Return of the Elves

Elf on the Shelf is totally one of our favourite Christmas traditions, though some years I've put a lot more effort in than others.  Last year I didn't even really take photos, definitely no elaborate set-ups!  This year we've been playing it simple too, but I'm keeping track of his moves over on instagram.  The kids are fuuuuully behind these guys!  They got a note from the elves this year (we've adopted a second pal), and Eleanor decided this was irrefutable proof that the elves weren't just toys...

Quick catch up

Happy Christmas and New Years!  Things are pretty quiet around here, hanging out with family and so on.  We had a lovely Christmas and sweet (quiet) New Years, and now we are in the process of firming up our plans for 2014.  I'll be back posting sometime very soon, but for now book-reading and family hanging is where it's at.  Love yas!

Yep, joining Ma's wooden nativity with some gifts of gold. 

Atticus Elf - Days 17, 18, 19 & 20

Aww guys, I totally recommend Elf on the Shelf, or any handmade/homemade version.  It's so magic listening to Eleanor scamper around the house each morning, hunting for this mischievous elf.

Although his icing sugar angel did turn into this...  Kid had a lot of icing sugar in his ears.

So much fun using all these props...

Actually the props have been the best/easiest part of Elf on the Shelf this year.  Before the start of December I collected up any items I thought might be useful and put them all in a basket.  Easy to dip into if I'm strapped for ideas.

But we've been doing quite a few easy ones too, and truthfully, they are equally well received.  The joy lies in the hunt and the discovery, we have found.  So we've toned it down a bit.

Only a few nights left now.  Kinda sad.  We've had fun.

Advent Activities - Picnicking

Atticus's picnic spread foreshadowed our own sunny day picnic adventure.  We even had a matching little blonde baby at ours :-).

Happy summer days...  And also - Garland's shorts by Croutons, and sweet bonnet by Heartfelt.  Best dressed (even if his tee-shirt is too small).

Atticus Elf - Days 11, 12, 13 & 16

This past week has seen a couple of reruns and one no-show ("sometimes Atticus Elf doesn't come here" - E informs me).  

Literally, an elf on our shelf...

 Christmas finds the miniature garden.

 Snowflake bungy.

Eleanor's favourite moment by far was finding Atticus in the fridge with a bottle of pink milk.  Cue hysterical laughter all morning.  The best.  It would seem that my elaborate set-ups aren't quite reaching the right target audience...  It's the cheekiness she's after (how fitting).

Atticus Elf - Days 7, 8, 9 & 10

Back with more Elf on the Shelf adventures...

This week we've opted for some easier Elf positions, due to some late night events.  This one was a simple as anything, the Barbie violin is a pretty cute prop!  (And fyi, I despise Barbie, but LOVE the accessories they used to sell - or maybe they still do?  I have quite a collection from when I was younger, many of which we have used for our Elf on the Shelf set-ups this year).

I was pretty pooped after setting up (the night before) for the North Pole Breakfast, but fortunately I'd had the foresight to make an elf-sized paper chain (to match one above the windows) earlier in the day. Atticus was part of our centrepiece, handy.

Another easy one, after a long day... A bunch of minis, a tiny hot chocolate, and some 'Weetbix' served in a bottle lid (we don't have real Weetbix so I used chunks of bread). 

This one looked a bit better in real life.  We used some fake snow from Pop Roc Parties and Atticus borrowed Ken's jacket and snowboard.  I super really badly need to find some stronger wire to insert into his limbs, to make him more standy uppy.  He looks lazy.

And the highlight of my week, Eleanor dressed as Atticus for our Playcentre Christmas party yesterday (also wearing a Heartfelt Pixie hat).  Adorbs.

Days 1, 2 & 3 here.  Days 4, 5 & 6 here.

Atticus Elf - Days 4, 5 & 6

Seems like I might be reliving my childhood...

It's a little bit TOO much fun creating these Elf on the Shelf arrangements, even when I'm stupid-tired I find the energy.

Over the last couple of days I've been tying in Atticus' appearances with the advent activity for that day.  Above ^ on his decorated bike (the kids decorated theirs for our local Christmas Carnival).  Below - with craft supplies for Christmas card making...

Like I said, too much fun...

Atticus Elf - Days 1, 2 & 3

Atticus arrived without fanfare this year.  I was in bed with the flu, but crept down in the early evening, perched him on the windowsill and then trudged back to my cosy nest.   Furthermore, when Eleanor awoke, she wondered briefly why there was a funny little elf doll with a bag full of presents for her, but neither remembered him nor connected him with the Elf on the Shelf book.  Oh.  After lengthy discussion we have finally agreed that yes he is an Elf Scout sent by Santa (or possibly she's just suspending her disbelief to appease me).

I did some advance preparation this year, by collecting up as many miniature items as I could find and stashing them in a basket.  It makes it easy to concoct a scenario each night, and allows me to be more creative.  Those New World Minis are coming in SO handy... The hardest part is definitely trying to keep those little hands off though.  Boy.  Hard.

 Especially when there's an impromptu party happening on the DVD shelf... (I cut the confetti from our Christmas Wreath leftovers, it took about five seconds).  Back in a few days with more Elf pics x

Elf Antics

Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't deny that these little soft toys bring some serious magic to the Christmas season...  In 2012 we invited one of these little dudes into our home for the first time, so.much.fun.

Last year our elf arrived to the sound of ringing bells.  With a sack of belongings on his back, a letter of introduction and a frozen expression on his face (why's he looking sideways?  Makes me distrust him).  Eleanor was ecstatic.

I extensively searched Pinterest for ideas and found heaps.  We mixed in a few of our own, and these are the scenarios E found him in each morning...  To be honest, I think we were a little tame (boring) last year, and we are def amping things up this year (helps that the kids are older and there are now two babes whose interest will be piqued).  I will be making a bookshelf cubby house again though, that was too, too much fun...

Well done if you made it this far!  Are you guys inviting an Elf into your home this year?  If so, leave a comment so that we can check out what mischief yours gets into... I'll be back very soon with the first of our Elf pics x