still have fun with Emma and our North Pole breakfast. I plan lots of goodies!

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    1. Oh no!!! Party poopers ;) hahaha Maybe your older kids can help make it really special for your little one!

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  15. You make North Pole Breakfast so magical!! Good job mama!

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    1. Thanks so much, Laci! I love making it special for the kids :)

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  16. Love love love this! Maybe I'll have kiddos one day and be able to do this too!

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  17. Such a cute idea to kickoff the Holiday season! My daughter would LOVE this!

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    1. She totally would!!! Let me know if you end up trying it :)

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  18. I love all of this! I think that you can never be too over the top at Christmas!

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  19. The Elf wasn't a "thing" when my kids were smaller. Boo. Your kids are the perfect ages. Have so much fun with this, Andrea! You blink and they are grown:)

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    1. There's always grandkids :) hahaha I try my hardest not to blink! :)

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  20. Oh and P.S. :) I was wondering if you could talk about how you shop Zulilly and places like that. I know you are finished with your Christmas shopping and I saw a few of the packages were from Zulilly. Do you have a system? It all just seems so overwhelming to me. Thanks so much!

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    1. Sure!!! I have a bunch of halloween stuff planned for next week, but maybe the week after?

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    2. That would be wonderful, thank Andrea!

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  21. My girl is 16 this year and I am totally doing this for her these next few years. Love these ideas and will make her last few years at home special.... Thanks for sharing

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    1. YES!!!! So fun! Love that you're doing it for her even though she's older. Hope y'all have a blast!

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  22. Cannot wait to start this with my 14 month old!!! Never too early ;)

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  23. I have already started planning this year. I normally slack and wait til the last minute and at times forget to move our Elf, Gus Gus. My 5 year old started to notice. I also have a 1 year old. I love your ideas. Where do you get your matching pj's for the kids?

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  24. Can you please tell me the brand of dinnerware you have? Absolutely love it all!

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