Elf on the Shelf?

[Kjersti]

When is your Elf on the Shelf returning to visit? December 1st? The day after Thanksgiving? Is he making a grand appearance? I need some fun ideas!!

[nesser1981]

Same here, Dec.1st. Here's my pin board.
http://pinterest.com/nesser1981/elf-on-a-shelf-ideas/

[Milmomma]

We started the day after thanksgiving. I wanted to try out as many ideas as I could. Plus that's when we start decorating so it seemed fitting.

[MamaBee]

I'm just finishing up my list of things that Elfon is going to do... He is starting the 1st with an Elf's Breakfast of reindeer pancakes.

[Stacey42]

Elvin arrives on the 1st with a new Lego Advent calendar. Though since the 1st is a Saturday and I don't want the kids tearing hte box open and DH & I sleep in on Saturdays, Elvin might arrive with it on the 30th

[nesser1981]

I will post my actual list later. I've already made up a calendar to help me out.

[Sherri Tierney]

Ivy and Jolly usually arrive the day after Thanksgiving. However, this year Thanksgiving seems freakishly early to me so with still a week left of November, they have to stay in the North Pole for a bit longer helping Santa with some last minute stuff. They will probably arrive on Dec. 1st.

[Jen22]

December 1st here. I started late last year and it was around Dec. 14th, and that was plenty of time for fun, so I'm not in a huge rush to start (don't wanna run out of ideas OR burn myself out too quickly). As for showing up - he'll show up with a letter and a Christmas movie if I can decide on one. If not, then just a letter ... oh or maybe a Christmas book. I've got a few days left to decide

[Txcorey]

Our elf will show up on December 1st. I don't start right after Thanksgiving because I run out of ideas. Not sure how he will arrive this year, but I like the idea of bringing a book or movie. Some of my son's favorite elfcapades last year were: toilet papering the bathroom(I think he liked this one the best), a crepe paper barricade on his door, he hung Christmas ornaments on our light fixture in the kitchen with ribbon, crepe paper from the ceiling fan, eating a gingerbread cookie that we made with a note that said, "he ran, ran as fast as he could, but I caught the gingerbread man and ate him." There are some good ideas on pinterest too. I'm looking forward to it this year.

[hollyxann]

Kennedy is still too young to understand the Elf on a Shelf thing but I have been stockpiling my ideas for next year.

I started a pin board for them.
http://pinterest.com/hollyxann/elf-on-a-shelf/

[Sherri Tierney]

Our elves don't arrive with anything but they do, occasionally, bring back treats when they take a night time visit to the North Pole. We have a Christmas angel (Noel) that has been around a lot longer than the elves. In fact, she first started visiting in 2003. She brings treats and holiday type novelty gifts (movies, music, Christmas pajamas, etc.) and leaves notes with scripture and reminds the kids about the real meaning of Christmas. She is friends with Santa and the elves too and she checks in on the elves to help keep them in line. Our elves are a brother/sister pair who tend to argue (like my kids) and get each other in to trouble.

[emmasmommy]

ours will be appearing on the 1st also. he'll (she'll) be new this year so as of now, is nameless

[Kjersti]

Thank you for your awesome ideas and linking me to your pins!! I'm so excited. It's going to be a fun December!!

[jovi_girl]

Oh I was just coming here to ask if anyone had a calendar of ideas made up! This will be my first year doing elf on the shelf so I needed some pointers! Cant wait to check all these pinboards out and plan some elfy mischief!

[marlathrall]

Reason #100078 I'm ready to have kids- I want a dang elf. lol. Do you think it would be weird if one visited my husband? He's only 31... Is that too old?! lol.

[britaneejean]

ours arrived today & he comes with the book. my kids are young so reading the book helps them (at least the oldest) remember the "rules" & gets them excited. i did Dec. 1 last year but wanted to have him arrive earlier this year.

[Ronisdragon]

Originally Posted by marlathrall

Reason #100078 I'm ready to have kids- I want a dang elf. lol. Do you think it would be weird if one visited my husband? He's only 31... Is that too old?! lol.

