The truth as I know it:

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time & miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands. ~~~ Kristi Larson

Monday, December 07, 2009

Are these things sweeping the nation?

Or it is just our tiny town?














Because around here, the Elf on the Shelf is a blessing and a curse.  He gets my kids out of bed in the morning like you wouldn't believe. Seriously, sleepy heads that are normally the last to rise and very cranky even then, seem to spring out of bed with enthusiasm to see where this little dude has landed in the night.  AND, the children are constantly telling each other "be careful, the elf is watching."  Wow, maybe he should just live here year-round!

But the curse?  Well, when you're a sleepy mom who sometimes falls into bed before the kids are actually asleep (they are all tucked in, but I have a "roamer" who finds about 20 reasons a night to get up before finally falling asleep), it's hard to make sure that Carl (that's our Elf's name) is actually on the move.  And the elves are very mischievous (sometimes they TP the house, sometimes they leave "gifts" and sometimes they get into stuff.)  So to keep up with all the elfin activity is nutty.  Plus... it's sort of an elf competition of sorts now, at the bus stop, we have to discuss who's elf did what and then I get chastised if our elf isn't silly enough, or get the long faces!  Grrrr!

So, do you have an elf?  I think we need a support group!  :)

10 comments:

Bethany said...

We have a little Elf too! I bought it last year and we got to meet the author and illustrator. Luckily, Caroline doesn't 'get it' yet, so I don't have to worry now. But, here the rage is "The North Pole Elves". They are the ones that have the kids going nuts! They were even banned from one of the local private schools because the elves came in during lunch and ransacked the teacher's room! I had my 4th grade girls spend the night with me and they all brought their elves. We had played scrabble earlier that night, so the next morning the elves were caught playing scrabble and had spelled out the girls' names. They liked it ;) THey also decorated my house with all the crafts we had made earlier too. Good luck!

findingourdaughter said...

Oh, we have an elf, named Michael. Some nights he "forgets" to fly back to Santa and ends up in the same spot....shame, shame--it is a big job and this mommy brain is already on over-time. Some nights he haunts me at 3 am and I jump out of bed and escort him to his new place......and it usually involves the step stool as he *has* to be out of reach of the kids....UGH!
Happy Elfin!!!

Nicole said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL! Don't you just love turning 25!!!!!!
Nic

Ron and Dinia said...

I don't think Elf has made it to Alabama but it sounds really cute!

Hope you had a great birthday!

Danyele Easterhaus said...

the elf has made it around here, but sadly, it's an old family tradition around these parts...the elf looks over the fam and the angel keeps track of the goods/bads. and if the angel sees too much bad, she flies away...in hindsight, maybe it was scary as a kid. hubs won't let us do it with my kids...boo.

Carol said...

We have an elf! He is nameless at this point, and sometimes I have to sneak in the move after P is out of bed. He has been hanging in the dining room lately, to tell santa about table manners, etc. He is a great little elf, takes some of the pressure off!

Ron and Dinia said...

I finally saw the Elf today in a local store! Really cute!

Carrie said...

I keep avoiding the elf because I know I would SO never keep up with this. Sometimes the tooth fairy has even forgotten our house.... They have asked about these elves and so far I've successfully been able to explain that we live too far out of town to be on the elf route just yet. Am I going to mom hell??

carolinagirl said...

We love our Elf...his name is Fritz Fritz (who knows the origin of the name; the boys came up with this about 3 or 4 years ago). Anyway, I am right there with you. One morning last week, we were literally seconds in moving him before getting busted by Jackson. :)

Bill and Myra said...

We have the "Elf" too. The boys named it "Elfie". No competition from the folks at the bus stop though (not yet anyway). One night, we fell asleep before my husband could move the elf. The kids were disappointed. My husband said that maybe "Elfie" had nothing to report! The kids bought it.

My husband is always finding good places to put the Elf. Sadly, he is more creative than I am.