The Elf on a Shelf...

...or any random location in our home.

Yes, we succumbed to the millennial tradition of the Elf on a Shelf in 2016.  I've tried to keep a record of stunts/situations/locations that our elf has appeared in so that I could recreate or add to this list each year.

Here's our lists from the first two years we had our elf.  Michael named him "Q.E." which we think now was an attempt to say "Huey," but Q.E. it has remained. :)

Here's the 2016 list-- this was our first year doing it and the list is not all inclusive:

Tissue box bed- 12-08-16
Peeking out of stocking 12-09-16

Riding race car 12-10-16

Underwear on stocking holders 12-11-16

Drums set from canned goods 12-12-16

Soaking in a marshmallow tub 12-13-16
Brought Christmas tree cakes 12-15-16

Hanging onto Christmas tree star 12-16-16

Brought Fox ornaments 12-17-16

Working under a truck 12-19-16

Riding sleigh in dining room 12-20-16
Bowing to Jesus at the Nativity 12-21-16

Repelling in a Swiss seat from dining room fan 12-24-16


The 2017 list was more well-rounded:

Hanging from dining room fan with Christmas ribbon, holding a note 12-1-17
Diapers in stockings 12-2-17
On top of garbage truck 12-3-17
Putting on star 12-4-17
Brought wrapped Bathroom items 12-5-17
In the fridge 12-6-17
Snowball fight w/ cotton balls (on the dining room table-- the elf against some random toys)12-7-17
Bath of cotton balls & baby soap 12-8-17
Milkbone "cookies" with "yuck" note (the note said something like "These cookies are gross! Do NOT leave for Santa!") 12-9-17
Sleeping in tissue box 12-10-17
Toilet papered Christmas tree 12-11-17
Riding the sleigh 12-12-17
Sitting on pie safe reading books 12-13-17
Hand broom & dustpan with the note "Santa likes a clean house" 12-14-17
Shoe train 12-15-17
Brought a Gingerbread house kit 12-16-17
Peeking through stocking holder 12-17-17
Sitting at nativity 12-18-17
Coloring 12-19-17
In the lantern by the fireplace 12-20-17
Bringing ornaments & paint 12-21-17
Hanging on battery lights @ advent calendar 12-22-17
Giving a book 12-23-17
Hanging from high window in living room 12-24-17


Here's our 2018 list so far:

12-01-18: welcome letter with funfetti cupcakes & frosting 
12-02-18: playing Switch on top of entertainment center 
12-03-18: in the fridge 
12-04-18: on top of fridge with hot cocoa
12-05-18: in the tree
12-06-18: sticking through the O in JOY
12-07-18: sitting on mantle 
12-08-18: inside of a Christmas jar
12-09-18: inside hall bath cabinet
12-10-18: drawing minions on bananas with Sharpie
12-11-18: bubble bath with cotton balls
12-12-18: sitting at nativity 
12-13-18: toilet papered the Christmas tree 
12-14-18: sticking out of Michael's stocking
12-15-18: sticking out of Noah's stocking 
12-16-18: sticking out of red bowl on top of fridge
12-17-18: sticking out of empty wipes box on top of entertainment center
12-18-18: wrapped in Christmas paper & a bow, sitting on the mantle 
12-19-18: taking a nap next to tissue box, with a tissue blanket & pillow 
12-20-18: underwear & diaper in stockings 
12-21-18: coloring, rhyming page with snow 
12-22-18: with toy nativity. Holding baby Jesus

I have an alarm set on my phone for 8:30 each night (when my kids are hopefully asleep!) simply labeled "Elf"-- just in case Michael ever read my phone alarms, etc.  At this time, I think about where the elf might appear next.  I have a lot of fun with this and don't think this is as much of a burden that other parents think it is.  My kids love it and that makes it so worth it for me. :)

Until Next Time, 

Much love, Reba