The return of Elf on the Shelf–year 3

 
It’s that time of year again ….. It’s Elf on the Shelf time!  Time for every parent to flip out, stress out about this little elf!  The whole elf on the shelf season started off in a complete panic this year because he was missing!!!  After, an hour of looking in every odd place and running up and down from 2nd floor to the basement and back again … I finally found him!   He was resting in the Easter storage container.  I know makes complete sense right?  I mean why wouldn’t I put him back in the nice storage box he came in?  Ahh, because that would make sense and  I really do like to stress my self out over this elf! (insert sarcasm)
The first year Linus (aka Elf on the Shelf) came to visit us was in 2010.  I posted about our new family member here which by the way is a very popular post these days!  After, seeing the popularity of this post in my stats I figured I would update you on year 3. 
If knew this back in 2010 would I have purchased the elf on the shelf?  If knew this cute little elf was going to cause me so much stress for some odd 30 days or so would I have bought one?  Absolutely!  Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love the magic of it all!  It's even better when my daughter honestly believes that cute little stuffed elf actually ate that bag of M&M's, drew on her school picture frame with a dry erase marker, can hang for over 24 hours from the railing on the steps, and then last night he landed in my trees in the kitchen.  Uggh, did I tell you it's exhausting?  Plus, now with pinterest there is some serious competition with elf on the shelf owners and that you have to be super creative about what your elf is caught doing?  Check out a few ideas below – click on link for pinterest search.   
 

this week I've panicked twice in the morning after she's gotten up - DID I MOVE HIM???? Monday, morning was the worst!  I totally forgot to move him Sunday night and then there she was standing at the bathroom door as I'm coming out  all excited and she’s waiting to go downstairs to find him!!!  Yes, I'm trying to hold it together and with a quick side track to the bedroom for the TV,  I tell her I have to run downstairs to get her shirt from the dryer.  Now, I’m in complete panic as I'm holding the elf - which by the way you are not supposed to touch or he will lose his magic.  So if she catches me with elf in my hand it's OVER!  A quick move he landed in our candy jar holding and open bag of M&M which by the way she believes he opened and started eating! 
Will she hate me one day that I made her believe this elf was real?  I hope not.... I hope she will see it as being the part of the magic of Christmas and that I was suckered into another $29.00 purchase!  haha! 
So here's what our elf has been up to so far this 2012 Christmas Season ...
 

 
What’s your elf been up to?  Or do you just keep it simple? 
 
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Amy