Anyone else who can't wait for Elf on the Shelf to start this year????

[everylastbreath]

You can start pretty much anytime after Thanksgiving, from what I've read some people start Dec 1st or later because it get's tough torwards the end to come up with new ideas!! But it is sooooo much fun!! some days are more crazy than others. We start the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[Juliegirl1]

I'd love to hear some new ideas. Here is what our elf did last year:

1. Made snow angels in sugar on the counter.
2. Was caught "fishing" for goldfish (made a cane pole from a stick and thread)
3. Wrapped my son's room with tp and was caught up in the tp hanging off the fan (this was my son's favorite)
4. Gift wrapped my son's door while he was inside sleeping - son refused to take it down and crawled under the wrapping for two weeks until I finally insisted that it come down so I could change his sheets
5. Was caught reading Christmas books to all of my son's webkinz
6. Was found playing Spiderman in the Christmas tree
7. Disassembled my table centerpiece and was riding in the sleigh from the centerpiece and was being pulled by a new reindeer webkinz
8. Was hiding in the freezer with a gallon of peppermint ice cream because he missed home
9. Was caught watching Elf with all of my son's stuffed animals.
10. Got out all of our games and mixed up all the pieces but was playing Candyland using the tokens from Monopoly.

 

[DebMcDonald]

We've had Jingle several years now and the girls are so excited for him to come back, though I suspect for my 9 year old that we're getting towards the end. Jingle arrives on Thanksgiving morning via the mail, sort of, and he stays with us through x-mas eve. He's baked cakes, played with the american girl stuff, has been outside sledding in Bitty Babies winter jacket, he's feed and overfeed the cat, he's played and make crafts, he loves the computer, he also loves their bedroom, he's hung from lights, he's been under the tree, he's been in the tree.

Our elf also has a myspace page and the girls check it every day to see what Jingle is writing to Santa. He's also made other friends from this board and they are friends with us on Myspace to.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I too got an Analee doll. I'm worried that we are going to miss something without the book. My DD is 21 months so this is our first year doing it. Do you think I should try to get the official book or just save my money.

We only used the book the first year when he arrived and because I didn't love that elf I went out and bought a much bigger one, we now don't use the book at all.

 

[sydneysmom]

Oh my gosh, this thread is HILARIOUS !!! Honestly, I have seen "Elf on the Shelf " but I never knew what the heck it was. ( I thought, okay, you read the story and there's this toy...I'll pass). I never knew there was so much more to it !!

Your stories are so hilarious. It's such fun to read what everyone's Elf has done and gotten into mischief ! I have to say, after reading this, I feel like I need to get one now !! This is awesome !! Thanks everyone for making my day a little happier from reading all your stories !!!

 

[jessica52877]

Here is what I did last year with Peppermint Jingles. The kids have forgot about him but it might be time to remind them. They've had cabin fever lately and are starting to get on each other's nerves!

peppermint jingles to the rescue!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=177142&id=744156479&saved

Cute ideas!


I bought the club penguin elf for my son. He just loves him and can't wait until he returns. I never really told him the story, just left a little note with him the first day. DS is almost 8 and he laughs so hard.

I just make up what I do as I go along, some days are better then others. I think I only forgot one day last year to make him to something!

 

[disneydreamer1970]

Patches is going to arrive early this year (somewehre around November 6th) because he is going to play a big part in the reveal of the kids suprise trip on December 4th.

He is also going to WDW for his first time with us and will cause some mischief while he is there.

DD was just talking about him and is excited for his visit as well. Some of the most mischevious things he has done is TP'd the house, hung DD's underwear all over the Christmas tree (she was mortified) and he took my new Tahoe out to McDonalds for a happy meal. We woke up that morning and could not find him. DH thought it would be a blast for Patches to do some 360's on the front yard and parked the truck crooked by the front porch He was found sitting in the drivers seat with a Happy Meal box and empty food warppers around him.

He also has a facebook page and will be posting updates from WDW!

We are excited for his arrival!!

Trish

 

[Crystal0608]

We got our elf Twichen last year from TJ Maxx. This year they have tons of cute matching Annalee ones for $12ea. I want them all!!! I'm so ready for this year too!

