Somebody please explain this, what is going on? Do you literally have an elf figure that you set up with these props or do you just leave the messes and they never see the actual elf? Is this just for fun? Where do I get an elf?
My DS is 11, but this sounds like great fun I've never heard of it before. Would he just be unamused and totally bored with it? I'd probably have to do some really gross/disguisting pranks to get a smile out of him.
We learned about the elf last year and gave it a shot. We did it for the two weeks before X-mas (this year Murry will be arriving earlier). DD11(12 is a few weeks after xmas) & DS4 (this year) loved it. DH & I enjoyed it too, DH is already asking when Murry is planning to arrive-he may be more excited then the kids.
I found the Elf on the Shelf set (an elf and a book) on sale at Carleton Cards before xmas last year. Our Elf arrived with a letter (I wrote-I also told them since Santa can't be everywhere all the time, special families get to have an elf visit them) from Santa (DD plays along) that said we needed to name our elf and read his book. At our house Murry's job during the day is to sit quietly and watch what happens. At night, after we've gone to bed Murry comes to life with a little X-mas magic and reports back to Santa how DD & DS are behaving. The next morning Murry hides in a new place with the mailbox (I had found a Crayola mailbox at Goodwill-just by sheer luck!) and has little token presents for DD & DS from Santa.
Some people have their elf/elves be tricky/naughty during the night. Personally I didn't want to deal with the mess, so Murry goes to the North Pole every night to report to Santa. When he comes back to our house he takes the mailbox, puts small gifts in, and hides somewhere waiting to be found.
For us, the kids get gifts from us and Santa at X-mas, so these are little gifts, last year I didn't spend more than a dollar/kid/day. Some days I didn't even spend $1 altogether. Some of the things Murry brought last year, Disney themed tops (toys), Disney yo-yos, puzzles (all from the Dollar Tree), snowglobes & candy (all $0.39 w/ Walgreen coupons), flashing cups (those were a splurge $2.50), cars for DS (that I had packed away from the after holiday sales the year before), socks, lip gloss, ($1 bins at Target). One night he did bring a game for the wii for family night (that was alittle more, but it was for everyone and I got a great deal on
amazon). I'm sure you get the idea, I could go on and on.
Anyway this year we are a little better prepared. I've been specifically shopping all year for the elf. Got some great after holiday deals last year (Party City was a gold mine for me-all year!) and at the Target toy clearance over the summer.
Hope that explains it a bit and not confused you more.
Think back at all the "dumb things" your parents did or made you do and how much you cherish those memories now. Eye rolling is a sign of affection in teens and tweens.... or so I tell myself daily. Besides memories like these will be much more amusing to discuss in therapy when they're 30!
