Friday, December 28, 2012

The Elf on the Shelf

Toilet papered Christmas Tree!
This year was a simplified Christmas.  I didn't send cards, I didn't bake, I didn't do handmade gifts.  I just didn't have it in me this year with everything else going on in this house.  But there was one special new thing that happened this season; The Elf.  The first day of December the children received a little tin and a note from Santa saying that he was sending this little elf, Brewster to stay with us.  It turns out Brewster is such a naughty little monkey that Santa didn't have time for his antics during the rush season. 
Rice angel
Well, no wonder they wanted rid of him!  He was very cheeky.  Every morning the children woke up and rushed to find out what he had been doing during the night.  And every morning it was something different.  He had a tea party with Madison's tea set and a few select friends.  
He ate Mom's chocolate bar and had evidence all over his face.
He rode the Christmas camel decoration.
He got a piggy-back ride from the angel on top of our tree.

Stolen tooth-fairy money
 He stole the tooth fairy money from under Madison's pillow.
He floated a bowl boat with a "date" in the sink.
He coloured the children's noses red (while they were sleeping) and left a note for them to look in the mirror

Replaced the stockings with underwear
 He was found hiding in Daddy's stocking
He was found sipping eggnog through a straw right from the carton!
He was playing with the children's advent calendar toys
Reading to some intent listeners
 He was found trapped inside a decoration
He drew mustaches and beards with a dry-erase marker on the children's faces in their framed portraits
He was found hiding in the spider plant

Trimming a tiny tree and wrapping some tiny presents
The children thought most of these things were hilarious!  They couldn't wait to find out what he'd done every day.  The only thing he did that they were not impressed with was painting their red noses while they slept.  They were pretty cranky about that when they saw it in the morning!  Sometimes Kai would trap him during the day behind books, or in a box - thinking he wouldn't be able to get out and cause trouble... but he always did!   I guess elves have magic that they can use to foil little boys' attempts to tame them. 

Flying around the house on helium balloons.
Christmas morning, the children woke to find Brewster gone home to the north pole with Santa.  He left a note thanking them for taking care of him and apologizing for his naughty tricks.  He left a fun toy, and the little presents for them to open.  They were delighted, but sorry to see him go.