Our Elf on the Shelf, Buddy, returned the day after Thanksgiving. When we were in Disney World, I asked Aunt Betty to check our mail for us. She went to the house the Friday after Thanksgiving and found Buddy sitting on the couch eating M&Ms and Oreos and drinking soda. She took a picture and sent it to me.
When the kids saw the picture, John said “Ask Aunt Betty make a letter to Buddy and let him know we are in Disney World!” Gillian said “Him spilled his nemems!” Aunt Betty let us know that she left Buddy a note and that she would check back later to make sure he wasn’t making a mess. John told Aunt Betty “If he isn’t there tomorrow then we will let you know if he is in our room!” The next day Buddy wasn’t in our room. But Aunt Betty searched our whole house and finally found Buddy. He had a little message for the kids.
The next day (our last day in Disney), Aunt Betty went to our house and found Buddy with a note.
John was very curious, he kept saying “I wonder what’s inside the package!” And “I can’t believe that Mickey sent him a letter!”
On Monday, December 2nd, when we arrived home from our trip, Buddy was waiting to greet us.
John was so excited to see Buddy and even though Buddy was high above him, he said “That’s what was in the box! Mickey sent him ears!”
On Tuesday, December 3rd, we found Buddy with all the new toys that John and Gillian got on their trip. Buddy was still wearing his Mickey ears. Daddy and I think that Buddy was asking the toys if the kids were good on their vacation.
The next day, the kids found Buddy in the kitchen. He made a little swing. Gillian said “Him made it out of toilet paper!”
On Thursday morning, the kids found Buddy. He was having a race with some cars and toys. Buddy was in the lead!
On Friday, December 6th, the kids found Buddy in the kitchen. He was making marshmallow snowmen! John said “Mommy! He is using your food markers!”
The following day, the kids had a hard time finding Buddy. He was on Mommy’s hutch hiding in John’s lacing shoe. I said to John “I think Buddy wants you to learn to tie your shoes.” He said “Sorry Buddy. I tried. I just can’t do it!”
On Sunday morning, Buddy left the kids a craft project. Buddy may have been a little ambitious leaving two projects for the kids to create. We had a hard time focusing on one. But it was a snowy day so it was a good day for an indoor project.
On Monday morning, Buddy lined up all of Gillian’s My Little Ponies. He was riding Princess Celestia and leading the pony parade. Gillian was not happy. She cried. “Him’s taking all my toys!”
The next morning was a snowy morning. John’s school was closed and Daddy decided to stay home with both of the kids while I went to work. Unusually, Gillian was up before John and she found Buddy riding John’s croc down the banister. She said “Him’s going to fall!” And she was right. He did fall. By the time John woke up, Buddy had fallen on the steps. Gillian was not happy about Buddy’s fall and she made Daddy carry her up and down the stairs past Buddy all day.
Buddy must have hurt himself in the fall, because the next day we found him in one of Gillian’s Barbie beds.
Buddy recuperated and on Thursday morning, we found Buddy hanging from the attic cord. He also left a pillow on the floor in case he fell! Smart thinking Buddy! That morning, John walked past Buddy and into the bathroom. He came out of the bathroom looked up and said “Buddy! You were behind me the whole time?!?!”
The next day, Buddy was dreaming of warmer weather and he made some new friends too!
On Saturday morning, John found a little note from Buddy along with a movie and some window clings. He had a hard time finding Buddy, but Gillian spotted him right away. “Him’s up there!” And there he was on top of the curtains in the kitchen.
The kids spent the night at Grandma’s on Saturday, December 14th and when I picked them up on Sunday, they immediately asked “Where’s Buddy?” “Did you see him?” When I said “No.” John said “Did you see anything unusual?” I love that they were excited to see what Buddy was up to. We found him when we got home. He was just chilling in a jar on Mommy’s cabinets.
On Monday morning, the kids found Buddy sitting on top of the refrigerator. He had his hand covering his mouth. I thought he looked like he was hiding a smile. John wasn’t sure. The kids decided to have cereal for breakfast and when John went into the fridge to get the milk. He pulled it out and said “I think it’s bad!” The milk was green! I told him, “It’s not bad. Buddy got into Mommy’s food dye. Remember I was decorating cookies last night.” John was unsure about using the green milk, but not Gillian!
The following day, we found Buddy in John’s room. Buddy was having a snowball fight with Captain America! Mommy was happy that Buddy kept all the sugar and marshmallows on a tray and not on the dresser!
Wednesday morning, Buddy was not in John’s room or the bathroom or Mommy & Daddy’s room. John was ready to give up, but then he went into Gillian’s room. They found Buddy on Gillian’s canopy. Mommy thinks Buddy was to be in a cirque!
Thursday morning, Buddy wasn’t hiding. He was sitting on a table in the living room. He was sitting in a Barbie chair (“Him’s always takes my toys!”) and he had a little note. The note said “I have hidden 10 candy canes. Can you find them?” The kids had so much fun running around the living room looking for the candy canes.
On Friday morning, Buddy was very sneaky. Buddy tends to hide high in any room, but this morning he was low. We have a large ruler in the kitchen that we use to measure the kids (thanks Pinterest) and Buddy decided to measure himself too! John asked Daddy “Can we add Buddy? Please?” (also, the ruler is in the kitchen by Duncan’s bed. But Duncan was very good with his little visitor and didn’t bother him all day!)
Saturday morning, December 21st, John found Buddy in the living room. But Buddy looked different! “He’s got a mustache! And he made us mustaches! He must really like us.” We had a lot of fun with the mustaches (even Travis the turtle)!
Sunday morning was Buddy’s Clues. Check out my post about Buddy’s Clues!
Yesterday, Monday December 23rd, Buddy made an igloo out of marshmallows. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of it. I know. It was the second to last day of Buddy’s adventures and I didn’t get a picture. It’s a rookie move. Oh well.
This morning, John had a hard time finding Buddy. But after searching everywhere (and a little help from Mom) he found him in the Christmas tree. We decided Buddy wanted to be in the tree so he could help Santa when Santa arrives tonight.
Merry Christmas Buddy! Can’t wait to see what you are going to do next year!
John and Gill went up a hill 