Do you Elf on a Shelf?

I have been doing Elf on a Shelf 

for years. 

Way before it was the cool thing to do.

Way before the book and the now famous Elf.

courtesy of google images

When I was growing up I babysat a lot

for extra money. 

I had a particular family with three kids that I regularly babysat

that taught me all about the magical elf that 

came to watch and report back about their children. 

While I was only 15 this stuck with me and I knew that

once I had kids I would be continuing their 

tradition with my own children.

When I first began the elf coming to my house in 2003 

my daughter was 3. 

Since I couldn't find a cute felt elf I improvised and basically got 

a lawn gnome that looked suspiciously like the 

Travelocity Gnome.

Courtesy of Google Images

Right before we moved to Japan in 2006 

I went to a Christmas craft show and found

a bin full of adorable felt elves.

I bought three.

(I was pregnant with my third baby then)

My plan was to have an elf for each child.

That worked out great for the last couple of years.

The elves would show up after Thanksgiving

and move around the house to 'watch' the kids.

Since I now have four beautiful babies and only three

elves I have decided to have one elf come in this year

and do all the work. 

Luckily for me there are many cute and creative ways I 

can get our Elf to misbehave at night when the children

are sleeping. 

Most of these can be found on Pintrest

where many of us addicted to Pintrest

have all pinned and ready to recreate.

Check out some of these cute ideas...

                                                                                  Source: raeoflight-photography.com via Kristen on Pinterest

                                                                                                Source: flickr.com via Kristen on Pinterest

                                                                                                 Source: flickr.com via Kristen on Pinterest

So I ask you do you Elf on a Shelf?