The Christmas lights were up on the house, we had our tree, and we had pulled down the boxes of decorations from the garage. Christmas had returned to the Mafia household. The last tell-tale sign of the holidays? Our Elf on the Shelf. It’s almost as if when the Elf on the Shelf returns, Christmas officially returns. I love that little elf. Not because I think The Little Made Man tries to behave better with the threat of the “The Elf is watching” (I don’t.) But I think he does equate the return of the elf and his “boxes” (his advent calendar) with Christmas.
Once our elf makes his appearance, (Dec 1st), blame it on the innocence of childhood or plain old Christmas magic, but that little elf makes The Little Made Man jump out of bed every morning and go on the “hunt” for that silly little elf’s latest hiding spot. To watch him run from room to room, looking up, down and everywhere in-between, sometimes even calling out, “Sparkle, Sparrrrrrkle…where are you?” is heartwarming, adorable, and just plain precious. This year, our elf, “Sparkle,” (our elf has gotten a new name every year, first “House,” then “Math.” Not really sure how that happened, it just did. I just go with it.)
I’ve always been jealous of these online and Pinterest savvy Mommies who seem to really knock it out of the park with their Elf on a Shelf creativeness. While I’ve attempted to work in some sort of ideas other than going from the top right of the tv to the top left of the tv, there has never been anything exactly innovative in my methods. This year, I tell myself, will be different! This year, Mommy and the Elf will take Pinterest on with a holiday vengeance! I’ve already set my iPhone alarm with a Jingle Bells ringtone for exactly 9:30pm- no forgetting this year! Now, I’m not committing to a full month of picture-worthy, Pinterest-worthy Elf on the Shelf ideas, but my first attempts were met with squeals, giggles and “Mommy look!”- and that’s enough reward to at least keep trying. Let’s go Sparkle!
Yo Ho Yo Ho! Left over party decorations from our Jake and the Neverland Disney Playdate inspired this.
The Little Made Man had left out his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that day. The elf got extra points for having Raphael’s Sais Swords.
The day after The Little Made Man spent seven hours at the ER because of a gash in his finger that required stitches and a splint, “Sparkle” showed up, also in a splint as a sign of solidarity and support.
Is there an Elf on the Shelf in your house?
Just For You:
Ugh, im so lazy I haven’t bought a real elf on the shelf….we have the “touchable” elf and its played with all year round. I don’t think I have the energy for being creative like that, especially nightly. Good luck to you and Sparkle!
The touchable ones are cute too! Thank you I’ll need that luck to keep this up! xo
I am so, so bad at moving our elf, Pixie! Most of the time I go flying out of bed at 1am and bumble around in the dark trying to find a new location.
I love the splint as a sign of solidarity. So cute! I hope your little guy is feeling better.
Thank you Jennifer! The Little Made Man was just all giggles when he saw the “splint.” Totally worth it. Tell Pixie that Sparkle says hello!