Elf on the Shelf

Happy Monday!!!  It is 1 week until Christmas and I am bummed.  I know who would think with all the shopping, singing, and beautiful lights out.  However, I am bummed about our Elf having to go back to the North Pole.  This was our 1st year with Scuba Steve ( the elf) and he has been a delight.  My little guy gets so excited when he gets up in the mornings and runs around looking for him it puts a smile on my face as well as my husbands.  I will say he is a rotten Elf,  his first night at our house he put my sons underwear on the fireplace

Then after that he slowed his game down a little bit 2nd night he put toilet paper on the Christmas tree

Then he decided to have a campfire on my dinning room table with a marshmallow and my candle.

Dancing with my angel. 

I sorta have been slacking with taking pictures these last few days and quiet honest they haven't been as creative and CUTE!!!!   I did find him in a pickle jar one morning and lets just say he STILL smells like a pickle almost 2 weeks later!!! 

Today he brought candy back that he took last night along with more candy. 

We also use the don't touch rule with Scuba Steve we don't want him to loose his magic and not be able to report back to Santa.

However, this means we have to try and get Scuba Steve out of sight before our son goes to bed because he asks a million questions of how does he leave when does he leave, why does he leave, who are his parents, where does he live, where does he live, what does he eat, and on and on.  So in this situation we have decided to remove Scuba Steve early to help eliminate some questions and help us enforce he is going to report back to Santa.

I think anyway you interact with your Elf on the Shelf is a positive experience.  Think of him or her as a behavioral tool.  lol.. I know it sounds stupid but really its the only time of the year that your children are afraid they wont get a present so take advantage of the "tool".  My son is a handful sometimes and all I say is "the Elf" is watching and he is going to go tell Santa and he USUALLY straightens up.  However, most kids are excited about Santa and don't want to disappoint him cause he gives good gifts, if they only knew what we know. 
Happy Holidays