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Elf on A Shelf run Amuck

by Deborah Cruz
elf, elf on a shelf, christmas, holidays

Elf on a Shelf Run Amuck~ Last year, we  I decided that I wanted to start the whole Elf on the Shelf tradition with my girls.Of course, once I saw what the Elf on the Shelf actually looked like, there was no way I was bringing that thing into my house.It would have scared the Christmas spirit right out of my girls. Thoughts of them sleeping with me nightly until they were 15 danced in my head and I nixed the Elf ( jokes on me because they are currently co-sleepers!) I wasn’t ready to abandon the entire idea, just that particular elf. You know me, I went on a quest until a could locate 2 more aesthetically pleasing elves. I acknowledge that I am so conforming to society’s idea of beauty. Shame on me.The girls were 2 and 4 and, let’s be honest, I needed a new bargaining chip.The fat guy threats just weren’t cutting it anymore. I needed something more tangible, not a threat of 1 day of the entire year. My girls are fairly certain that Santa is like God in the respect that he forgives..everything. But elves, well, those little bastards can be as vicious as Mommy wants them to be. Those little dudes are Santa’s henchmen; they bust kneecaps and bite ankles. And so began the tradition..in our home.

Anyone who knows the Big Guy and I know that, in most respects, we don’t half-ass anything when it comes to our girls, with the exception of when we are dropping the ball completely. Sky’s the limit, to infinity and beyond and all that bullshit. So, our elves ( yes, there are 2, one for each girl…its hard work wrangling babies) are sent via Air mail from the North Pole. You doubt me? Hey, there is postage paid and everything..even teeny tiny holes in the box so those minuscule Northern mafioso enforcers can breathe. Our elf on a shelf #1 and elf on a shelf #2 arrive with a letter from Santa explaining all ( yes, by now you should all be fully aware that we take everything just one step too far).

elf, elf on a shelf, christmas, holidays

Elf on A Shelf #1 has arrived

This year, Analee ( that’s the name since “someone’ forgot to remove the tag from the elf) arrived magically,a s if out of thin air.One day he was not here and the next, there he sat high in the Christmas tree, watching,waiting to be discovered.Keeping watch over my girls as they shouted and fought.And then it happened, Gabs made her way to touch her Clara ornament(you know the special one that she is forbidden to touch) and as her eyes rose from the ornament there perched 3/4s of the way up the tree, Analee.Gab’s let out a yelp. Then said nothing. She slyly made her way to her sister, who screamed and immediately ran to greet our old friend.She was all flushed and hyperventilating trying to get the words out of her mouth, the proclamation that “Analee” was back. Santa had sent him to watch over them. I feigned surprise and said hello. Then it was bedtime. A few days later, after many hours of Bella standing in front of the Christmas tree explaining away every transgression that she had levied against her sister (literally, I found her no less than 15 times talking to the elf on a shelf…explaining that Gabs made her do it and to tell Santa..it was Gabs, I tell you.All Gabs!) a package arrived in the mail.

Elf on a Shelf #2 reporting for Recon duty

The girls saw the brightly decorated box and knew instantly what the package contained. They gently placed it on the floor, in front of the fireplace ( there is a great amount of reverence given to the elves) and peeled the packaging back. Inside, they found a letter from Santa and the jolly smile of “Ed”, sent back by Santa to report for another year of duty in our household. The girls gasped. They love the elves but they are afraid to touch them, not even with a ten foot pole. Well, Bella is anyways.Gabs actually midget tossed poor Ed out of her room on his ear today when she was having a particularly hard time fighting a nap.Poor Ed!But that’s an entirely different post. I was asked to place Ed somewhere, because, silly you, elves don’t run around in front of humans during day light hours.Bella has a theory that she shared with me the other day.It goes a little something like this: Bella” Mommy, how do the elves tell Santa what we’re doing?” Me:”Well, Bella, the elves are magical so they just pop back over to Santa and give him a daily report.” She looks slightly perturbed and confused.Bella:’Mommy, why don’t they just call him?” Me:”Well, Bella they can magically just pop back to Santa, why waste the minutes?”(I’m slightly exasperated.This lie has gotten too big,You know I can’t lie!)Bella: “Mommy?” Me;”Yes?”Bella: “Mommy,  I think Santa has secret cameras in the house and can see everything we do!”I’m speechless.After all, she is only 5 years old.First, she has rationalized the Tooth Fairy and now elves with spy cams? Me:”No,Bella.they.pop.back. to .Santa.every.night!”

elf, elf on a shelf, christmas, holidays
This  letter from Santa makes me cry, a little bit.It choked me up reading it to the girls.

Every night, I move the elves to different positions and to different random spots in throughout the house; the bathroom ( taking a poop, surprise Ed’swatching), eating breakfast (Surprise Analee is in the chair next to you),putting your clothes in the hamper (Be careful you’ll squish Ed), reaching for the milk ( oooh, poor Ed is chilly in the fridge..no sneaking candy!)turn on the fireplace (oh no,be careful Analee is getting hot under the collar).You get the point?

