Elf on the Shelf

When Ally was just a baby I took her on an airplane across the entire US to visit my grandparents in Missouri. We spent an afternoon at the local theme park, Silver Dollar City, where I found this darling book that included the most adorable vintage looking elf. The book was called Elf on the Shelf. I remember looking at the $30 price tag thinking, ugh, I already spent so much, do I really need to spend another $30 on a book? Of course I did. 

Five years later that $30 seems like pennies in comparison to the joy that little Elf has brought to our family at Christmas time. Elf on the Shelf was just a book I found in Branson Missouri five years ago. Now it has become a household name, sold at major retailers like Target, Pottery Barn Kids, and even a movie based on the story.

We named our elf Buddy, after of course our favorite Christmas movie The Elf.  For the first year, Buddy pretty much stayed in the same spot since Ally had no idea how to comprehend a stuffed elf moving night after night. As the years have passed, our elf has become a bit more adventurous. In fact, this year, he came with a partner, a cute little white girl elf. Ally named her Snowflake.

 

Buddy and Snowflake spent most of December doing crazy things.  I took photos of them so my kids could remember our fun mornings, but there were a few days when I was out of town (in which Dan took his job very seriously, wink wink) and a few times we were racing out the door when I didn't have time to take photos.  And let's not pretend there weren't a couple of nights I went to bed forgetful and woke up in a panic at 4am to run downstairs and work some magic. 

One of the first mornings after they arrived, the kids found them in Hudson's room.  We think they were playing "Tangled". 

 We found out they love drinking Starbucks just like us! 

 

One morning they were having a hot cocoa date right on our kitchen table!  Ally and Hudson thought this was so fun.  They got to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the elves. 

Mama wasn't real thrilled when I discovered they'd removed all my decorations from the coffee table to make snow angels in my faux snow. 

 

But they won me back when they made the tiniest cake pops I'd ever seen. 

 

Ally and Hudson gobbled up each and every cake pop, giggling all the way. 

 

Then we discovered them in the nativity.  We think they really did "find Jesus" that day. 

 

They played lots of games and spent a good portion of time in the play room.  We found them playing Candyland, Scrabble, and even reading a miniature flamingo book to an entire herd of stuffed animal flamingos. 

 

One time they decided to try their hand at a Jenny Cookie.  They did well!

 

They must have gotten an ego, and attempted cakes.  Still can't decide if I like Snowflake's ruffle cake better or Buddy's buttercream swirls. 

 

One day I picked Ally up from school and she practically flew to the car to tell me Buddy had sent her a candygram to school! 

 

I decided our elves had found Jesus when we couldn't find them!  My children spent a good portion of that morning thinking the elves had stayed in the north pole because they had been a little naughty the day before.  Then we found the elves in the car, all ready for church. 

 

CinderELFa.  This day was for my little princess Ally.  Just imagine her reaction. 

The morning after I came back from LA, Ally's dollhouse was filled with elf friends.  This particular day has to go down as one of my favorite mornings with my children.  Thank goodness for iPhones with incredible video to capture Ally's expression and excitement.  Dan and I still groggy in bed, and Ally practically jumping up and down for us to come and look.  It was epic. 

The elves weren't always good elves. Sometimes they were a bit mischevious.  But maybe they just wanted to remind my kids that you really do have to brush your teeth every morning.  Santa's rules. 

 

I think this morning Scout was the first to find Buddy and Snowflake.  His strong puppy nose found them eating elf donuts under our Christmas tree. 

 

Before we knew it, it was the night before Christmas Eve.  The elves may or may not have stayed up late helping me wrap gifts. 

The time had come for Ally and H to say goodbye to Buddy and Snowflake.  They took it pretty hard.  Ally made each of them a card, appropriately labeled with their first letters of their names.  They both said their goodbyes and thanked the elves for all the fun things the elves had left for them, and how much they'd miss them until next year. 

 

I think the elves were sad to leave as well, because they left us this giant reminder on our frame wall Christmas morning! 

See you next year Buddy and Snowflake!