December 18, 2012

A Most Interesting House Guest

We've been having a lot of fun at our house lately with a most interesting house guest. Her name is,  MunchMunch and she is an elf. Yes, you read right, an elf.

The kids actually named her. Jack came up with the name and it was resoundingly seconded by Carter and 'thirded' by Taylor.

Although MunchMunch is female, we seem to be in the habit of referring to her as a 'he'. It could be that she's miffed about that and therefore gets up to no good. But more likely, I think these helper elves (that seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately) are very much mischievous little creatures.

Several of the kids on Jack's hockey team have elves staying with them as well and I must admit, some of the stories I've heard about their elves make MunchMunch's antics seem tame.

Before I share some of the shenanigans MunchMunch has been getting into, here's a bit of background info for those of you who aren't familiar with the story behind Santa's little spies helpers:

"Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice?  

The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centres. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf book, and gives their elf a very special name. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.  

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. 

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa.


Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot!  These elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families. 

On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season."

(from the Elf on A Shelf website)



Take a look at some of the places we've found MunchMunch so far:

Oh my!




She's a reader!
And she's musical! Is that Jingle Bells she's playing?
What a mess! Pretty obvious who is responsible.


This morning the kids couldn't find MunchMunch anywhere. 


Instead they found her picture pasted all over the house! Oh MunchMunch, you were a busy elf last night!


Take a look...
C laughed when he saw MunchMunch's picture on his talker.
There were even pictures in the fridge!
And on the kids' stocking hangers. She covered up the kids' pics!


It was a busy morning with everyone running around looking for MunchMunch - and her pictures. There were pictures in shoes, in the dog's dish - even in the car. But where was MunchMunch?


Jack and Taylor finally found her in our office.


Take a look...
Caught red handed. Note the camera, scissors, tape & scraps of paper. You busy little elf, MunchMunch!




Gathering all the pictures in one place.

Thirty-two pictures were found in total.

Taylor found the first one when she got up - on the handle of the toilet in the kids' bathroom!

Carter's communication book came home with a note telling of a picture found in his lunch bag. 

And Jack created quite a ruckus in the dressing room at hockey practice when he pulled out his helmet and there was a picture of MunchMunch taped to the front of it.








Where will we find our dear elf tomorrow, I wonder? 




December 09, 2012

The Weeks Before Christmas

In the weeks before Christmas,
the schedule is packed.
Not one evening is open, 
I'm feeling quite whacked!


Hockey practises and games,
dance lessons and swimming,
Carter's talker group too,
fill our weekends and evenings.


The days are so busy.
As a stay at home Mom,
I can't even imagine
holding a job too, like some.


I'm still volunteering.
At work hubby's hopping.
Our regular routine 
plus lots of gift shopping!!!


To our busy schedule  
is added such clatter,
I go through my day 
feeling like the mad hatter.


The hectic yet magical
season is here.
School concerts and parties,
 Santa's visit is near! 


And the children, unfazed 
are just happy to be,
on a hunt for their elf,
Where's she hiding? Do you see?


We'll survive, we will manage,
as all families do.
In fifteen days it'll be over
And the year will be through.

For now I will try
to embrace all that's here.
With this season of family,
of giving and good cheer.

Then hubby and I
will totally collapse.
We'll settle right in
for some long winter naps.

(What? Who am I kidding?
That won't be the scene.
We'll just start all over
In two thousand and thirteen!)
Our Elf on a Shelf, MunchMunch (the kids named her - don't ask me!)