My husband and I recently moved in with my mom and stepdad. The other day I told everyone about Elf on the Shelf and asked if they want to take turns hiding the elf. We all agreed it would be fun! My mom seemed really excited! We will each take a turn hiding the elf for a designated number of days. I'm already getting ideas of funny things to do. We range in age from 35-71. I say go for it!

[Tronesia]

This will be our first year doing it and we are going to start on the first. Hopefully, my dd will be feeling better tomorrow and I can get the tree up and she can 'officially meet' her elf.

[Sherri Tierney]

Originally Posted by britaneejean

ours arrived today & he comes with the book. my kids are young so reading the book helps them (at least the oldest) remember the "rules" & gets them excited. i did Dec. 1 last year but wanted to have him arrive earlier this year.

I don't do the traditional 'Elf on a Shelf'. I knew the not touching the elf part would never work in our house. My kids drag their elves everywhere during the time they are here. LOL

[nikkiARNGwife]

We started the day after Thanksgiving last year and I was so tired of that elf by the time it was Christmas lol. So this year I'm waiting til Dec. 1. He's bringing the kids advent calendars the first night..got Avery Lego and Ella Playmobil.

[Stacey42]

Originally Posted by Sherri Tierney

I don't do the traditional 'Elf on a Shelf'. I knew the not touching the elf part would never work in our house. My kids drag their elves everywhere during the time they are here. LOL

I don't do the rules either. The boys would never follow them & then I'd have to follow through with the consequences & that would be no fun for anyone. We have a plush elf so they can play with him. My oldest took him to school for Polar Express day last year.

Elvin doesn't do something every day. Somedays he just appears in a different place than where he was left. He likes getting on top of things & watching different holiday tv shows on You Tube. I usually manage about 8-10 'pranks' a year.

[luckyme]

Originally Posted by nikkiARNGwife

We started the day after Thanksgiving last year and I was so tired of that elf by the time it was Christmas lol. So this year I'm waiting til Dec. 1. He's bringing the kids advent calendars the first night..got Avery Lego and Ella Playmobil.

This! This is our first year of Elf on the Shelf and he's coming on Dec. 1 with the advent calendars. I've noted a few pranks on pinboards that he'll do every few days, but most days will be just appearing in different spots, maybe with notes to the kids about the good things he saw them doing the day before.

[d2vasquez]

I am thinking we may do this for the first time this year - it was requested by my 12 year old lol - who also pointed me to pinterest boards for ideas so not sure how this will go. But since the girls are older, I like the idea of doing something fun this year with them.

[Stacey42]

Oh, I forgot to mention, our Elf has gmail and is on google talk, just like the boys are, (they are 8 & 10 and I let them have it to chat with their dad when he is at work or away on business) so he will also be sending them messages.

[scrap2day]

Dec. 1 here. Today I'm treating myself to browsing all of your ideas and pins to get ideas.

[kelley]

I haven't ever done this, but I must say it sounds like a lot of fun!

[Tracyfish]

Christopher will be back on December 1st. Here's my board... http://pinterest.com/tracyfish/elf-on-a-shelf-ideas/

And my list of the ideas I know he will do this year. I may also throw in the elf sized pancakes I did last year again because those went over well.

playing Angry Birds game
sword fight with the toys
drinking the syrup
plant peppermints for the next day to turn into candy canes (2 day)
write all over bathroom mirror
trying to steal mom's money and credit card
slipper race with other toy
tic tac toe with another toy on mirror
sleeping under blanket with eye cover
covered in stickers
lifting weights (marshmallows dumbbells)
TP the stairs
snowflakes out of qtips
bring cone trees to decorate with icing
paint mustache at night
photocopying his butt
eating marshmallows
wrap the bedroom door
dress up as Batman in the bat car
show up with NinjaBread Cookie Kit
dressed like a ninja in all black
wearing chapstick from L.J.'s collection

[Kjersti]

Love your ideas Tracy! So clever! Thanks for linking us to your pinterest!!