This Isn't Your Mother's Elf On The Shelf (Santa Alter)

It's been out long enough I'm guessing most have some knowledge of Elf on the Shelf. But if you don't, it's a little elf doll that come with a kids book. Parents place it somewhere kids can see it and every night the elf returns to Santa to report on if the kids have been naughty or nice. The kids can't touch the elf, but they can talk to it or write it letters to try to sway it one way or another. Some parents get really creative and do all kinds of setups as the elves are suppose to be generally mischievous. I for one thought it was a rather silly idea, but now I have something better.

 

Let me present to you, Saber on the Shelf!

 

 

Okay, 1st night she showed up on the piano. I'm going to do it kinda of different. She'll move every night, and they kids aren't allowed to touch her. She'll generally stay up high for a week or so until I feel that my youngest won't bother her, then she may come down. She has her bag, but it starts out empty. As they are nice, it'll get more full. If they are naughty, it'll empty. I'll tell them how full Saber's bag gets equates to how many presents they get.

 

The goal is for me to post here everyday a new photo of her movements. Kinda of wish I had an Alice's Collection stand to pose with, but I'll make do for now. Depending on how much fun this is, I may do it again next year. I'll also take ideas from the peanut gallery for future Saber poses. Just remember I have three boys, ages 2, 4, and 13.

Edited December 4, 2017 by Guest

That's cool a pretty cool concept! Wish they get all the good stuff! All I get is coal for Christmas :

What a wonderful idea! I wish I could do this but my kids are 30 and 27! Think it might work with my husband and his "to do" list of chores?

Day 2, she's come down from the high perch to stand behind the TV.

 

 

My oldest complained that she wasn't on a shelf yesterday, and I don't think my two youngest noticed, but then my wife said they had a busy day yesterday so they weren't in the living room much. I'm hoping she'll be noticed today as they like to watch a little TV on Saturdays.

 

As for helping with your husband, depends on if he finds dolls cute or scary I guess.

 

And for coal, since one of my other hobbies is railroading, and I owe a real steam locomotive (Small scale.), coal would be a welcome present. That stuff isn't cheap!

I love this idea! Not only is the idea of a growing and shrinking bag of goodies awesome, it's great to see a doll that is pleasing to the eyes taking over these duties instead of that utterly CREEPY one that normally does it.

 

Great idea sir! I await more cool photos of her shelf scaling adventures!

 

 

 

Billy

As for helping with your husband, depends on if he finds dolls cute or scary I guess.

 

He actually has a Saber of his own that he named Misty so I guess you could say "cute." LOL

 

This is such a great idea that I've been thinking about what you might do. Maybe place her near a "chore" or something that the kids need to have done that day. Then you could ask sometime during the day if they have seen her today and if not, point out that she might be checking to see that they had done whatever the task was. That way they go looking for her and don't miss seeing her that day but it also encourages them to do what it was they were told. Just a thought!

Whelp, it seems she is getting more comfortable, she took my chair.

 

 

But she keeps her sword in hand in case she needs to defend herself. And her bag is sadly still empty, sigh.

 

Maybe place her near a "chore" or something that the kids need to have done that day.

 

That's a good idea. I'll have to try it.

Edited December 5, 2017 by Guest

She heard we have guests coming today so last night she took a high spot atop our bookcases.

 

 

And I have no clue why my camera is taking such horrible photos lately. I need to check it I guess. I just got news that when my 4 year old got up he looked for her and when he found her was all excited about how she got a ladder and climbed up there.

 

EDIT: Better photo.

Saber's new location, back of the couch.

 

This is a fun series!

She is ready for Christmas!!!

She decided it was time for some fun!

 

My wife does an at home "preschool" group on Thursdays, so Saber took a higher ground. But she can still keep an eye on things.

 

Lol! Such a cute twist on the elf idea! She is doing a great job!

She went with a more plush setting for today.

 

Oh man, I haven't seen a "Sit And Spin" in ages! I used to have one and I'd spin on that silly thing for what seemed like hours at a time. So cool to see that again.

 

And is it me or is Saber's toy sack not filling up too much yet?

 

 

 

Billy

I was thinking the same thing! With Christmas getting closer and closer, that bag still looks pretty floppy!!

She built a fort this time.

 

 

As for her bag, yes, still rather empty. The oldest doesn't seem to care, the youngest is too young to get it, and the middle kid goes to hunt down "Santa Queen" 1st thing in the morning, and then goes on his merry way. It seems she's just too adorable to strike fear in the hearts of naughty children. That or they always see me doing things with my girls that they think it's just Dad playing with her. When we put the Christmas tree up Monday they'll get a reminder about her bag.

see, and here I thought Ms Santa's empty bag was affected by UPS shipping delays!

see, and here I thought Ms Santa's empty bag was affected by UPS shipping delays!

 

LOL! That's classic!

 

 

Billy

We are really enjoying watching your posts each day and remembering Christmas's long past when our kids were little. Maybe adding some "audio" would help you. We were just remembering that when our kids were young, I used to stash a few sleigh bells around in various parts of the house (up high and hidden but still easily accessible) and when they did something great (or really questionable), the one of us who was out of sight of the kids would grab the bells and let them tinkle for a few seconds while the other one would draw their attention to the sound and point out that Santa's elf must have been watching...or at least was in the house! Our kids bought into this so big time that even without the bells tinkling, one year our son almost fell off his chair at dinner time when a shadow went past our kitchen window! (Good thing my husband caught him before he hit the floor!) He was totally convinced that he had just seen an elf's shadow!! Of course, we are also the insane parents who made sleigh runner lines and reindeer hoof prints on the top of our garage roof one year for the kids to see on Christmas morning! LOL

Oh the things we do to our kids while they are young. No wonder they shut us out when they become teenagers.

 

Found her this morning on the couch. Looks like she tried to tackle The Good Book. Didn't make it through Numbers it seems.

 

Ha! She made it further than I ever could.

 

 

Billy

It's all those names! They'll get you every time!! Elizur, Shedeur, Shelumiel, Zurishaddai, Nahshon,

I'm an engineer. Engineers like numbers. But even Numbers has too many numbers in it that my eyes start glossing over. Someday I might finish reading it. But back to the focus of this thread. Saber has found a trusty steed to help her along.