Creating Traditions in the Martin Household

We've started a few new traditions this year now that Ross is a little older and is getting into Christmas more. One thing we started is Elf on a Shelf. The cliff notes version of the story is basically you name your Elf and then he gets his magic. His magic allows him to fly back to the North Pole every night to report to Santa on how everyone is behaving. Ross named our elf R-O-S-S. We tried to talk him into another name but he wasn't having it. Note you aren't saying the name Ross but instead spelling it out.

Every morning we get up and he immediately wants to see where our R-O-S-S has landed after flying to the North Pole. You just never know where he might be... One morning he found him playing on his firestation. R-O-S-S brings special prizes back from Santa too. Yesterday Ross was sick and R-O-S-S surprised him with a "Mater" Pez dispenser. Ross was one happy camper! This morning R-O-S-S had him a book about Christmas. It talks about why we celebrate Christmas. Santa thought it was important for him to have this book. Mommy highly recommends this book too!! If you also notice there is a comb in R-O-S-S' lap. Ross watched the cartoon Elf on a Shelf and after seeing it he got the comb and put it with R-O-S-S and says that is his magic. We aren't quite sure where that thought came in but we sure think it is cute and now when R-O-S-S lands he always has his 'magic'. The other thing we started this year is an Advent Calendar. Our calendar is garland with mittens. He has a special chocolate in each mitten to help count down the days of Christmas. He loves to unclip the mitten and get his chocolate out. He gets 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the afternoon. We've found that that works best.
The next tradition we are going to do is baking Jesus some cupcakes for his birthday. A friend suggested that to me and I just love the idea. So at our house we are counting down birthdays too. First it is Uncle Kevin's bday, then baby Jesus, and on January 15 it will be Ross' birthday. He's quite excited about all 3!