So much to do and so little time....The story of finding our elf (Elf on a shelf).

As usual with Xmas fast approaching I find myself (along with you, I'm sure) needing more hours in the day. With Matt and Sarah's birthdays also at this time, it proves even more challenging and I'm already feeling like I need a holiday. LOL.

It's at times like this that I find the ole chronic fatigue (ME) coming back to haunt me. The last few days I've been in bed early, having an hour or two's sleep before getting back up again to continue with the evening. At least I'm finding a way to make things work for me.

Talking about Christmas, I'm finding this year a little hard. For a number of reasons.

1. I miss the snow from last year.

2. Sarah is showing signs of not believing anymore.

3. I'm exhausted.

The main two are the top two. But yesterday we had a new friend arrive at home.

Meet Snowflake:

She is delightful and has really brought a new sense of joy into our house.

This story may take a while, but I'm putting it here for McClune history.

I had joined a group on facebook which shares details and stories about their 'elves on a shelf'. It's something I thought was extremely fun and thought the kids would enjoy. I set about finding the perfect elf. But could I find an elf? NO! I searched everywhere online (around NZ and the world!), even a few 'real' shops. Even emailing a place in the States asking if they would ship to NZ (no they wouldn't) before I decided that the one place that would have my elf would be Smith and Caughey's in Queen street.

So I went for a drive yesterday. However, after being in the car for 20 mins trying to get onto the motorway, and just as I was about to get on the onramp, I got a phone call from school: "Dan is really upset. It's the day he needs his gear for practising the Xmas play and he doesn't have any".

Oh . my . goodness! This was all my fault. He asked me about his gear this morning and I assured him it was tomorrow. I was wrong!

So I turned around, came back home, found his gear, raced up to school, dressed him and left him a very happy wee boy. Then I tried again. Thankfully this time around the traffic had decreased and I got back to where I was without a wait!

I got across to town and driving down Queen street I was confronted with the old Farmers santa on the Whitcoulls building.

Gosh, that brought back a lot of memories! I LOVED the top floor of Farmers as a child. It was a real 'treat' to go there with your Mum, or grandparents. I remember it being an event that we would count the days down to do. It had a big round area with cars that we kids could play on, driving around the smooth floor. Plus I 'think' a tree? With a slide? That you could climb on. And there was a special cafe that was very posh and expensive (or so I thought - was it?) that you could get the most delightful baking. I remember it very fondly.

Anyway, I got into Smith and Caugheys and there was my elf. I saw her straight away. There were a couple there. One that looked more like the elves I'd seen online, but they were over $60 (and I just wasn't prepared to go there!) and they weren't as lovely! Wee Snowflake was beautiful, and just $25. I brought her and had a delightful chat to the lady who served me and came back home.

At home I set about making the 'perfect' entry for Snowflake into our family.

I made her a sleeping bag (with built in pillow) for her comfort in traveling to NZ, and I wrote a letter from Santa that was rolled into a scroll to put into her package.

I then packed her up and put her waiting in the mailbox for the children to find.

I was incredibly excited about what would happen next.

I packed up the house. The sewing machine was put away, the first prints of the santa letter were burnt in the fireplace (yes seriously!). The muslin was put back. Everything was tidied up so there would be no evidence that I had done anything.

Picking up the kids from school. I knew I wanted them to find the parcel. So I waited until I was just about at the door and said, "Oh, can someone check the mail please". I thought I did so well on the 'casualness', grin.

Matt screamed off, "I will".

And then the fun started. "There's a parcel in the box.....It's for us!" Sarah races back to see what it's all about.

I ask them who's it from? Matt's standing there perplexed "I don't know!", but Sarah smugly goes "I know, it's from the North Pole, but it's not a real stamp. It's been cut out".

Sigh goes this Mum.

We decide as it's addressed to all of them, to wait for Dan to come home from cricket to open it together. In the meantime, Sarah asks to do her homework on the computer.

Sure I tell her, and start to close all the programmes down. When all of a sudden there is the address I've made for the front of the parcel on screen. I try to close it as quickly as possible, but Sarah has seen it.

"Oh Mum, you did this!" No, No, I didn't! I stutter trying hard to think up how I can get out of this one. "Well then why was our address on the screen?" she asks as she looks at the address on the parcel, checking that yes, they are the same.

"Ummmmm, well, Santa sent it to me to just check that our address was right. Because he flies over and doesn't look at our address, he wanted to ensure it got to the right place".

Sarah looked at me like she knew I was lying, but she wanted to believe, but she knew it was wrong, and just accepted it.

I left it at that!

When Dan got home, they all opened the parcel and were surprised and excited to see Snowflake. They couldn't believe that there was a scroll inside and Sarah stood there and read it to everyone:

I found Santa's letterhead on Pinterest. It came from THIS site. Thank you for providing it free for us to use! It's gorgeous.

I then wrote the wording myself. I wanted it to show information that only we and Santa would know. To try and 'prove' that Santa wrote it. It worked. The kids were beside themselves. Sarah as usual was a little aloof, but the boys were just in heaven.

This morning, we found Snowflake just finishing up a plate of Ricies and Cornflakes.

The boys came running into our room, clambering onto our bed, telling us all about Snowflake and how she'd moved in the night and had gotten herself some food. Excitement ran wild.

As we sat down to breakfast, I moved her aside and put her with her arm around a lego ambulance. And the conversation continued. But how did she eat that big plateful? Her stomach is so small, and look at her mouth! She must like lego, do you think she made lego at Santa's toy factory?

Then something came out of Sarah's mouth that made me do a little 'inside' jig. "But she's magic". Of course. She can do anything!

And the busyness faded and the magic came back into our life this Christmas season. 

Comments

[Hannah]

Aww, so sweet. My boys stopped believing in Santa a couple of years ago (I know, Tyler was only 6 or something at the time!!) and I guess things do feel a bit different now.

[Vicky]

So Cool! I havent got ours out yet. I wish you'd told me and I would have made you one.. not that Snowflake isnt gorgeous!

[Rebecca Y]

We did Elf on the Shelf last year for the first time. It's great about a month ago out of the blue the boys (6 and 8) asked if "Elfie" was coming back! Hope you have heaps of fun, we did and have more planned this year!!

[Teryl]

Love this. Might have to put it on my to do list for next year :)

[Vicki Parker]

Thats a lovely story about her arrival. Am sure you will all have lots of fun along the way. Love Andys reaction too - so funny. :)

[Kelly]

that is a beautiful elf!!! Kirks had some large ones that were too pricey, and then they had ugly ones! ...so we're sticking with Steve - even though Mr11 spotted one just like him at acquisitions! I don't think he believes anymore... but for now, he's going with it. Love the magic at Christmas!!

[DonnaH]

Oh Trina, I just loved your story...made a little bit of Christmas Magic memories come back to this 'oldie'. My grandchildren are all too old now but there is no reason why people couldn't still do the same thing but send it between people in their family - or even friends could do it (as long as they are going to be life-long friends and would look after it :). You have got me thinking!

[Sally]

That's just delightful Trina :)

[mandyb]

such a cute story....glad sarah is playing along!!!