Last year closer towards Christmas Twichen brought a book, dvd, game, or treat about everyday for the kids. The kids caught him in the freezer, spinning on the ceiling fan, and other silly places. I set up an email account for Twichen and he would email them about their behavior and clues on what the next prize would be. That was my kids favorite part! He went back to the North Pole during the day, to build toys, check Santa's naughty list, send emails, that kind of thing. We took him to many holiday events, including to ds's Christmas play and got front row seats. I had relatives wanting to pose with Twichen in pics and other parents asking me about him. He was a supastar .

Here are a few emails Twichen sent the kids. I've highlighted the ones in red that my kids sent him.
Hello from the North Pole!
Hi, my name is Twichen and Santa sent me from the North Pole to keep an eye on both of you and make sure you behave! I like to have fun too, but I only play at night when you are asleep. You were at grandma's house last night when Dasher dropped me off. I hope you love your movie, it's one of my favorites!!
Love, Twichen (he left the dvd ELF & was on upside down on the tv watching it)

How's it hanging E & C?
I hope you had fun watching your Scooby Doo dvd last night! Thanks for saying I rock, C! Ya'll kids need to wake up when your mom tells you too, especially you C! I got REALLY bored watching you sleep this morning so I decided to take some flying lessons like the reindeer. Whoo, spinning on the ceiling fan made me dizzy! Thanks for taking me down E. I hope you like your treats I left in the living room. Have fun at basketball practice and remember I'll be watching!
Toodles! Twichen

Potty Time!
Hey C, boy you gotta wake up when your parents tell you to in the morning! I hope you had fun giving out your birthday invitations. My birthday is coming up soon too, December 25th! E, I saw you skating last night, you go girl! Why didn't somebody tell me those were cotton balls and not marshmallows? My tummy has been giving me trouble all night and those crazy cats won't let me potty in peace. I hope ya'll have a great day at school. C, listen to Mrs. W at tutoring and E, don't forget to ask the date and time of your play, I don't want to miss it!
XOXOX Twichen (he was in the bathroom & got into the cotton balls, was on commode. Left peppermint bath confetti for dd)

-reply from dd
Me and C really like the present you gave me of the bath confetti. It turned pink! Guess what? We got penny whistles from school. We hope you write soon. Please write tonight or in the morning.
Love, E & C

Fa la la la la la la la
I had a lot of fun having storytime with your stuffed animals! They really liked listening to Wind in the Willows, which is a favorite elf classic, we really love to read. C, I want a good check mark on your behavior today! E, have fun at school!
Holiday Hugs & Mistletoe Kisses! Twichen (he was reading Wind in the Willows to C's animals on the couch)

-Twichen in response to dd's email
Pink water, that is superlistic! Penny whistles are awesome, kinda like a flute. Elves make lots of them this time of year. I have a secret, I was at storytime too! I snuck in your mommy's pocketbook. It was crowded in there! I had lots of fun and my favorite song was....jingle bells! Oh, how was the Winds in the Willows book C? I saw you holding it. Well, time for you two to go to bed.
Your littlest buddy, Twichen
PS Don't eat the yellow snow!


-one of E's emails
Thanks for the movie Monster vs Aliens, it was in mommy's pocketbook. We looked in the kitchen and we couldn't find you, then we figured out that you were in mommy's pocketbook. I can't believe it was right in front of us. C wants to know what you were doing in there? Please write back.
That so tinsel? On our beds? On the tree skirt? With our stuffed animals? (Twichen had left a note @ an elf movie on tv and "thats so tinsel" was the next clue. Kept them quiet and watching the movie, lol.)

Twichen response-
Oh mistletoe, I'm not telling until in the morning. I hope you enjoyed watching my friends on tv, I would LOVE to be in special forces...
I'm sooooo tinsel, Twichen

 

[libinatorsmom]

I cant wait either!!!!! "Frankie" is ready I have started a list but need more ideas!!!! Cant wait for our elf and my daughters been talking about it too!!!!

 

[saxman]

Waiting for Quabbie (I guess that's how we spell it) to appear. Named by a very creative 4 year old.

