Last year there was a lot of hullabaloo over the Elf on the Shelf. I didn’t know much about it, and I let the holidays slip by without so much as a Google on the popular Santa Spy. Around Thanksgiving, I started seeing all the same buzz again. My curiosity was even more heightened by seeing people share their favorite Elf on the Shelf ideas on Pinterest (my favorite late night internet time suck). Now knowing the story behind the Elf itself, and seeing so many cute ideas already available here and here, I knew it would be the perfect way to kick off our holiday season.
I ordered the elf online, and he arrived a few days later. It was hard for me to keep a secret about it being on the way, especially when Baby was coming home from school every day talking about all the mischief her friend’s elves were getting into at their own homes. Baby wanted an elf to come to our house so much, that she wrote a secret note and put it in her stocking.
The note read:
Dear Elf,
Please come in my stoking.
Your child, Baby
As adorable as her note was, I never even knew Baby wrote it let alone, hid it in her stocking. Thank goodness I ordered the elf. I would have felt awful if I skipped it again, and found the note Christmas eve while filling her stocking. She recently took the note out of her stocking, and I found it on the mantle. Big WHEW!
Anyhooo…after our Elf arrived, I secretly wrote a few random notes on the outside like North Pole Express, Urgent, and Open Fast before the kids noticed it was even delivered. Then as I acted like I “found” the box on the dining room table, and called to DH asking if he ordered anything. Acting furhter surprised I called the kids and asked them if they knew about the box, as I carried it towards them in the living room.
Baby immediately started reading the block letter words out loud. “North Pole Express? Open Fast?” she shouted while containing her giggles! I’m happy she was too busy dancing around singing about it being our long awaited elf, and didn’t notice the Amazon info in much smaller print.
Once the box was open we all sat down on the couch and snuggled in to read the Elf on the Shelf story. If you are not familiar with the story, a family receives an elf from Santa’s workshop. The elf’s job is to keep an eye on the children for Santa. Once you name your elf, it becomes magic. Each night it comes to life to fly back to the North Pole to give “nightly reports” to Santa to make sure the children stay on the nice list. Sometimes the Elf also gets into a little mischief when he returns home from the North Pole. This is where Baby has had the most fun over the past week.
Every morning she bounces out of bed to check out what Elfie did the night before. Elfie has helped himself to some cereal in a bowl (leaving cabinet, pantry and drawer all open), took all the stockings off the tree hanger, and spent some time relaxing in the recliner (stacked up on pillows and a blanket) watching some TV with the remote. So far, Elfie has been pretty good, and not made much of a mess…which is super nice for this mom.
I wonder what Elfie will do tonight. I’m off to consult my list of ideas to inspire more happy morning laughter.
There is no greater sound in the world.
Does your family have an elf on the shelf?
What mischief idea inspired the most laughter from your children?
