I've seen a few anti-elf posts on Facebook already this year. People sharing their thoughts on how obnoxious it all is, all sounding quite familiar to my previous feelings on the subject, although I was more worried about being able to keep up with it daily rather than being annoyed by someone else's decision to partake in this tradition.
Here's the thing. Last year, I was in a very different place, both physically and emotionally. I don't know why I'm always amazed at how life's circumstances can give you a very different perspective of everything, but so it is.
2013 has been a very big year for our family, the biggest event being the blessing of becoming an officer family in the U.S. Coast Guard. We were, of course, so excited and honored by my husband's promotion. It is a wonderful thing for our family, and he has worked so hard for this. The trouble is, with a promotion like this also comes the probability of an early move, often considered a curse of the military life. I don't typically mind a move. In fact, I was born for this nomadic lifestyle and I'm usually thrilled to find adventure in the change of scenery. But this time was different, and I'm not sure I've discovered why just yet. Really, we didn't move far, but the changes have affected me much more than I'm happy to admit. As a result, the joy I normally find in this time of year has been rather elusive. There is no Christmas music blaring in my home, as is the custom from early November through the first of January. Though I have purchased and wrapped most of our gifts for family and friends, I have done so with a grinch-like countenance. We carelessly disposed of our little Charlie Brown tree in our move this summer with no intention of replacing it. Our Nativity is still tucked away in its box. I have not even glanced at the super long list of Pinterest holiday ideas and crafts pinned just after Christmas last year to my "Must Do Holiday" board. I'm just not feeling it this year... and that's no way to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
Now, let me pause here to explain another military family truth. Many, if not all of our holidays and vacations are spent traveling to visit family. If the husband has time off and the kids have no school (though this aspect has changed since we began our homeschool journey), we squeeze in time with as many loved ones as we can possibly manage. The more we move, the more people we adopt as family, and the more we want to visit. It is a wonderful thing to have family and friends spread all over the country, (and please don't misunderstand- I wouldn't change this) but it is also a sacrifice. My children have only spent one Christmas Eve in their own beds, waking up Christmas morning in their own living room. We don't have those cool family traditions for December 24th and 25th (or the two weeks surrounding) because we never know where we will be. And don't get me started on what a logistical nightmare Santa can be! For the first time, this year our children have expressed a desire to be home for Christmas and questioned why we always had to be somewhere else. I didn't know what to say to them. I did, however, have an idea of how to make the season a little fun and to step out of this funk I seem to have led my family into.
I have a very talented friend who owns a little shop called the Burbs. She sells toys and collectibles, all made with her own two hands and lots of heart. One of her seasonal items is a quirky little elf. I followed her family's elf, Monroe and his crazy shenanigans last year, and thought one of these little guys could really bring some special memories to my boys. And so Caspian the Giant was created!
It is only the second week of December, and already Caspian has helped our family find Christmas. It was so sweet to see the expressions on the faces of my three boys when they awoke to find a beautiful 6-foot pre-lit Christmas tree awaiting the ornaments Caspian had dug out of the dark basement on only his second day with us. Some of these ornaments hadn't seen a tree in 10 years! The boys giggled when they read his note expressing slight irritation in our delay of decorating. Caspian even surprised our visiting friends with poppers and silly string in celebration of reaching the half-way mark in their daddy's deployment. He brought Christian balloons and a little gift on his birthday (because having a December birthday is always tough). With every little act of Christmas fun, the bah-humbugs are replaced with holiday bliss.
His gestures are not always a big to do and they can be rather mischievous sometimes, but I don't mind giving Caspian credit for the deeds he has done. Having him around has truly been more fun than I could've imagined an elf being. It's been the best addition to our Christmas traditions this year; one we can easily do here at home, or on the road visiting friends and family. I'm creating memories for my children- happy, joy-filled fun, and what in life is better than that?
I'm certainly not saying that having an elf is necessary for every family or that our elf antics supercede the real meaning of Christmas. I simply wanted to offer another perspective to those who see the Christmas Elf as an annoyance or as a competition.
Here are some pictures of Caspian's adventures so far in the Ortiz house:
Caspian needed a bit of sugar to get him going and he got into the candy bowl on the first night.
Caspian was a little irritated that we hadn't decorated yet, and actually provided us with a tree!
A reunion with all his friends from the Burbs.
A friendly game of Five Card Spud.
Attempting to decorate a bit more.
A celebration for half-way through friends' deployment.
A snowball fight with the Cat.
Happy birthday, Christian!
Christmas Hangman with the Christmas Little People
Caught him watching Despicable Me 2, a gift he brought for the boys.
