Brita the Elf

Last year we started The Elf on the Shelf. I don't do anything too elaborate with her. 

I know some people hate this elf. It's extra work on the parent's part, even though he/she is supposed to watch for good or bad behavior - kid's behavior doesn't change for the elf, and other random reasons.

I'll tell you why I like her:

• She encouraged Isaak to read and write last year. Isaak would write our Elf Brita, and Brita would write him back. If you remember Isaak's never been much of a reader, so I'll take anything that gets him to read and write.
  

• She encourages creative thinking. 

A few days ago Brita left a a paper train of people. Isaak has been trying to make a paper train ever since that day.

• The boy's other toys get played with. I use Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle(s) as Brita's side kicks. 

They were zip lining across our kitchen.

 

• Brita sometimes gets Isaak up in the mornings. At times he jumps out of bed to go find her. 

Floating in a boat.

 

•  She puts a smile on both boy's faces. 

She was hanging with Michelangelo up until this point. Leonardo took Michelangelo's spot. He kissed her.

 

Poor  Michelangelo was throwing a jealous fit.

• She gets rid of things that Mom and Dad want gone, but Isaak want's to keep. 

Isaak has been getting stickers from school for "good behavior". He leaves these stickers laying everywhere. Michelangelo decided to stick them on Brita. Isaak wasn't too happy about this one.

 

 

Pinterest has a lot of ideas. If you find that you're not super creative there's a lot of ideas online.

 

We have had a few elf hiccups. 

 

Isaak thought the elf was supposed to bring him presents. I said, "Nope, possibly sometimes (like the Kisses), but it's Santa's job is to bring the presents. Brita is just here to watch you, and do funny things." If he doesn't expect presents, than it will be all the more special when she does bring things. 

Isaak thought it would be fun to hide the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to see if they really would take part in Brita's antics. It's his own way of testing his faith in her I suppose. I've had trouble finding them twice. 

Elf on the Shelf - More Pranks

I haven't taken pictures of what Brita our Elf on the Shelf has done every day. I've been trying here and there. 

Isaak still writes her notes. If anything came out of having an Elf on the Shelf - Isaak's getting some writing skills down. He certainly needs the practice. 

Letter: 

Dear Brita,

Are you boing (doing) well today and every other day.(?) p.s. I like gold(.) What is your favorite color.(?) Why do you always hide and Be(be) funny. Love (, Isaak)

Brita wrote him back on the other side saying:

Dear Isaak,

I am doing well. I do miss you and your brother when you are in school. My favorite color is red because I wear it all the time. I like to hide because it's funny watching you and your brother run around to try and find me. 

Love,

Brita

I got this next idea from masshole mommy.
Her snowmen's noses look better than mine. I had orange gum drops, so I cut them in 1/2 and used those as noses.

Then Brita was in the refrigerator all cuddled up because she was so cold. 

Another night I was mad. I went to get out my sprinkle box, and the lid got caught. Sprinkles went all over inside the box. You could say I've had the dropsies lately. I would have saved them, but the box wasn't exactly clean. Instead of taking full blame, I dumped them on the floor. Brita got into them. Ya that's who did it. ;)

Brita Update

We have the Elf on the Shelf for the first time this year. 

I didn't know how much the boys would get into it, but they really have. Isaak writes her letters every day. If anything Brita coming around has upped Isaak's writing skills.

Brita and Leonard had a marshmallow fight, and got 2 cups of joe ready for the morning.

Daddy rolled his eyes at me when I got Brita. When he saw how into Brita Isaak was, he to got into placing her around the house. 

First Dad placed Brita on the ceiling fan helping Leonardo up.

Then Dad had Brita and Leonardo getting into the cereal box. Cute butt shot!

Then I took over, and had Brita get into my makeup. Doesn't she look pretty?

She wrote an apology letter saying over and over again, "I am sorry. I will not get into your Mom's makeup again."

I had Brita sleeping all cuddled up in Isaak's room the next night. Mica got super jealous that day.

The next night she hid candy canes on Mica's drawers.

She got into Isaak underwear drawer, and decided to decorate the tree with them. At least they were clean.

I'm not struggling for ideas just yet. So far I'm kind of glad we got this Elf on the Shelf.

Meet Brita

So...I didn't know if I'd want to get on the Elf on the Shelf bandwagon. It looked fun, but it's just one more thing to do.

If you aren't familiar with Elf on the Shelf it comes with a book that explains how the elf watches what the kids do, and reports back to Santa. The elf comes to live at night and does things around the house. Kids can not touch her, or she looses magic.

It's kind of creepy if you think about it. The kids only think of it as being fun though.

One of my friends that lives in Omaha was giving one away on her FB page. I entered thinking, Why not? It will be fun.

I didn't think I'd win, but I did.

Welcome Brita to our family.

When I found out our little elf was a girl I was excited. Finally another girl in our family. I told the boys, "I won her, so I'm naming her." One of my great grandmas was from Sweden. Her name was Brita. My youngest sister was almost named after her, but ended up being Terra instead. It's a good thing because shortly after she was born Brita Water Filters came out, and were the rage. Everyone had to have one. Now that trend has died down a bit. I think it's safe to name our elf Brita.

Right away Mica had to read the story, and fill out Brita's name in the book. I set Brita on the shelf. Mica put a TMNT up by her because she was lonely - so he said.

He then proceeded to talk about how the elf isn't real. I took him into my bedroom and said, "If you don't think the elf is real, that's fine. Think that. Just don't mess it up for Isaak." - He's been quiet about that ever since.

I was going to check out all the clever things that people have done with their Elf on the Shelf online. It just so happens that so far I've followed my boy's creative leads. 

Night 1: Leonardo carried Brita to the TMNT notebook that was left out.

Night 2: Brita read the boy's notes, and responded to them. She cut the envelope open with her tiny scissors. *The paper shredder did that.

Much of the day yesterday the boys spent time making Brita a special home. It has a bed, an outhouse, and a roof. *I'm sure in the future that house will have Christmas lights that will show up on it. 

My friend that I won Brita from has an extra skirt that she's giving to us. :) 

So far our little elf Brita hasn't been a lot of work like I thought she'd be. Isaak wants to get out of bed to see what Brita has been up to. 

Daddy rolls his eyes whenever the boys say, "Dad come check out what Brita did!" I call him a Scrooge. 

Isaak lost a tooth last week. I feel asleep without taking care of the Tooth Fairy duties. Daddy dropped some change in Isaak's box. He didn't leave a special dollar with Fairy dust, or a little note like she did last time. Isaak woke up, and was all disappointed. He left her a necklace, and a bead. The Tooth Fairy didn't thank him.