More Elf Antics

I've had a lot of fun playing with our Elf on the Shelf.  Each day my daughter comes home from school and rushes up to her room to see what the elf has been up to.  Then she creates a scene or makes things for her elf.  This keeps her busy as well as giving me an idea of what the elf will do the next day.  

To read about how this year's Elf on the Shelf has been super easy for me, check out my previous post HERE.

When we last left off, our elf was sleeping in a bed made by my daughter.  

After my daughter found her, she excitedly wrapped a present for the elf and left a trail of note cards with arrows on them leading the elf to her present.

The arrows lead down the 'stair's and over to this pink present.

Sorry, I don't have a picture of the elf unwrapping her gift.  I wasn't able to catch her in the act, that sneaky elf.  The gift was some baking supplies.  They are actually American Girl sized baking supplies.  The elf used them to bake some cupcakes. And left some real cookies inside the wooden box as a special treat for my daughter.  FYI:  American Girl doll stuff works well with the elf.  That apron she's wearing is another AG item.

Since the elf was having so much fun raiding the American Girl doll's closet, the next day we found her and her new best friend horseback riding.  

She also left a note that said this is almost as much fun as riding a reindeer.

Stay tuned for more elf adventures.

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The Elf is Back and easier than ever!

We've been doing the Elf on the Shelf for a few years and have even taken a break a couple of years ago.  I wasn't sure we would continue the tradition, but after my daughter was asking about the elf a few weeks ago, I figured I'll bring it back out and go through the craziness of it one more time.  At least I hope this is the last time.  It's all worth it to see the joy on her face when she first discovered our elf's arrival on Tuesday morning.  Of course this year I've made it especially easy on myself as you will find out if you keep reading.

Back in 2013 we got an Elf on the Shelf.  You can read all about her adventures HERE.  

I stayed up late at night after the kids went to bed and created different scenes of mischief that the elf had gotten into.  The kids liked it but it was a lot of work on my part and some mornings I realized I forgot to move the elf so it created some stress too.   There are so many great ideas on Pinterest but some of them are pretty intense.  I kept things pretty simple and continued the Elf tradition in 2014 as well.  Click HERE to read about those adventures.  

Our Elf took a break in 2015, that's right, no elf came to visit us that year and no one really seemed to mind.  If you are looking for ways to end your relationship with your elf, be sure to check out THIS post.  

2016 was also the year with no elf and no one even cared.  I think I even tried to give the elf to my sister for her little girl but she didn't want it (wise move, sis, wise move.)

In 2017 our Elf made a reappearance but this time I kept things easy on myself by waiting until the week before Christmas for her to arrive.  I figured 1 week of elf antics is easier than 4.  Check out last years post for what I did.

This year I wasn't planning to do the Elf on the Shelf.  I figured I could get away with saying she didn't make the move.  But then my 8 year old daughter asked about our elf.  Would she be able to find us in our new house?  Seriously, my daughter was almost in tears waiting for our elf to come.  She's not sure she believes in Santa, but she believes in this elf.  How could I disappoint her?  So our elf is making it's 1 week appearance again.  And this time, it's even easier for me.

You see, already on day 1 I forgot to put the elf somewhere.  I forgot to do it after the kids went to bed, and since my 4 year old woke up early I didn't have time to drag the elf out of the basement and hide it somewhere in the house.  Actually I hadn't even thought of where I was going to stash her so having some extra time worked to my favor.  I had to wait until all the kids were in school (luckily my 4 year old goes to half day pre-K) so I'd have the house to myself for a little bit.  

Since it was my daughter who really wanted the elf, I decided to put it in her room, hanging from her window.  There was also a note on her bed and a candy cane pen.  The note said something like, "Sorry I'm late but you moved!"..and... "try to find me everyday after school".  

Yeah, that's right, no more late night or early morning elf hiding.  I'm going to move her while my kids are in school.  And my daughter has made it even easier on my by making presents for the elf, including a little bed.  So where did the elf end up to day?  

