You know how it goes. Your kid talks to other kids to compare notes about how holidays are being celebrated in their homes. Ernie, a shelf elf, came into our lives last year after I got word from Charlotte that families we know had one. It made sense to bring this character around to use as leverage for good behavior–especially one who hangs out in person but can’t be touched for fear of breaking his magic. Now comes the report from my daughter that one neighbor’s shelf elf is back and up to elf hijinks. Here I thought the elves didn’t appear until December 1. So that means our Ernie has either been detained by Santa or dead. Apparently this same elf down the street, Jeff, brought a letter detailing he’d been promoted to a team leader. That means Ernie will get a promotion, too, my 6-year-old pointed out to me not in those words. Great. Now in addition to secretly moving the dude to a new location every night ’til Christmas, I have to come up with documents and details about his so-called life in The North Pole. It gets better. One of Charlotte’s classmates explained in her family EACH person gets an elf. Really? No way is my house going to have four shelf elves creeping around. Hit the road and get back to toy making!
Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 53
This post was written by Tara on November 28, 2012
You must go to pinterest and search out this little elf. There are so many cute ideas on there, enough to get you to Christmas and back. Kids don’t forget traditions! You will be talking about Ernie many years into the future with a smile on your faces! Keep up the good work!
Tara, I so agree with you! We’re on our 5th Christmas with Charlie and it was much easier (and fun!) when we started because the kids’ friends didn’t have the Elf at that time. They do compare stories at school. Just this week in the latest issue of Parenting was a page of “suggestions” for the Elf on the Shelf. Here I thought they were just returning to our home every night and sitting someplace. The article had all sorts of ideas, from drawing faces w/ a dry erase marker on picture frames, to sitting by a sink holding a candy cane and fishing for Goldfish crackers in the sink filled w/ blue water. Please elves, just stick to the toymaking and don’t expect me to clean up after you!
I agree w/Terri…so many adorable things to do with the elf and it does make it fun for the kids. We had awesome traditions in our family and now that some have passed on, some didn’t, I really miss those days.
Have fun with it, it’s only a month and then he can go back to his book/box. However, more than 1 of him? Oh gosh no!
Our Hank popped out of the woodwork just this week too! Just need to make sure I remember every night to place Hank in a even better spot than before. When he “forgets” to move to another spot, that means he was just too tired
If she asks about why you only have one elf, just call it “downsizing” at the North Pole and increased demand for toys makes all the available elves have to stay in Santaland to make the toys. Only the promoted elves are on “kid watch”. This is a really cute idea and if it helps them behave, all the better. Maybe they should be promoted to year-round watch…I can say this, my kids are grown and gone. Haha…enjoy the laughter this season brings and count to 10 when those trying moments arrive. This kind of fun ends all too soon…I’m thinking of borrowing some kids this year to fill the gaps.
Love your blog…always makes me laugh. My husband was finding a place for our elf “Cookie” while i was reading your blog. Yes some parents are over achievers when it comes to these little elves. We just got our elf this year and I look forward to the memories my kids will have of this elf. I love their excitement every day to see where Cookie is:)
Our elf “Jet” is not coming out til Dec. 1 either, although lots of other elves have made their debut. Our kids have asked why he isn’t here yet and I just told them he was busy making toys but should be coming around soon. More than one elf? That is crazy
One of my young students told me all about this elf that appeared in her house. She smiled and giggled. Oh, to be young again!
I think it could be a fun activity to do before Christmas as long as it doesn’t get too competitive among families. Then the real message would be lost. Keep it simple so it becomes a tradition.
I love that each Elf has it’s own name in each house!
One of the cutest I’ve seen is to have him in the roll of toilet paper rolled down the stairs,with the paper strung out, like he went for a ride!!
Have fun little families.