Jenny Cookies Elf on the Shelf

They’re here!  They’re here!  Buddy and Snowflake arrived at the Keller Farmhouse on Saturday morning, ready for the Holiday Favorite Things Party we were hosting that night.

Buddy and Snowflake are our elves.  They arrive every year the day or two after Thanksgiving, and fly back and forth to the North Pole each night in December reporting to Santa the children’s behavior.  Then on Christmas Eve they fly back to the North Pole until the next year.  It’s a daily reminder for kids… “the elf is watching you…”

There is a part of me that is just beside myself looking forward to all the joy and excitement our elves bring to Ally and Hudson’s little faces, and there’s another part of me that is absolutely exhausted just thinking about it.  We’ve had Buddy since Ally was one year old. ONE. She is turning 9 in January. That’s a lot of shelves. Is there retirement in our future? A decade of Elf on the Shelf feels worthy of retirement.

Our elves have been a favorite holiday tradition in our home.  We’ve done some insane things with our elves.   I’ve stayed up late making tiny gingerbread houses or wrapping miniature gifts, but there is little more that I want in life than for my kids to grow up remembering all the fun and special things we did for them.  Yep, I’m crazy.

You may be new to this tradition or just needing fresh ideas, so here’s a little Elf inspiration from our Keller Family elves over the last 8 years.

Buddy was our first elf. His first few years he hopped bookshelves and countertops, nothing crazy. In fact, I think the first year he may have just been a decoration. At one year old, Ally didn’t know what an elf was.

But as time went on, Buddy needed a friend. One Christmas he arrived with a lady friend.  My kids went nuts for Snowflake.

They rehearsed lines of Disney’s Tangled on Hudson’s dresser,

had coffee together,made snow angels in faux snow,

and held baby Jesus so Mary could get some sleep. 

They played scrabble,

went to Sunday School with us,

and baked us all kinds of Christmas treats.

Ally and Hudson were crazy for their mini cake pops.
They even had a cake decorating competition.  Which do you like better, Ruffles or Roses??

One morning we found them dressed as CinderElfa and Prince Charming.

The craziest was when 21 new elves arrived on our doorstep.  I think word got out.

Buddy and Snowflake let them stay in Ally’s dollhouse.

They set up a Christmas gift wrapping station.  Wonder what’s inside?!

Hot cocoa dates,

Naughty toothpaste mornings,

they even sent Ally a candy gram to school!

Elves love donuts,

ice skating, 

acrobatics,

and hanging with Santas!

Snowflake decorated Ally’s dollhouse for Christmas,

and made teeny tiny gingerbread houses!

When they missed the North Pole they hung out in our freezer.

They circled toys they wanted in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog.

Once they caught the Grinch trying to steal Christmas!

One Christmas morning we woke up to dozens of their photo filling our family gallery wall.  They didn’t want Ally and Hudson to forget about them.

But of course they didn’t.  The following year they flew down from the North Pole in a hot air balloon!

Buddy and Snowflake usually give the kids an early Christmas gift.  Usually Christmas pjs or an ornament for their tree.

And they LOVE froyo just like us!

Dan was excited to see the Elves were filling out a mortgage app.

Buddy and Snowflake packed Ally a terribly unhealthy lunch. 

Hiding in our coffee table..

and in Ally’s bedroom..

and in our holiday sign!

Date night!
One of my favorite Elf mornings ever.   I was out of town working so my husband Dan was in charge of the elf.  So funny.

Ally and Hudson HAD to re enact for me what the elves did while I was out of town. Buddy thought our nativity needed some Christmas lights one year.

They camped out in my office, even roasted smores!
I loved waking up to hundreds of sugar cookies baked for my annual holiday event.

They sneaked into Ally’s gumball machine

got into the rice krispies,
and even peeked inside some of the wrapped Christmas gifts.  Buddy!
They served us mini donuts under the tree

and even showed up to our  hotel room one December!

 

One Christmas Eve they threw Jesus a birthday party.  All the elves came out to celebrate.

Last year Ally and Hudson were worried Buddy and Snowflake wouldn’t find our new house.  But they arrived with map in hand!They hid in Hudson’s bookshelf,
in the kitchen,
and kept watch over our living room.

Ally found them in her doll loft having a slumber party.

Swinging from the chandelier over our bathtub..

And baking the cookies again for me for the annual cookie decorating event. Thank goodness for all that help, right?

They loved fishing in our pond,

and watching the Michael Buble holiday special, front row!

And playing in the snow!

We couldn’t find them anywhere one day but they were hiding in my vintage Christmas cabinet.  Do you see them?

Last year I think they felt left out of our family Christmas card..

So here’s to another fun December with Buddy and Snowflake.  Follow their adventure this season using #jennycookieselfontheshelf!

Do you have an Elf on the shelf?  What is the best place/situation you’ve found your elf?