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Christmas Traditions: Elf on a Shelf

By Joni Bailey

Real Estate Agent with 101 Main St. Realty 518539

November 28, 2011 09:05 AM

Christmas Traditions:Elf on a Shelf

Hi and WELCOME to my Christmas Traditions Series!

If you have been following my Christmas Traditions series, then you have already read about my two FAVORITE traditions; stockings and cinnamon rolls.

Today’s tradition, Elf on a Shelf, is one that I have not started yet, but WANT TO! Just as soon as I am a grandmother (Which may not happen for a while!)

Elf on a Shelf

This is a tradition where you pick up an elf for your child. The child gets to name the elf and the elf sits around your house watching your child.

Every night, while your child sleeps, the elf flies back to the North Pole and tells Santa how GOOD... or how BAD (YIKES!) your child has been.

Depending on how many children there are, you may have more than one elf sitting around the house spying on the kids.

Let’s face it... Santa is a very busy man! He needs some help here! Elves are just the little men to do the job!

So far as I know... there are no elves reporting on adults (at least I hope not!) ☺

I think this tradition would be so much fun! If you are already doing this at your house, tell us about it in the comments below!

Looking for a new Christmas Tradition?!

Check out my other Christmas Tradition Posts:

Stockings

Cinnamon Rolls

Christmas Traditions:Elf on a Shelf

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John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Elf on a Shelf Our grand-kids love Elf on a shelf! The 3 out of the 5 still believe the Elf really is moving about watching! It's tons of fun for everyone involved in the game!

Nov 28, 2011 09:26 AM

Anita Clark

Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA

Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Joni: I have never heard of the Elf on a Shelf before. I must be living in a box. HA. I do like the concept!

Nov 28, 2011 09:27 AM

Tish Lloyd

BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC

Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches

When my kids were small, my Mother would tell them tales about the pair of Elves who lived at her house at Christmas time. One had a green vest and shoes and the other red, and of course they had bells on the toes of their shoes! They were always up to mischief and carried little notebooks and pencils to keep notes to share with Santa. She would "see" them playing in the curtains or behind the sofa, but the kids were never fast enough to catch them in the act! Her wonderfully descriptive stories made those elves come alive for my kids and to this day they will tell you they were real.

This year is Zoe's first year with an Elf on the Shelf and CA swears Ralph (hey, Zoe named him!) looks EXACTLY like the elves who lived at Maw Maw's house. I think she's right!

Nov 28, 2011 10:05 AM

Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate

Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR

Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

I have friends who do this, but heard about it too late to do it with my own kids. In the versions I've heard, the elf returns from the north pole each night to a different place so the kids have to look and find him in the morning. It sounds so fun... I'm sure this post will inspire some families to start this tradition. Thanks for sharing.

Gretchen

Nov 28, 2011 11:32 AM

Michael Thornton

RadnorLake Video - Nashville, TN

Nashville Area - Photography & Videography

Good evening Joni. Elf on a Shelf. H-m-m-m, I have to think on that one. Kinda catchy tho...

Nov 28, 2011 12:11 PM

Rose King

David Tracy Real Estate - Friendswood, TX

Friendswood / Pearland / Houston Bay Area

Hi Joni! My mom did something similar with us when I was little. I had a stuffed elf toy that she always told me was watching me to make sure I was being good. By the time I was old enough to know what was going on, I would tell my younger brother that the elf was watching him. I would hide behind a door frame and hold the elf out like it was peeking around the door. When my brother noticed, I would pull it back and quickly move down the hall to my room. Great memories! :)

Nov 28, 2011 12:43 PM

Judith Parker

ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC

CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC

Hi Joni, what a fun concept. It would be fun to collect a new elf for a child each year and save the elves over the years and pass them on to their children. Great concept and tradition.

Nov 28, 2011 12:57 PM

Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.

eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC

Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Hi Elf Joni,

This is a Pfunn way to keep everybody on their toes, add a camera to the elf and you may be able to perform some miracles by reporting on the kindness of the kids.....;)

Nov 28, 2011 01:31 PM

Amy Robinson

London Pierce Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ

Realtor, Scottsdale Arizona Homes For Sale

Grandma is sending my kids a special package that should be here any day from the north pole. It is a elf on the shelf and I am so excited! My kids watched a special on it a few nights ago on tv. It will make the book more real for them now.

Nov 28, 2011 01:47 PM

Joni Bailey

101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX

Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Pam: I have heard about it but today I stopped and read the children's book at the Trinity Florist. It is such a cute story and it has a place in the book for the child to write what they named their elf. The book is not necessary to have BUT if I had a kid, part of my tradition would be to read the story to them Thanksgiving night while they held the elf and then to let them sit it on the shelf after the story is over. :)))

Lindsey: Now that wouldn't be such a bad thing. Then the elf can report on whether or not the boys are playing nicely with one another! ☺ HA!

Q: YAY! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear! I would think this would be a blast! Thanks for sharing!

Tish: LOL! That is a GREAT story!! And I am sure that Cinnamon would recognize the elves from Maw Maw's house! I'm sure Santa assigned them to Zoe! What's wrong with the name Ralph?! (HA!) It sounds like a good elf name to me! (LOVE THAT KID!)

