rest in peace, clarence...

At least until next December.


Clarence is our family's elf.
We adopted him in November of 2010, so we've had him for two Christmases now. I just have to say that he was definitely one of the highlights of our Christmas season - mainly for the children. Every morning, they'd run into our bedroom and ask if they could go find Clarence. Before we even had time to wipe the sleep from our eyes, we were being dragged out of bed, so that - together as a family - we could go and see what shenanigans Clarence had pulled this time. Two years ago, he was quite boring...hiding on a shelf, in a plant, or hanging from a chandelier; but this year...this year i tell ya, he kept all of us on our toes. He's a pretty creative little fellow, I must say. But I also think he must've collaborated with his other elf friends to get some ideas...perhaps maybe he even found a few mischievous schemes on the internet...dare i say.
On the night of November 30th, we read our story Elf on the Shelf, and I told the children that if they were good, and went straight to bed, that Clarence might just make an appearance in the morning.I was right. And he was a busy little elf all month long...well that is until his job was finished on Christmas Eve, and he was able to go back home with old St. Nick himself.

December 1...

He was found all snuggled up in one of Ruby's doll blankies, lying on top of two packages...which turned out to be Christmas pajamas for each of the children.
December 2nd...
We found Asher's bin of cars dumped out on the family room floor, and Clarence was lining them all in a row...exactly how Asher does.
December 3rd...
Clarence was giving one of Ruby's stuffed animals a well-check.
December 4th...
He was dressed as a Shepard boy, and trying his best to fit into the Nativity...poor guy stood out like a sore thumb.
December 5th...

He was galloping all over our house on Ruby's Barbie's horse.
December 6th...
He got into the kids' jar of incentive puff balls, and ended up trapping himself inside...leaving a mess of puff balls everywhere!
December 7th...
He drew with green marker all over mom and dad's engagement picture. I was so mad, until I got out the windex, and found that the marker was not permanent...phewwww.
December 8th...
He put on a rock n' roll show.
December 9th...
He lit our Christmas candle all by himself. I reiterated to the children that what Clarence did was totally off limits to them. Only moms and dads and Christmas elves are allowed to light candles.
December 10th...
He sat at the art station in the children's play room, and drew them a christmas picture. He is such a great artist.
December 11th...
He was caught giving himself a shave.
December 12...
He and barbie went out on the town. That whole day Asher kept saying, I can't believe Clarence has a crush on Barbie...and then he would laugh hysterically.
December 13th...
Clarence was reading a story to some of his his little elf friends.

December 14th...

He must have skipped his midnight snack at the north pole, because he was found inside our container of fruit snacks. He had singlehandedly eaten 5 packages, and was working on the 6th! In fact, when we found him, he had a red fruit snack half way in his mouth.

December 15th...
Man, they must have had a shortage of sweets at the north pole, because again, Clarence was found in our kitchen. This time he had climbed on top of our gingerbread house, and was helping himself to a gumdrop.
December 16th...
He brought some disney prince dolls back from the North Pole for each of the Children, and was trying to disguise himself as one of them. Clarence, we're a little smarter than that...don't you think?
December 17th...
He stayed up all night cutting and hanging beautiful snowflakes for us to enjoy the rest of the season. Clarence, thank you...but next time could you please clean up your mess?
December 18th...
Ruby made snow globes to give to all of her friends, and Clarence decided it would be funny to make himself part of a beautiful winter wonderland scene.
December 19th...
Clarence found some red paint and gave the children rudolph noses in the night.They didn't find that one to be very funny.Both were extremely embarrassed to look at themselves in the mirror.

December 20th...
Clarence and Santa had some serious fun playing in photo booth. When we woke up, the pictures below were displayed on our computer's monitor.



December 21st...
Clarence typed up a letter, which in reality was a direct message from Santa Claus himself... inviting them, once again, to hop aboard the Polar Express to pay the dear old man a visit. I think this one was Ruby and Asher's Favorite. They could hardly contain their excitement as I read Clarence's letter to them.
December 22nd...
He had somehow snuck the bells that the children had gotten from Santa (on the Polar Express the night before), and had them hanging around his neck.
December 23rd...
In an attempt to give our house a little extra Christmas spirit, Clarence got all tangled in a strand of lights, and somehow ended up hanging upside-down from the ceiling.

December 24th...

Finally his job was finished...and he could
rest.in.peace.