Elf on the Shelf while on vacation

[wdwmoose]

I think he'll have to be flying. It's a must! Yay!! I'm crazy excited. How many more days until December??


Oh! I think I could probably make a doom buggy, even. A couple of ghosts and a doom buggy or two.

I'm trying to come up with fun ideas that won't leave a big mess for housekeeping (I'll be avoiding glitter for that reason)

 

[Rubygoose]

My kids got so concerned about our elf getting touched by people visiting our house. We had a cleaning lady come before we had a Christmas party, and our elf fell off the TV before the cleaning lady came. Both kids screamed at me not to pick him up, and to just leave him on the floor. So I used a big spoon from the kitchen and lay him on the mantle. Well, the cleaning lady did move him, but I tried to convice the kids that he just sat up on his own. So, for this reason, I wouldn't bring him to a hotel. The kids would be so stressed about housekeeping injuring him! So, instead of coming on any trips with us, I think I would take a bunch of pictures of him doing silly things at home, enjoying our house while we're away. Then I'd get whoever is cat sitting for us to email the pics each day.

 

[wdwmoose]

My kids got so concerned about our elf getting touched by people visiting our house. We had a cleaning lady come before we had a Christmas party, and our elf fell off the TV before the cleaning lady came. Both kids screamed at me not to pick him up, and to just leave him on the floor. So I used a big spoon from the kitchen and lay him on the mantle. Well, the cleaning lady did move him, but I tried to convice the kids that he just sat up on his own. So, for this reason, I wouldn't bring him to a hotel. The kids would be so stressed about housekeeping injuring him! So, instead of coming on any trips with us, I think I would take a bunch of pictures of him doing silly things at home, enjoying our house while we're away. Then I'd get whoever is cat sitting for us to email the pics each day.

Yeah,we had to develop a rule about adults touching Elfkins if in the name of safety (dogs and baby brothers can be very dangerous). And luckily, we've developed a system for reintroducing magic should he be accidentally touched. Purposeful touching means he has to stay at the North Pole for a bit.

 

[Pesky]

Our elf sits around per usual the morning of departure and then we tell the kids to get in the car while we carry out the last of the bags. When they are out of the house, we grab the elf, wrap it in some clothes and stuff it in the suitcase. Next morning the elf magically appears where we are. Ta-dah! The family board has several threads about what to do with the elf while traveling. The elf can be reading books on the table, hanging by a lamp, sitting on the tv, hiding in a suitcase, etc. Just make sure that if you are a family that observes the rules of no touching, be sure the elf is somewhere that he/she is not in the way in a small room.

 

[wdwmoose]

Our elf sits around per usual the morning of departure and then we tell the kids to get in the car while we carry out the last of the bags. When they are out of the house, we grab the elf, wrap it in some clothes and stuff it in the suitcase. Next morning the elf magically appears where we are. Ta-dah! The family board has several threads about what to do with the elf while traveling. The elf can be reading books on the table, hanging by a lamp, sitting on the tv, hiding in a suitcase, etc. Just make sure that if you are a family that observes the rules of no touching, be sure the elf is somewhere that he/she is not in the way in a small room.

Oh! I hadn't though to check the family board. thanks for the suggestion!

 

[KellaCat]

Oh Man! I totally forgot about Elfie!! He'll have to make the trip with us! This just added a whole new dimension to my planning! LOL!

 

[Gisele]

I love that Kella! lol

 

[Gisele]

OK so I was thinking about some possible fun scenarios for elfi; he or she or a he/she is found with their hand on the toiety handle, as if about to flush it. Or they can be perched upon said handle. Or can have a tiny toilet brush in it's hand, as if he is about to clean it. Or any variation of said toiety scenario...

Any burned cookies? That was Elfie's fault man... not the 12 year old that did the baking at home. You can have him next to the oven, but not too close, after all a singed elf is an angry one!

For the adult horror fan in your life... a tiny knife in his hands as he is perched upon the shower curtain... perfect after watching "Psycho" (The original)

Place little foot prints upon a sleeping persons forehead etc and in the morning ask what happened? Then point to (After having the realization of course) Elfie, which upon discovering the color of the tracks matching that to which is upon Elfie's feet. Ah behold the culprit.

Lets see, another one off of the top of my head (As it were)

an oldie but a goodie.... loosen up a salt and pepper shaker, ta da, then have the bad boy elf standing right next to the mess.

I guess that is enough madness for the time being..... although I do have many an idea, I just cannot share them all at the moment if ever, because not all of my ideas are G. Then there is the added dimension of not wanting to get writers cramp.

 

[wdwmoose]

I kind of love your sense of humor, Gisele. Unfortunately my kiddos wouldn't, so much, lol.

 

[Gisele]

 

[Freesia123]

You could do pictures at home and "get them in the mail" at the hotel showing just how upset he is to be left behind!

 

[Gisele]

I like that idea. Ha!

Can also show him in pics as throwing a wild elf party. After all, when the family is away, all the elfs come together to play..... and party and drink beer, get pretzels all over the floor, swing from chandliers, eat way too much pizza, hold belching contests, knock things over and blame it on the cat, terrorize the neighbors: after all why wait for special occasions to do that! Play spin the rum bottle, hold drinking contests, throw garbage about, leave all of the toilet seats up, and Order way too many ppv movies! And counting......

 

[Sands]

Hopefully this is the right place to post this.

We'll be taking our DL vacation the first week of December; which is about the time Elfkins, our Elf of the Shelf, shows up. Does anyone have any experience keep the EotS thing going while away from home?

I think he'll be hiding somewhere in the car the day we actually start the roadtrip, but I'm kind of at a loss after that. I feel like he'd probably go with us - since the story says he flies back to the North pole every night anyways. It's not like he'd be unable to fly to CA instead of AZ, you know?

We have done this before and had a cast member put our elf in the room just before we go up. We then would take him around without the kids knowing and take pictures with characters. Then in the summer our elf sends the kids a letter (with pictures) saying he is on vacation at Disney looking forward to next Christmas.