Gretchen: I think you're right! The elf moves about! Keeping an eye on things! What fun!

Michael: In your case, it would be an inspector on a shelf! :)

Rose: What a cute story! :)) Did you do that with your kids?

Judith: That is a great idea!! You would have to hide the previous elf so that the kid didn't catch on. Nice twist. I will have to remember that!

Peter and Linda: No cameras allowed! The elf is too small to carry a camera. It would squash him! hoHoHO!

Nov 28, 2011 01:53 PM

Joni Bailey

101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX

Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Amy: I hope that you will write a post about it. We would LOVE to read all about it! XO

Nov 28, 2011 01:55 PM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Joni-I love your Christmas traditions series. I've seen the Elf on the Shelf and you've given me an idea for my great nephews.

Nov 28, 2011 03:12 PM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Joni, last year at the Lewisburg Christmas Open House the "Elf on the Shelf" was read to the children...and I had never heard of the story until I blogged about it. Can you imagine 11 elves at my house at Christmas watching us and telling Santa if we have been good or bad...and I honestly do no think my mother new of this story..

Merry Christmas

Nov 28, 2011 04:23 PM

Cinnamon Wright

Wilmington Real Estate 4U 910.547.1446 - Wrightsville Beach, NC

Assistant to Tish Lloyd

Tish suggested I stop by and I'm so glad she did!

Ralph is new to our house, but he's already become part of the family. Every night after we go to sleep he travels up to the North Pole, reports to Santa, has some of Mrs. Claus' cookies (this is according to Zoe) and then returns to wreak havoc in our house. He's been found: on top of the ceiling fan, messing with the cords behind the tv, with his hand in the cookie jar and sitting in Barbie's house having tea. One of Zoe's friends found her elf in the kitchen. Where he had been playing in the flour!!!! Another awoke to find that her elf had used one of her Mom's lipsticks and drawn on the child's face!!!!

Since we can't touch him or he'll lose his magic, Zoe has instructed Ralph to be careful about where he ends up; lest he be eaten by her ca,t Bruiser, or accidentally touched by someone.

Having Ralph here is also a help in getting Zoe out of bed in the morning. She has to find Ralph before she leaves for school so no lolly-gagging in the morning at our house! Yipee!

Nov 28, 2011 11:32 PM

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

There are so many traditions that people follow at this time of year.........I try to continue with some of the German traditions I learned during my 17 years living there in the 70's and 80's.

Nov 29, 2011 12:39 AM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Joni,

I have never heard of this tradition. My daughter is grown and I do not have grandchildren yet so I will have to remember this one for the future. I am sure this will keep the kids on track during the holidays. Interesting.

www.kristinhamiltonblog.com

Nov 29, 2011 02:44 AM

Kristi Knutson

Kirkland, WA

Blog Trainer ☂

I love this idea so much! I'll have to use this with my son!!

Thanks for the cute pic and the idea!

Nov 29, 2011 05:32 AM

Joni Bailey

101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX

Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Kathy: Thank you! It really started by accident but I am loving it too! :)))

Rebecca: ELEVEN elves. YIKES. They may need 22 elves to keep an eye on 11 children! YIKES! love, Love, LOVE your profile picture!

Cinnamon: Oh that is just too much fun! I am so glad that yo shared that with me. You know... for the future!! I hope you are snapping a quick photo of Ralph as he moves about the house!! :)) I tried to get TPM to name her elf this morning.

Barbara Jo: You should do a series about the German traditions that you are doing! That way we can adopt a few from you! ♥

Kristin: I have heard of it but never bothered to check it out until this year. What fun (someday....)

Kristi: Oh good!! Tell us about it on your blog!!

Nov 29, 2011 05:46 AM

Lindsey Hasford

Edina Realty - Elk River, MN

Bringing you home...

Yeah, Joni, The report would be something like this:
From the side of the Elf: The boys took me off the shelf and used me as a "warrior" or "fighter" to attack all their bad toys in their bedroom including the McD's dragons and farm animals that were nicely standing in their fields eating. The sudden attacks were abrubt and often times included discipline for saying mean things to each other that were never said. Then they turned me into Superman or Batman and wanted me to be the Superhero to fix all the problems that they made me cause. I have flown over mountains (beds), traveled through forests (behind the couches) and swum in the sea (bathtub)... It's been a long day and now I'm tired. Can you put me away until next Christmas?

Nov 29, 2011 09:25 AM

Joni Bailey

101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX

Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

BAHAHAHAHhahah!

And Santa would say:

"Now Clark (Elf's name - Seeing as the boys like Superman!), I know this is your first year on the job, and that is precisely why I sent you to the Hasford house. I wanted to break you in quickly. You should experience the extremes at this home, making your future jobs seem like a piece of Christmas Cake! ☺ Run along now... go see if Mrs. Claus can put a new jingle on your shoe. Looks like you may have lost one during your travel through the forest. ho Ho HO! Merry Christmas!

Nov 29, 2011 09:51 AM

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