That's right, in this cute little bed my daughter set up in the closet.  She even put steps for the elf to get to the bed since the bed is kind of high.  My daughter showed me the bed she was making for the elf yesterday, but when I went to put the elf on the bed this afternoon, I couldn't find it.  The bed was in the closet and the closet was booby trapped closed.  Well, her sneaky elf got around that and tucked herself in bed.  Then I reset the booby trap on the closet door and can't wait to see my daughter's reaction when she gets home from school

I don't know who's having more fun with this elf thing, me or her?  I'm almost sad it's only going to last a week.  Of course we are also only on day 2.  I might be done by day 4.  Ha!

Anyone else doing the Elf on the Shelf?  How have you made it easy on yourself?  I'll need some ideas just in case I have to do this again next year.  I'm kind of glad my 4 year old never caught on to this trend so I don't think he'll mind when our elf never returns.

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Elf on the Shelf Returns

Early Saturday morning my daughter runs excitedly into my bedroom exclaiming the elf is back!  The excitement on her face is what makes it all worth it.  We've done the Elf on the Shelf before.  You can read about our many adventures about that HERE and HERE.  Then we decided to take a break.  I mentioned how and why HERE.  Well, she's back and this time I've made it easy on myself.  She's only here for about a week.  I figure I can handle a week of this little elf.

My daughter was so excited to see her Elf return.  And the Elf brought her some new pajamas.

Anyone else doing Elf on the Shelf?  Are you burnt out yet and need more ideas?  Check out all the activities we did with out Elf in previous years and how we ended the relationship HERE, HERE and HERE.

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Elf on the Shelf Takes a Break

For the past two years we've done the Elf on the Shelf thing.  Last year, the kids seemed less than enthusiastic about looking for the elf each morning.  I warned them that she might not come back.  So this year, she's taking a break.

That's right, she didn't come back and no one seemed to mind.  I also didn't feel like doing the Elf on the Shelf with a toddler in the house who would no doubt want to pick her up and play with her.  So this year she's visiting another family.  She might come back next year, maybe.

If you are looking for ways to end the relationship with your elf for whatever reason, you can check out these posts, just click HERE, HERE and HERE. 

Bite Sized Biggie has a great letter you can download for when the enthusiasm for finding the elf fades and the kids would rather play with the elf as a toy.

Sky from Capital B, was going to stop the Elf on the Shelf thing, but realized her boys are only little once and they still enjoyed it so she decided to continue on the tradition, for now.  She does give some sweet ways to let the elf go while still maintaining the magic of it all.

Mommy in Sports has five ways to off the elf.  Some are naughty and some are nice.  Her last suggestion made me laugh - "Elfie got run over by a reindeer."  That one you could use mid way through the season, as why the elf didn't return one night.


And if you're doing Elf on the Shelf this year and in need of ideas, click HERE and HERE to see what we did for the previous two years.  Below are some of the highlights.  

Whatever you decide to do, 

Good luck!

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Elf on the Shelf 2014

Last update for 2014.  I forgot what days I did what so I'm just posting pictures and descriptions.

She hung out with our pet butterfly.

Was literally an elf on the shelf in the kitchen cabinets.

Sharing a ride in the stroller with the baby dolls.

Above the kitchen window.

Attached to the toy bar on the baby's pack 'n play.

Sitting pretty in the play kitchen.

Watching tv and eating fruit snacks.

She said 'bye' during her final visit.

Will she be coming back next year?  I don't know.  The Babes who is 4 didn't like the fact that the elf was hanging around her toys.  The kids didn't seem to get the enjoyment out of it like they did last year, so I just might take a break.  If they ask why, I'll say she needs to visit another family this year.  That way there's always the possibility she could return to us.

More pictures of our elf in 2014

Day 10 we found her reading a favorite Christmas book.

Day 11 she was waiting to get her hair done.

