My grandchildren expected the Elves to be here (i.e. the Elf on the Shelf).  Elf on the Shelf is a relatively new tradition and I had heard about it but not familiar with this new tradition.  I had to do my homework on this one.  Parents took charge of the Elf but I learned a lot.  Apparently the Elf on the Shelf did not make an appearance until 2004.  (Learn more details here.)

The Elf on the Shelf was written in 2004 by Carol Aebersold and daughter Chanda Bell over a cup of tea. Bell suggested they write a book about an old tradition of an elf sent from Santa who came to watch over them at Christmas time. Aebersold’s other daughter, Christa Pitts, was recruited by the family to share her expertise in sales and marketing. Together, the trio devoted the next three years promoting their self-published book and attending book signings and trade shows.

The Elf on the Shelf won the Best Toy Award by Learning Express won Book of the Year Award from Creative Child Awards and National Best Books Award sponsored by USA Book News in 2008. In 2012, The Elf on the Shelf made its first appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside fellow parade newcomers Hello Kitty and Papa Smurf. In 2013, The Elf on the Shelf hit the #1 spot on the USA Today Bestsellers List.

We seemed to be visited by both a boy and girl elf.

Boy elf

Girl Elf

And as you can see they seemed to do their thing each evening and each morning we made our discovery of some of the things they were up to during the night.  I captured a few of their antics…

Elves make “flour angels”

Elves go fishing

Elves create a nativity scene

Elves go sledding

Gift wrapping gone awry

Gift wrapping gone awry

Elves on a trapeze