Any magic elves making an appearance?

[java]

Funny thing here is one of my kids is beyond believing in Santa- she is 11. But she is totally buying the ELF! (At first skeptical but some of his antics make her think he might be real.) I caught her talking to him!! She's not taking any chances.

 

[albertamommyof4]

ours did arrive this morning his name is Jingle Bells and he arrived bearing a lego advent calender . My kids are 11,9,6 and 2 and well they all loved it , now for all the ideas to come , i know that one night soon he will be found under the tree with all the plastic candy canes and there will be a new box of real candy canes for the kids to put on the tree, i love the green toilet water idea

 

[hinodis]

Ours arrived this morning. She threw everybody's stocking on the floor and was found hanging in DD's stocking.

 

[Avonlady1001]

How is the book? I'm torn between a cheaper elf w/ no book & the set. What do you all think?

 

[scouthawkk]

I think Fred will be arriving tonight/tomorrow morning. Didn't get him from the site posted...he came to us from somewhere else last year (got him at a cars shop, I think). This is Fred's second year with us, and it is our understanding that his work at the North Pole is done, so he can start his visit early. And I have it on good authority that Fred ran into DS's grandpa at Disney last week and found out who his favorite hockey player is, so I think he may be getting a new jersey when Fred arrives!

 

[luvmy3jewels]

How is the book? I'm torn between a cheaper elf w/ no book & the set. What do you all think?

The book is cute, but if I did it over again I would just order an elf and write my own letter.

I ordered the Elf on the Shelf and liked the book but not the elf. So I ended up ordering a different elf to use with the book and wrote a letter addressed to my kids. Our elf arrived on our doorstep as we were decorating the tree on Thanksgiving night. The kids loved it, especially my 8 and 6 year olds (4 year old is terrified of Santa). Our elf is named Buddy (after the movie) and so far he has hung candy canes from our chandelier, hung from an interior wreath, and joined dd's nativity scene. The first two days after he arrived, dd and ds got up before 6 a.m. to look for him. Yesterday and today, dd has been sick so she has not felt like getting up early. I had thought that Buddy would sneak into our luggage for the pre-Christmas cruise we are taking in two weeks. However if it means we will get up before 6 while on vacation, the elf's going to stay home.

 

[caribear]

I bought an elf last year and just remembered I had it when I saw this thread!! What kind of letter do you send with your elf?? I am not sure what to do! Do you let your kids touch/play with the elf?? or can he/she not be touched or played with??

 

[dbelmo]

I have an elf, and I love the idea of him arriving on St. Nicholas Day-- but I need a letter to explain to my 8 and 5 year old!! Please help!!
TIA

dbelmo

 

[2bearsmom]

Can I post the letter I used? I would be happy to post my letter and just delete my info.

 

[caribear]

Can I post the letter I used? I would be happy to post my letter and just delete my info.

Please do!

 

[2bearsmom]

FROM THE DESK OF SANTA

Dear Evan & Connor,
Every year I send elves out after Thanksgiving to special children around the world. I am very busy at the North Pole and these elves keep an eye on the children for me and send me reports which let me know how they are doing and if they are behaving. The elves have been given strict orders not to move around during the day because, as we all know, people cannot see an elf move or that elf will be stripped of their magic. Because of this, elves stay still all day but once a family has gone to bed they are free to move around and write their reports for me.

Just a quick note: while my little elves have been given the very best training they sometimes forget their manners and get into all sorts of mischief at their human homes! I certainly hope most of my little elves behave, but I understand that not being able to move all day long sometimes makes them a little bit highly-strung, and they have to get that energy out somehow! Just remember that I can't guarantee good behavior by my elves!

Now let me present your elf! You have to come up with a name for your special elf. Please make your elf feel welcome; they do enjoy snacking on crackers and love a cold drink of water. Your elf will come home to the North Pole nightly to report your good and bad behavior to me. Please have him ready for his departure back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve by placing him under the Christmas tree so I may collect him. I would love it if you could also put out a plate of your delicious cookies for me and maybe a glass of milk. I get so hungry on Christmas Eve. My reindeer also love their carrots and magic reindeer food you always leave for them.

All the elves have been watching and talking about you – especially your own special elf. Everyone was so proud of you both this year; Evan when you started first grade and got all A's on your report card and doing so well playing soccer. Connor when you started using the potty and stopped sucking your finger. You are both becoming such big boys. I can’t wait until Christmas Eve. I’m so excited to come to Your Town again this year. I always enjoy stopping at your house. Maybe this year you can remind Zoe of my arrival so she doesn't bark and growl at me! Last year a couple of my younger reindeer were a little scared. Take care and remember to be good boys as your elf will report all behavior to me.

I then wrote in cursive Love Santa.

I am having way too much fun with this, my dh is starting to think I'm crazy and probably can't wait until Candycane Toymaker goes home on Christmas Eve!

 

[caribear]

Great letter! Thanks so much for posting!!!

 

[dbelmo]

THANK YOU!!!

 

[phinsphan]

I've heard of this idea. In our house we took it in a slightly different direction but it could work with this idea too.

We had either my FIL/MIL or a neighbor friend be the "elf". We would pre-arrange bedtime with them that the kids would be in bed at 9 *for example* and so we'd be with the kids in their rooms and the person we asked would come to each bedroom window while we were with them and shine a flashlight into each of their windows. That way the kids REALLY thought the elf was real because we were both in their rooms when it happened. Now that I'm divorced and have older kids I use them for my youngest as the elf. They love it and so do I.

Then we'd write them a note each night the elf came and let them know what the elf observed that day with them. It was not an every night occurrence and the kids had NO idea what night that the elf would show up so every night from Thanksgiving until Xmas Eve they were good!!

Man how I hated when Christmas came and I couldn't use that "bribe" any longer! LOL

 

[T. Lynn]

I think we have the same elf!

Our's will be there when they wake up tomorrow. His name is Buddy because we loved Elf. He didn't bring gifts, but maybe he will later

Ours is Buddy also due to the movie Elf. He actually arrived this morning and DD took him to her room to watch "his" movie.