Elf on the Shelf--Part 2

 She's a trapeze artist here--using her favorite candy--the candy cane!

 Looks like she took a ride on my nativity (from Germany)--naughty elf!  Nativities are for looking at, not riding on!

 She must have been feeling homesick & missing Santa, because she was in this Santa's sleigh all day!

 Babysitting Baby Jesus--how adorable!

 Oh my, oh my!! Look what Snowflake did this day--she TP-ed our Christmas tree!

 but it looks like she is recycling some of that toilet paper on this day--she is reading a magazine...

 While she is sitting on the toilet from Emmalee's dollhouse!!

 She is watching all of the animals from the Little People play-set.  Snowflake must have her crop-dusting pilot license because she was flying their little plane! 

 I wonder how many hours of flying she has?

 we caught Snowflake trying to open one of her presents.

and the next day she had opened her present (a candy cane) & had "bribed" the bear flashlight (with the candy cane) to give her a ride.  

 She left us tons of kisses--from the North Pole of course!

 This is what we woke up to on Christmas Eve morning--the last day with Snowflake.

 I guess it was only appropriate that Snowflake the Elf was making snow-angels!  (in a pan of flour)

 When I was looking at pictures after we opened presents Christmas morning, I found these last 2 pictures on my camera.  She left a note in my "I Believe in Santa Claus" book along with a cute letter.

She said goodbye to the kids & told them to remember the baby Jesus--the reason for the season.

The kids can't wait for her to come back next year!

Elf on the Shelf--Part 1

 This is our Elf on a Shelf--Stewart style.  This is what the kids & I came home to after our Thanksgiving weekend at Aunt Pamela's.  (This is Nov. 30th)  The kids named her Snowflake.

The Elf on the Shelf watches over each family during the day & then when we are asleep, they return (magically) to the North Pole to report to Santa.  If the elf is touched during the day, she loses her magic powers & can't go & report to Santa.  So for 24 days (about), the elf can get into some mischief.  

Here she is just "hanging out" above the nativities.

 She decided to get into my piano stickers & treats.  Since she doesn't have a sticker chart, she put the stickers all over her & the piano treat prizes.

 We found her in Ben & Emmalee's stocking one morning.

 Maybe she thought this was one of the reindeer & tried to hitch a ride to the North Pole.

 Zip-lining from the window to the tree.

 She brought her own tree & ornaments back from the North Pole--or maybe she is lost in the forest & is "hugging a tree".

 Eating an elf's favorite foods (the 4 food groups to the elves):  candy, candy canes, candy corn & syrup.  (Or at least according to Buddy the Elf from the movie, "Elf").  

 We watched the movie the night before, so I guess Snowflake got some ideas!

 This morning the kids found Snowflake next to my camera--& this is what they saw that she had captured!  Selfies with a sleeping Emmalee...

 A sleeping Benjamin...

 Even a sleeping Brienna...

 and Mom dozing in the recliner!

 Spa day!

 she looks comfy in the bath of mini marshmallows, her pink hair towel, & she even found some fingernail polish to use when she gets out of the tub!

 Snowflake had fun getting into Callum's toys--she drove the big truck, & set up Callum's Nerf gun to shoot at the wood by the fireplace.

 Here's she's helping Santa watch over the Baby Jesus.  She must be a pretty awesome babysitter!

December Snow Storm!! (Dec. 21st)

 We finally had our first "big" snow storm of the season--about 7-8 inches!  The kids made lots of snow angels...

 Nice snow angels!

I love how the snow stuck to everything--including the trees, fences, etc.  

Rusty "playing" on the boy toys--tractors w/plows..

 We were "walking in a winter wonderland!"

 and 4-wheelers with plows.  Only "working" on the 4-wheeler would get Zane up before 9 am on a Saturday!

 He plowed the snow at a few people's houses.

 Ben just couldn't make enough snow angels!

 Emmalee was showing me how deep the snow was by the shed.

 Dog pile!

 Playing in the "fort" that was formed from the snow that was plowed.

 Even Ben joined in to help with the snow removal :)

 Emmalee couldn't be left out!

 Emmalee & Ben ready for a ride behind the 4-wheeler.

 Getting a fun ride up the alley by our house--fresh, unplowed snow!

 This is the crew that was up in the "early" hours (that is from around 7:30-10:30 am)--Callum, Rusty, Zane, Ben & Emmalee (& me!)

 Ethan, Tiffany & Brienna missed out on all the fun!  Rusty pulling Ben & Emmalee around in the sled.

 They don't look like they are having any fun!  (Ben loved getting the snow piled on him)

 I love Callum's expression--Rusty thought I was videoing this part, so he wanted to make Callum giggle--instead I captured this awesome face!

They could have done this all day--who needs rides on an amusement park ride when you have fresh snow, a 4-wheeler & a sled!