She must have been hungry on day 12 because she was hiding in the cabinet next to the breakfast foods.

Day 13 she got all wrapped up with Christmas presents.

Day 14 hunger strikes again and she was caught about to eat a muffin over in the play kitchen.

Day 15 she hid out in a house made of blocks.

Last week we found her in the following spots:

Day 5 we found her helping out at the animal hospital.

Day 6 she was drinking out of my 4 yr old's Dora cup.

Day 7 she was feeling a little be country and was hanging out in a cowboy boot.

She's certainly not afraid of heights as we found her getting ready to slide down the banister on day 8.

Day 9 she was admiring the latest picture of kid #4.  I agree, he is a cutie.

Here is what she was up to two weeks ago when she first made her arrival.

Dec 1st

  

The first morning she was found hanging on for dear life on the kitchen lights.

She had a note for the kids which read, "I'm back.  I see there is a new member of your family.  I've hidden an ornament just for him on your Christmas tree.  Love, Lily"

The kids checked the Christmas tree and sure enough there was a new ornament with the baby's name on it.

Days 2, 3 and 4 found our elf hanging out in a stocking, riding a horse and delivering another ornament (this time for our 4 yr old).  

It's a good thing I'm up in the middle of the night nursing the baby, or else our elf might not have come this year much less change locations each night.  I'll try to do a weekly update on where our elf appears.  If you want to see what she was up to last year (the first time we did the Elf on the Shelf), you can check out THIS POST.

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Elf on the Shelf

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out what fun adventures we've been having with our Elf on the Shelf.  If you're looking for the most recent adventure, please scroll to the bottom.


We finally got an Elf on the Shelf.  I love doing fun things with my kids, being clever and creative so I've thought about doing the Elf on the Shelf thing for a few years.  However, the Spencinator never believed in Santa Claus and made this known to Sweetie Pie at an early age.  So doing the Elf on the Shelf would have been pointless for kids that didn't believe.  It wasn't until the Babes came along that Sweetie Pie who wanted to believe, started believing.   However, with three kids, life gets crazier and I wasn't sure I wanted to add the extra work of the Elf on the Shelf.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the idea of hiding the elf and creating little scenes for the elf, but I was also busier with three kids so I decided not to buy it.  However, if someone else bought it for me, I would be happy to manage the Elf's escapades.  My mom bought us one and when we went to my parent's house for Thanksgiving, we made the exchange.  So our elf made her grand arrival the day after Thanksgiving.

When the kids woke up and came downstairs for breakfast they found her.  

There was a note tucked under her arm that read:  

Good morning kids!

I'm here to visit you.

I've hidden a present too.

Love, Your Special Elf

They ran around the house in search of the present.  Inside was the Elf on the Shelf book and some Dear Santa letters so the girls could let Santa know what they want for Christmas.  Since the Spencinator doesn't believe in Santa, he's my helper in hiding the elf and the fun and games are for the girls.  Although I didn't tell him when the elf was arriving, just that we were getting one, so he was surprised Friday morning too.

The book says to name your elf and Sweetie Pie decided to call her "Lily".  The other kids agreed, so Lily it is.  She hung from the ceiling fan all day and when it was time for us to go home, I conveniently forgot something and went back in the house to retrieve the elf.  So when the kids woke up at our home Saturday morning, she was waiting for them.

The kids were wondering if she would make it to our house or stay at Grandma's house.  Looks like our elf's magical powers can find the kids no matter what house they are at.

It's been fun to hid the elf and watch the kids find her each morning.  I think I'm just as excited to hid her as the kids are to find her.  What a fun tradition we've started.

If you're looking for Elf on the Shelf ideas you can check our some HERE and HERE.

And if you want to know "The Ugly Truth about the Elf on the Shelf" you can read this funny blog post by EverythingMom HERE.

I'm going to post the rest of our elf's adventures here too, so check back each day to see what she's up to....