 

elf, elf on a shelf, christmas, holidays

And so starts another year of the mischievousness that is the elf visitors.Elf on a shelf my ass, those little suckers are running all over my house. It scares my girls that our little visitors wield so much power in their tiny hands.They are roaming free, recording every single scream, yell, hair pull, piss my sister off moment/ talk back to my Mommy, fighting my bedtime, not going to eat my asparagus moment that goes down in our house..and apparently, so are Santa’s spy cams!So, remember you better watch out, you better not pout,you better not cry, I’m telling you why..Santa’s sending his henchmen to rat on you!Happy Christmas and beware the elf on a shelf!

elf, elf on a shelf, christmas, holidays

Elf on a shelf saves the Day

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24 comments

Helena 2010/12/09 - 12:05 am

I had the same reaction when I saw the real Elf on a Shelf doll! Creeeeepy. Analee and Ed are so much better.

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Bruna 2010/12/09 - 12:19 am

Wow! What a wonderful and fun idea. I have never heard of Elf on a Shelf. The letter rocked too and I love how you move those little elfers all over the house. SO fun! I may borrow this idea for next year if you don't mind!? My girls would absolutely *love* it. You are such a cool Mom!

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addicted2shius 2010/12/09 - 12:32 am

Honestly I've never hea

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addicted2shius 2010/12/09 - 12:34 am

Stupid iPhone! Ok but seriously I've never heard of Elf on A Shelf. Yeah I know seriously where have I been?

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KAE 2010/12/09 - 8:19 am

What a great idea! Where did you get the elves? even though my oldest no longer believes in Santa (tear..) she would have tons of fun helping me hide the elf from her sisters!

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Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip 2010/12/09 - 10:28 am

This is HILARIOUS!!! And genius!! I've never heard of this either, but it is so cute and smart. And fun! You have such a fun family. Your girls are so lucky to have such a creative and fabulous Mami. PS Now, I'm a little scared though. Are those elves spying on me too?

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Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip 2010/12/09 - 10:29 am

I've been a good girl. No really.

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That one girl 2010/12/09 - 10:51 am

Way to make me realize that I cry at EVERYTHING! Santa's letter totally made me tear up.

I was debating Elf on the Shelf but now that I hear your story, I'm TOTALLY doing it next year!

You are hilarious by the way!

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sara 2010/12/09 - 11:11 am

Not a fan of the "real" elf, but have seen plenty of cute ones. I can't wait to start this tradition.

My sister's elf is quite mischevious…one year he wrapped the tree in toilet paper and got stuck, another year he threw their basket of clean clothes all over the room while they slept. You just never know what he's going to do!

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Truthful Mommy 2010/12/09 - 8:28 am

@Helena,
Yes,the original Elf scares the crap outta me! So, not in my house.I found these cute replacements:)

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Mommy NaniBooboo 2010/12/09 - 1:34 pm

I would like to be your child. You guys are magic!
We are soooo having an elf on the shelf next year… a cute one.
My son's two, so I figure we've got another year. 🙂
Also, you MUST do the Portable North Pole- I just posted about it today. Your girls will love it! My son flipped.

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Day 2 Day Living 2010/12/09 - 3:37 pm

I wish I would've known about elf on the shelf when my kids were little. I just found out about it a few weeks ago. They are 15 and 12…I don't think they will fall for it.

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all.things.fadra 2010/12/09 - 3:52 pm

I don't really like "the elf" either. In fact, we had the exact same elf when I was growing up but he was dressed in a gold outfit. And we didn't talk to him. All that matters is that my son believes and he is surprisingly not creeped out by it 🙂

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Lydia 2010/12/09 - 10:59 am

I had the first reaction when I saw the elf on a shelf! Creepy. Like roams in the night to attack you creepy.But I like your elves alot. My kid is like your kid though, it would just get too big. Love the spy cam idea, you definately got a very clever cookie there!

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Galit Breen 2010/12/10 - 4:07 pm

LOVE all of this! the elves! the tree! the pics! the lack of half-assed-ness! lol well done as usual, mama! i hope that the threat of the elves keeps right on working its magic for you all! 🙂

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Wendy Walker Cushing 2010/12/11 - 1:42 pm

Love your post! I get so excited hearing about this tradition! I have also written my story about Christmas elves but it won't be posted until next week at http://www.wendyshat.blogspot.com I have done Christmas elves for over 20 years {long before Elf on the Shelf came around- which I refuse to read because it's not an original anyways!} We have tons of them that come to our home still to this day and my now grown children wouldn't have it any other way! Enjoy and check my post next week if you want more ideas on the subject.

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Naila Moon of the Grey Wolf 2010/12/13 - 5:48 pm

Oh…ha ha ha…I love it! Santa's little henchmen! Great stuff!
~Naila Moon

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parenting ad absurdum 2010/12/13 - 6:13 pm

Love it!! And your decorations put ours to shame…

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Kit 2010/12/13 - 10:10 pm

I love this post! My kids have been asking for an "Elf on the Shelf" and I REFUSE to spend $40 for that thing. A rogue elf would fit in PERFECTLY at our house!
Love,
Kit

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[…] It started with Analee arriving in the mail in Richmond, Virginia. He came in a beautiful gift box with a letter from the man in the red suit because he knew the girls were having a horrible year leaving their friends and everything they knew and moving across the country. Analee came to give love and moral support. […]

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