Elf on the Shelf

Hello, December!  I'm trying so super hard to take every day in stride and really cherish these days with my kiddos.  I cannot believe that Michael is already seven (which is basically ten!) and I know my days of having all three of my kids believe in Santa and Christmas magic and the Elf of the Shelf is limited.

In 2016, we started doing the Elf on the Shelf tradition.  I've kept a running list for the past two years on all of the antics that our elf, Q.E., gets into.  This makes it SO EASY to recreate some of the ideas each year and I usually add two or three (or four!) new ideas each year.

Also, I set an alarm in my phone (last year it was 8:00pm, this year it's 9:00pm) that just says "elf" and that is my daily reminder to relocate the elf before I go to bed.  By setting an alarm, I don't have to devote brain space to remembering to move the elf on my own and by referencing my notes, I don't have to worry about trying to figure out what to do or where to place him.

Here's some of our past ideas and some things we've done new this year-- and some things I'm planning to do in the coming weeks.

2017 Elf

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 Christmas tree star 12-4-17
Bathroom items (wrapped up a new soap dispenser, hand towel, and toothbrush holder) 12-5-17
In the fridge 12-6-17
Snowball fight w/ cotton balls 12-7-17
Bath of cotton balls & baby soap 12-8-17
Milkbone "cookies" with "yuck" nots 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. "Santa likes a clean house" 12-14-17
Shoe train 12-15-17
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 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

2018 Elf:

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(our stocking holders)
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--12-14-18: toilet papered the Christmas tree
12-15-18: sticking out of stocking
12-16-18: sticking out of red bowl
12-17-18: sticking out of empty wipes box
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
12-23-18: In Christmas pottery mug in pie safe
12-24-18: in a high window sill of living room

2019 Elf:

12-1-19- intro letter, reindeer,book (We bought this set to go along with the Elf on the Shelf line.  It includes a book showing kids how they can hug and snuggle the elf's pet since they can't touch the elf.  Our kids named their reindeer Sam.  The boys have taken turns letting Sam sleep in their beds; it's so sweet!)

12-2-19- bringing ornaments (Mario for Michael, a school bus for Noah, and a Grinch and Max for Avery)
12-3-19- in fridge wrapped up in a washcloth
12-4-19- toilet papered tree
12-5-19- rock concert (This was another set from Elf on the Shelf.  It included a pair of sunglasses, a tshirt that says "Christmas Rocks" and an electric guitar shaped like a Christmas tree)
12-6-19- cotton ball bubble bath
12-07-19- Kinderjoy candies and note

Tonight, I expect that our elf might color in  coloring book or perhaps put some clean pairs of underwear hanging out of their stockings.

I also plan on having the elf hide some candy canes around the room for the boys (and probably Avery) to find one morning.  That'll be a weekend thing for sure because I don't want to forge through the argument of "no candy in the morning before school."  We also have one more elf costume set that I'll put on the elf probably on the 22nd or 23rd (I'm trying to spread out the use of these new items).  This last set is a stick with a marshmallow on the end for the elf to hold, along with a little campfire and a little Christmas tree.  The boys keep asking me if the Kinder Joy little egg shaped candies are on sale on Publix so I figured the elf could bring them some of these little treats one morning.  I also spotted a red plastic plate in the Target Dollar Spot that says "Cookies for Santa and Carrots for Reindeer" that I will have the elf use one day.  I plan to have some mini dog Milkbones (which we already have for Akuna) on the plate with a note that says "Here is a new plate for Santa's cookies.  BUT I tried out these cookies I found.  GROSS!  Do NOT leave for Santa!"

The boys love searching for the elf each morning and it's so fun for me as the parent to be a part of this magic.

Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba