Hmmm, we lost a bit of momentum on the elf front.  Over the past week we have made very lackluster attempts to hide A.E. and even kept him in the same spot for three straight days, when Eleanor didn't find him.  She always gets super excited when she does catch sight of him, but she's still little and I think we'll make more of an effort when she's old enough to really get into it.

After dangling from the lightbulb for a day, A.E. was forgotten about come evening, and Zan switched the light on.  About ten minutes later I came downstairs and found that he had a scorch mark in his handmade tights.  Whoops!  That night Zan 'hid' him atop the TV speaker.

The following night I thought I'd be a little more inventive, and had him help himself to some of the fruit.

The next few nights I hid him in quite obvious places too.  It was still just as much fun for Eleanor anyway...  

He stayed in this final spot for days, well hidden behind The Longacre Book of Ships.  Tonight he will find his final hidey spot, and then he's back to the North Pole...

And while I'm here, my second to last gift from Max was:

LOVE this!  Let's see if I can save it for New Years

Elf Mischief and Christmas Linky

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 Hanging from the ceiling

8. Discovered A.E. dangling from the tree.  Must've been trying to climb up and visit his friends again.
9. Whoops!  Forgot to shut the imaginary door after himself!  Had to find a way to bring the pink porcelain toilet into play.  It's too cute.
10. Enjoying his elf house.  More here.
11. (Unpictured) A.E. enjoyed a ride on the rocking horse this morning.
12. North Pole
13. North Pole
14. North Pole
15. Trying to escape little hands...

We haven't enjoyed as many visits from Atticus Elf this week.  He went AWOL for a few days when E was having trouble listening and following Elf Law (no touching).  This gave us a short break from finding hidey places, so we didn't mind.  Today he was found clinging for dear life to the lightbulb.  He's there still, must have sore arms by now.  We caught Eleanor trying to stack her little chairs on the coffee table to get to him, so I'm not sure that the lesson was learnt :-/  Days 1 to 7 here.

For those who have written Christmas posts this week, do link up here!  The Christmas linky will be open till Christmas day.

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Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 15 - Deck The (Mini) Halls

K is for Keeping house.  Atticus Elf sure has a nesting instinct.  Other elves are wreaking havoc in their December homes, but A.E. is just as happy with a cuppa and a good book (and a place to put his feet up).  I felt like this was too much fun not to include in the advent.  Even if you don't have an elf, I'm sure you could find a fun space to create a 'pop-up living room' for a teddy bear friend.  I used some of dollhouse furniture, and of course the lovely Elf Fairy Lights sent to me by Max.   The lights actually inspired this entire idea, which is a follow-on from an earlier adventure of A.E.  

If it's not too chaotic on Christmas Eve, I hope to take this idea even further, with presents under the tree and a stocking full of things (scrunched up paper).  I pretty much felt extreme happiness while I was setting up this scene.  Yeah.  I'm a geek.

Details:  Miniature frames c/o my amazing aunt (excepting the heart frame w b/w contact of my ma) filled with the kiddos passport photos; Christmas tree from The Warehouse; Elf books - previously here; snowglobe c/o mama - from NY; Mini books/camera/jug/shelves - thrifted; wooden chair handmade by someone in my family (maybe one of my bros?); coffee table made by my brother; rug - from a card I bought from Whitcoulls ages ago; Christmas stocking - previously here; fabric 'carpet' - c/o The Make Cafe; soldier made by Ruby in the Dust; tea-cup - IKEA; mini wooden tree handed down from a cousin; elf fairy lights c/o Max

Elf Magic & Christmas Linky Party

Oh man, we are loving this new tradition.  I think it will get even more fun as the kids grow older (and when G actually has a clue what's going on), though it's pretty fun already!  I plan to turn these photos into a simple little photo book - an idea I saw somewhere else can't remember where, sorry! Which will become one of our Christmas books for future years.  

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1. Atticus Elf made himself at home in the rooftop garden of the dollhouse. 
2. Arriving in late, A.E. lost his bearings and couldn't find the dollhouse, so he settled for a bookcase instead.  
3. A.E. climbed our newly decorated tree (clearly climbing through a cobweb on the way up), in order to befriend Pinnochio and a couple of cute angels.
4. In an attempt to bring cheer to the dollhouse, A.E. became entangled in the tinsel he was trying to put up.
5. The first time A.E. has been 'naughty' so far (we don't encourage naughtiness in this house! ;-)).  Zan and I were quite glad we only had half a bottle of milk in the fridge.  It was quite disconcerting having blue milk with our porridge :-/ (not to mention - green coffees!).
6. A.E. took some of the other toys for a joyride in our own Polar Express - and then quickly disappeared - as soon as The Crawler was up and about.
7. Found taped to the wall, with a note for Eleanor.  Who knows how he got there.  Elf magic.

Eleanor adores Atticus, and wakes up each morning eager to find him.  She pretty much talks about him all day, asking where I think he is, and just tonight I heard her singing ''Atticuuuuus Eeeeeelf" as she went to sleep.  It is every kind of adorable.


For those who have written Christmas posts this week, do link up here!  The Christmas linky will be open till Christmas day.

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