With this year being the first Christmas and birthday POD is likely to remember, we thought it nice to surprise her. Last night she got to meet The Elf on the Shelf, more to come on that, and today a Christmas themed treasure hunt was planned.
Daddy hid various Christmas characters in the garden while I occupied her busy indoors. Treasure ranged from Christmas themed soft toys to decorations and finger puppets. Father Christmas, reindeer and snowmen were hidden in the flowerbeds, trees and bushes.
The plan was once she’d found her ‘treasure’, we’d surprise her with the Christmas tree. Then we’d decorate it together. It was inevitable POD would have other ideas so we stayed in the garden and played with her new friends. They had a ride in her trike and paid a visit to her playhouse while she got re-acquainted with her slide. In the garden we noticed an apple tree had born some rosy red fruit so POD picked a few samples.
While we were outside Daddy made a start on putting the tree together. We have an artificial one but it’s German so well made and looks great especially with lots of red baubles and beads . I always get a fuzzy feeling when I see the decorations.
POD was born on Christmas Day 2010 and that was the first year we had these decorations. They’re hugely sentimental. As is the reindeer we have on our front door – he was the first homely thing I saw when I came back from hospital.
As well as fir cones with ribbons, Beatrix Potter characters and hand-made decorations, there’s a snow globe that says “Baby’s first Christmas 2010” on it. It really was although POD and I were still in the hospital at that point.
After their garden adventure, the characters came inside for some indoor fun in Daddy’s boots. The tree was then decorated and POD’s amazing advent calendar was hung on the wall. It looks wonderful as does the tree. It’s great we’ll be able to enjoy it for that little bit longer this year. Here’s to POD having an incredible Christmas and third birthday.
We’re linking this post up with Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse.
This is so lovely 🙂 You are all going to have such an amazing Christmas xx
Thank you Sara, was good fun 🙂
How lovely, you’re all set for a fabulous time. I didn’t know about the Elf On The Shelf until I started seeing lots of pictures, I think we might have to join in too!
You must join in with Elf on the Shelf Jeannette, it promises to be so much fun!
The treasure hunt is a really good idea and she looks like she loved it. Can you believe our babies are going to be 3? I’m still struggling about what kind of present to buy. Must think harder! 🙂
It’s incredible to think they’ll be 3 – I still can’t believe it! We’ve no idea what to buy either although we did get a bench for POD in Bruges 🙂
Awww what a lovely idea. You will have a really magical Christmas.
Thank you Joy, she loved having a forage 🙂
awww Charly what a fantastic idea and what a fantastic time!!
thanks for linking this post with #MagicMoments xxx
Thank you Jaime 🙂
Sounds like a great way to kick off December! #MM
Was good fun Alexandra 🙂
Such lovely pictures and surprises! I am guessing Christmas must be doubly special….am feeling inspired to go rummaging in the attic for our crimbo decorations and perhaps even to try and make something new….
Thank you Sarah. It’s a special time but POD never gets a full day’s birthday! We’re going to start June parties from next year so she has something to look forward to. We’re super early with our decorations this year at hubby away next weekend 🙂
Wow love your images and what a great way to add even more magic to this time of year.
Thank you Kizzy, really kind of you 🙂
What a lovely idea. Christmas will be so much fun for you all this year!
Thank you – so looking forward to it 🙂
How adorable that you guys made Pod a Christmas treasure hunt to find decorations! love love love it! I must try to remember that for when Miss Belle is older! Super sweet! #magicmoments xx
Thank you Debs – Miss Belle will love it when she’s a bit bigger 🙂
Amazing! What a fab way to kick off the silly season #MagicMoments
Thank you 🙂
Your photo’s are lovely and I love your advent calendar! Linking up via #Magicmoments
Thank you Jo – the advent calendar was a present 🙂
Ohh wow! Sounds a great way to start off Christmas!!
Thank you Kim 🙂
Beautiful photos of Pod on her treasure hunt. Christmas will be an extra special double celebration for you!
Thank you Kriss, really kind of you 🙂
Oh Charly – you’ve just given me a warm fuzzy Christmassy feeling – fab photos and what a lucky girl to have a double celebration #magicmoments
Fabulous stuff! We’re super early this year but the tree looks wonderful 🙂
Lovely 🙂 it sounds like a fabulous day xx
Thank you Vicky 🙂
Oh that is so magical and so much fun!
Thank you Rachel 🙂
This is a great idea! 🙂 I’m so envious you’ve got your tree up already. We have a few Christmas decors up, but I want a tree! 🙂 We are getting one, probably end of this week or early next week. How exciting, it’s almost POD’s birthday! 🙂 xx
My husband is away next weekend so we thought we’d get it up early. Can’t believe POD will be three soon 🙂
Oh, beautiful traditions, I am sure POD was thrilled! Linking in from #Magic Moments.
Thank you – POD loved it. She’s loving the Elf too although wants to keep touching him!
[…] old enough now to remember her birthday and the festive period. With this in mind, we had a Christmas themed treasure hunt at the weekend and she met the Doves’ Elf on the […]
How sweet, it looks absolutely gorgeous. I’m sure she will have a great Christmas! 🙂 x
Thank you very much – I do hope she has a great time 🙂
What a brilliant idea! Looking at the photos she obviously had a lot of fun. 🙂 xx
[…] enjoyed Foraging for Father Christmas in the garden so we knew she’d love […]