How did you give your elf on the shelf?

[mommy2emily]

How did you give your kids the elf on the shelf. I was thinking of pretending they received it in the mail from Santa. Any other ideas on how to give it?

 

[surfergirl602]

I plan on wrapping a shoe box top and bottom separately and putting it in the mailbox on december 1st with a note from santa in the box.

 

[2poohbears]

we started this tradition last year. the elf on the shelf I bought came with a book, so the day after Thanksgiving, the elf showed up in our living room along with the book. The book explains that the elf was sent by Santa, and asks us to name the elf. At night the elf would go back to the North Pole to help Santa, and every few days he would show up again - sometimes with a note or a small treat, pajamas, a book...and he always landed in a different spot. On Christmas Eve morning, the elf leaves a special small gift and says that he must return to help pack the sleigh, but he will think of them often and return again next year.

 

[ljhmom]

Our elf arrived the night before Thanksgiving in a box with a letter from the north pole while we were at church.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

I love our elf "Alfred"-he is actually my elf from when I was little!

In Kindergarten my son was talking about the elf his teacher had in her classroom. I told him about the elf I had when I was little, and lo and behold Alfred showed up the next day with a letter explaining how happy he was to be with our family again and that he had just been waiting for the right time to join us!

The funny thing is I had just recently picked up some decorations from when I was little from my mom, and made sure to grab my Alfred. It was perfect timing!

I told my mom about the "Elf on a Shelf" craze now and she wishes she had thought to market it since we did it over 30 years ago! LOL

 

[lindsmom]

I got a priority mail box from the post office, cut holes in the top (with an apple corer), and I have a cancellation stamp that says "north pole". Put the elf in, and some treats for the ride and a letter from Santa. While we were at Thanksgiving dinner my neighbor delivered it to our front step so it magically appeared while we were out.

ETA: This year, "Ziggy" the elf will be arriving a little later because I found Thanksgiving to Christmas to be a little too long to keep coming up with ideas.

 

[Mommy2JulietJocelyn]

We have 3 elves - one for each girl - "Jingle", "Jangle" & "Bell" they will come on Dec 1st. they came with a letter last yr - just sitting on the table. My mom has an Elf in Training coming to her house at Thanksgiving. Not sure how they are coming this yr though.

 

[bakalorber]

When we bought ours our DD's were actually with us. There was a Santa there and we "thanked" him for letting one of his elfs come home with us. The guy knew the story and totally played along. It was perfect!! My daughter even hugged him again and said thanks for our new friend. It was really special.

 

[crystaltink]

I have never heard of elf on a shelf!!! I LOVE it!!! I've got to start this tradition! Thank you!!!!

 

[MaidMarian]

Jingles arrives in his very own stocking hanging on the fireplace. He brings his blanket, pillow, and "magic" snowflakes along with a note and candy. He arrives the morning after the tree is decorated (since the tree lights are his signal to come) which is usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

 

[summerrluvv]

Our elf is arriving today. I bought him off ebay yesterday and the woman lives local. I haven't decided yet, I was going to bring him along with us on our trip on the polar express type train ride we are doing, and say Santa gave it to me to pass along, but that's not until mid december. So I might have it under the tree the Sunday after thanksgiving since I'm putting the tree up on Friday and Saturday