Elf on the Shelf Prep

I've been torn about the elf on the shelf for awhile now because I have seen so many kids get so stressed out about their elves watching their every move that it didn't seem fun anymore. Parents telling them they weren't going to get Christmas presents because they had done something bad, the elf had seen it, and was telling Santa. This seems cruel to me so I wasn't sure if I was going to do it with our boys or not. However, Zane has an amazingly vivid imagination, loves to pretend all sorts of things, and would completely adore the idea of a magical elf that flies to the North Pole to talk to Santa, then comes back and does funny things in our house. Also, he had seen it on TV or possibly on Amazon while we were looking at Christmas ideas and desperately wanted a little elf, so my hands were tied at that point. 

We have been talking about his elf for awhile now, about how he won't come until after Thanksgiving (which Zane has been referring to as Chrisgiving this week, adorable), and the general idea of the elf. We discussed names for him and Zane requested Gary, which is hysterical, and it has stuck. For the past couple weeks he has asked about when Gary was coming, what Gary was going to do, where he would stay, ect. So this weekend, while Zach was here, we decided we should write Gary a letter. We need to tell him that we had moved to Oklahoma, and we were currently staying at Grandma's house. You don't want your elf getting lost, after all. Here are Zach and Zane working on the letter. Zach just wrote down, verbatim, what Zane was saying, which is just a string of random thoughts, per usual. Then we had to draw a picture of Gary (obviously), add stickers, and set it out for the "Elf Mail" service to pick up over night. 

 This is the final draft of our letter. Here is the translation if you can't read it. 

"To Gary: You coming to Christmas, right now? You're my best friend. Shake your booty. We live in Oklahoma! I want you. We at Gramma house. P.S. You can sleep on the couch. P.P.S. Do you like Coyotes?"

Elf Mail came and got the letter and today it brought back the Elf on the Shelf book for Zane to read and prepare for his arrival. After reading the book we realized that Gary was going to need a place to stay in case he showed up while we were in Oklahoma City for Thanksgiving celebrations. I know the logic on this is very flawed, since the rest of the time he can magically fly in and out of our house, back and forth to the North Pole at night, so why couldn't he get in our house when we were gone? Doesn't matter, building a little house for him was an hour worth of entertainment, so it was amazing. His house consisted of a bed complete with little blankets and a tiny stuffed animal, little books, a big screen TV, made from a box that held Christmas ribbon that happened to have a see through square in it, thimbles for hot choco (as Zane calls it) that was being poured from a Christmas ornament tea pot, spools to sit on, a thimble that looks like a keg and one that looks like a statue of Santa, snacks in tiny ziplocks, Santa art on the walls, a cellphone, and one random tiny robot ornament. Zane ate this up and had the time of his life putting it together and decorating the outside. Of course we had to write him a note, telling him where we were and what was what. Here is the set up and the letter. 

 Don't worry there is a roof that folds over the top to keep him out of the elements.

 His bed is an air bed, made from the blow up packing from an Amazon box. The tiny sheep was what mom bought when Zane was a baby and it sat in her kitchen window, reminding her of baby Zane, and sending prayers up for our sweet boy every time she saw it.

Snacks include one potato chip, some craisins, and some Reeses Puffs cereal.

The letter reads:
"To Gary: I miss you. We're coming back tomorrow! Jingle Boy is here if you need company. Help yourself to the hot choco and the keg in the corner. We left a cell if you need anything, call Santa or JB. Love, Zane

P.S. We left you some snacks, see you soon!"

Of course Gary is Jingle Boy's cousin, obviously, which led to us having to get Jingle and Jangle dressed up for Thanksgiving and find their Christmas outfits as well. I'm beyond excited that JB has returned and will be here for Christmas again. Rowan had a blast digging through Jingle Boy's extensive wardrobe and trying to eat all his hats. Zane of course loved Jingle Boy and all that is his pretend, very interesting, life. Jingle and Jangle (who are brother's in case you didn't know) in their Indian costumes, went with Zane and mom to the park this afternoon, which I'm sure was tons of fun. We have reinforced the fact that you can't touch Gary quite a bit, otherwise he would be loved to death/go missing the first day. But he can play with Jingle and Jangle all he wants. Jangle actually had arm reattachment surgery just this afternoon and is doing well.

 Rocking the miniature cowboy hat

Rowan eating JB's St. Patrick's day hat.

I can't wait for Zane to meet his new friend. I am not going crazy with the "you better be good or your elf will tell Santa and you won't get any presents." That's mean and will take the fun out of it for him. This way Zane gets to have a little friend and a direct line to Santa all month. He will love finding him and making up stories about what he did at night. Christmas is so much more fun with little children!