 

[Kathi OD]

I'll look forward to it when I'm old enough to think about having a family...

But since this is the Budget Board, you don't actually need a real elf toy or anything. I think I would have been more likely not to believe if it had just been a toy.

Brownie had a tendency to be peeking in the windows whenever I was being a little bad around the holiday season. Always the window behind me, naturally, and by the time I turned my head he had just left.

He never did too much for me in the way of pre-Christmas festivities, but he would come with Santa and give me a kiss while Santa was delivering presents. (Amazing what kind of things you can do with bright red lipstick and a heavy sleeping child with an active imagination)

This is the first I've heard of "Elf on the Shelf," but each of our kids (now 32,30, & 24) had their own personal elf (Suzy, Jack, & Sammy). Their elf checked up on them throughout the year for Santa, but was never seen. Starting a couple of weeks before Christmas, they would find little treats with their names on them around the house. Sometimes the elves would stir up some kind of little mischief. Then, sometime on Christmas Eve day, a small gift that was on their list would appear, tagged from their elf.

Same kind of idea, without buying anything (elf and book) extra. If you want to use an elf, and save money, you can usually buy little ones at the dollar store.

 

[everylastbreath]

I have to say, I am keeping a list of all mentioned so I can use them this year! Keep those ideas coming!!

 

[I*heart*MickeyMouse]

I can't wait for Christopher Popinkins to arrive! I chose Christopher over the 'original' elf on a shelf because a.) the original is EVERYWHERE - huge display in the doorway of the Hallmark store and another big display in the KID section of Barnes & Noble, and it's obvious that the elf comes with the book; and b.) I find the original to be very creepy!!

I snuck outside after dinner one night and propped the book up against the recycle bins on the steps, so when dd brought the recycling out after we cleaned up she'd see it. She was PUMPED when I explained that an elf left the book while we were eating, and was so fast that we didn't even see him (you can see the recycling/steps from the dinner table)

http://www.popinkins.com/
http://www.facebook.com/popinkins?v=wall

 

[edk35]

Totally clueless about Elf on the Shelf??


I promise I was not born under a rock. Can someone please EXPLAIN THIS.

 

[cruiserkaren]

I'd like to start doing this for my girls this year (7 &3). Anyone have experience starting it with a 7 year old? I know she'll ask where the elf was at last year and the year before...

 

[SILLYANDI]

Totally clueless about Elf on the Shelf??


I promise I was not born under a rock. Can someone please EXPLAIN THIS.

There is a book called "elf on a Shelf" basically about Santa sending an elf to spy on kids to see if they are deserving of presents but he/she is an elf and gets into a lot of meyham. You can buy the book with a little elf doll and when it comes to visit your house you can have lots of fun "adventures" (ie the things described in this thread.)

We never bought the book, just an elf I saw at a store, and Santa wrote a letter that came with the elf when he showed up on our mantle. There are people on etsy & ebay that make their own cuter versions with the story attached.

It's all about having fun surprising hte kids with elf antics, with a little hint of "you better be better than the elf or you're not getting presents". Let's face it, it's hard to be WORSE then the elf!

 

[HLAuburn]

Is the book cute?? I'm debating on buying just an elf, but does the story tell all about the elf and the things he gets into? Sounds pretty cute, but would the kids miss out on the "story" without the book?

 

[semo233]

Does anyone have a link to last year's thread with ideas?

I had never heard of Elf on the Shelf when my DD14 was younger either, but bought an Annalee doll for my sister last year. We celebrate Thanksgiving at our house and a box "arrived in the mail" the day before addressed to her 4 and 2 year old (I told them that Santa must have known that they would be at my house). The return address was The North Pole. When they opened the sealed box, there was a letter fron Santa and the elf. The letter explained what the elf does and since it was a new elf, they could name him/her.

The official Elf on the Shalf gives me the creeps!

 

[semo233]

I found it!!! Last year's thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2321254

 

[Just*the*ten*of*us]

aww, I love the creative ideas! Our elf Sebastian never did anything but hide each morning....this year he'll definitely have to get into some trouble while everyone is fast asleep!