With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s all Christmas all the time, which is wonderful except for one thing:
This guy.
Who in the world dreamed up the Elf on the Shelf concept (well, we all know this was born of commercialism, right?), and why did we mothers latch onto it like a bunch of mindless sheep? I’m all out of steam when it comes to this “tradition.”
To complicate things further, our elf, Elfster, is missing. I can’t find where he went last January.
So if/when he shows up at our house this December, he will be holding a note that says this:
Dear Pyper kids,
I have loved visiting you these last several years, but things have changed at the North Pole. Hundreds of elves retired, and we are now short staffed. Since I have lots more families to visit, I will only be stopping by your house to do something funny a few times this Christmas season. But I will be watching and reporting to Santa! So be good! See you soon.
Elfster
Tell me, are you still part of the Elf on the Shelf fan club, or did his magic die for you long ago?
P.S. In a couple days I’ll be posting a few things that actually DO make Christmas magical for kids—and things I don’t hate doing either.
Boulevard West 
This year Elf is going to help get rid of old toys. He’s taking one toy back to the North Pole every night to be “fixed” so they can go to a new home. 🙂
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Now THAT is an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing.
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Love this idea for Elf on the Shelf. Too bad ours is gone. ☺️ I was so sick of him. Ha ha. Great thinking with the toys too, Michelle!
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We have 2 elves but they don’t make messes or do naughty/silly things. They hide in a new place every night. And the 2 bigs who “know” are the new hiders. The end. Ha!
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Another great way to do the elf thing—especially if the big kids like it. Thanks for the tip!
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I always hated the Elf on the Shelf, so when my mother in law bought one and left it on our porch, I threw it in the trash before the kids even saw it. So glad I did!!
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Ha! You were so wise to avoid this tradition from the start. No better place for an elf than in the trash.
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