Elf on the Shelf 2012

 

 

This is our second year of Elf on the Shelf being our family tradition.  Our elf does not report back to Santa, he just does silly things.  These pictures are in no patricular order.

 

Day 1:  Sammy arrived and brought card board ginger bread houses and breakfast

 

Sammy left a note & magic seeds (sprinkles) to be planted in sugar

The magic seeds GREW over night into cookies!!!  You can see we were shocked

 

 

 

Sammy replaced pictures of family with pictures of himself

 

 

Sammy brought us a magic tree 

 

Sammy left us a paper chain, in the bathroom, down the hall.  WOW it was crazy!!!  He must have worked on it for days ;)

 

Sammy took a bubble bath in the sink

 

Sammy built an igloo and snow men out of marshmellows

 

Sammy took a nap in a tissue box

 

Sammy took it easy and hung out in the tree

 

Sammy Sold hot chocolate

 

 

Sammy hung from the celing fan

 

Sammy did some math

 

Sammy made a snow flake out of Q-Tips

 

Sammy drew silly faces on our family picture with a dry erase marker!

Scooby-Doo and the Gang caused a little traffic jam that had Sammy waiting for ever!

Sammy left a note on the Dry Erase board

 

 

 Sammy Made a Snow Angel

 

The toys tied sammy up!

 

 

 

Sammy shaved a Christmas tree into daddys head!  (Yes he knew, yes he was awake, yes it was his idea)

 

 

Sammy hung up our underwear where our stockings should go!

 

He did a few more things, that I dont have pictures of.  He made "Elf donuts" and he brought the kids one present to open early on Christmas Eve :)

 

Hope you enjoyed our Elf this year!  Cant wait to see what he does next year.

Why we said "No" to Santa

 

With the Holidays approaching we get asked quite often why we decided not to do Santa.  I'm starting to feel like I have a third eye, I am often explaining our decisions and why we have chosen to do things a bit differently.  The reason was two fold for us, and actually very simple.

 

  First and foremost, my husband works very hard to support us, and we appreciate it very much.  Therefore I wanted the kids to know that gifts came from us, they were worked for - not free and that nothing magically shows up in your house.  They know we have a limit, they can ask for things, but real people that they actually know, purchase their gifts.

The second part of the reason is I did not want to lie to my children.  Santa is not real, hes not.  He does not come down the chimney, and he does not bring you gifts.  The reason we celebrate Christmas is for Jesus.  To celebrate his birth and that is where we chose to put our focus.  Now, that being said, we allow them to pretend.  We gave them the facts, Santa is not real, but we allow them to see Santa if they want to (so far they have not), we do Elf on the shelf (they know its me), this does not take away from the magic of pretending & imagination.

 

FAQ's

 

What if they tell other children?

Yes this will happen & has happened.  Its going to happen anyway, someone told you.  Not to mention, Jehovah Witnesses, and some other eastern religions do not do Santa.  Point - my kids and yours if you choose not to do Santa will not be the only ones to "ruin" it for people.

 

Don't you think they are missing out on fun?

  No not at all.  We do all the "fun" they just know the truth behind the fun.  Its me and daddy.