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DIY, Holidays!

Reuben is Back!

12.01.2015

Elf on the Shelf - Reuben is BackYou know how some parents get crazy with this whole Elf on the Shelf fiasco? I mean, come on, moving the elf from one location to the next, every night, while trying to keep up some level of creativity, all after the kids have gone to bed, but before they can succumb to their own pillows? It sounds miserable to me. Mainly because of the children part. It definitely has nothing to do with the Elf part. Because that part is definitely right up my alley.

I start planning for Reuben’s (our elf) trip to our house months in advance. Somehow I’ve upped the expectations to almost an impossible level. The first year Reuben visited my husband, he couldn’t get enough. Since then, each year has brought even more interesting antics. If you’d like to see Reuben’s previous year highlights, check out this post from last year.

So before we gear up into a new season of Reuben, let’s take a look through Reuben’s trip last year, starting with my favorite:

Elf on the Shelf - Paper Magazine Kim Kardashian
Reuben on the cover of Paper magazine. Looking a little Kardashian-like.
Elf on the Shelf - Geico Commercial, Hump Day Mike Mike Mike Mike
Geico Hump Day Commercial: “Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike”
Elf on the Shelf - Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Elf on the Shelf - Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
Elf on the Shelf - Girls Gone Wild
Girls Gone Wild
Elf on the Shelf - Orange is the New Black
Orange is the New Black
Elf on the Shelf - Poltergeist
Poltergeist
Elf on the Shelf - Reuben the Packer Fan
Reuben is definitely a Packer Fan!
Elf on the Shelf - The Bachelor, Chris Harrison 2
The Bachelor, “Ladies, it’s the final rose of the night.”
Elf on the Shelf - Titanic, Jack and Rose
Titanic, “I’m the King of the World”

We went to Mexico for Christmas last year, and there was no way we were leaving Reuben behind. He had a lot of fun on all of his Mexican adventures:

Collecting Sea Glass
Collecting Sea Glass

Elf on the Shelf - Sunbathing

Cliff Jumping
Cliff Jumping

Elf on the Shelf - Drinks on the Beach

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Comments

  1. Evan Strode says

    12.01.2015 at 10:32 am

    I don’t know who Ruben is, but I want to take him with me to the Villages in Florida. Maybe I will finally have a little luck with the ladies. That is one big party.

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.01.2015 at 11:06 am

      Hahaha Reuben is definitely a party! Last year he was a little mild compared to years prior!

  2. B says

    12.01.2015 at 10:37 am

    THE BEST PART OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.01.2015 at 11:05 am

      Keep your eyes open!! He’s on his way!

  3. Krystle says

    12.01.2015 at 12:01 pm

    This is amazing!!! 🙂 I love it!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.01.2015 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks!!! I’m hoping he has as much fun this year!

  4. jodi - a brash attitude says

    12.01.2015 at 2:21 pm

    This is such an awesome idea, I love it! 🙂

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.03.2015 at 7:56 pm

      Thank you!!! 🙂

  5. yvonne priewe says

    12.02.2015 at 7:30 am

    Keep them coming.. You should have him help you make peanut butter cups..He will be happy in Hollywood Florida, seeing his grandma

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.03.2015 at 7:59 pm

      Oh he would love to eat some peanut butter cups, but really wants his great grandma to make them for him!!

  6. Laura McDaniel says

    12.03.2015 at 7:39 am

    OMG Shauna, I laughed so hard I snorted coffee this morning! LOL
    I also had to send this to my sister since her new boyfriend started her with the ELF also – this IS much better than her FB posts for the kids!

    Darn it, I’m sure “I” will have to do one of this Elf’s too now.

  7. Katie says

    12.09.2015 at 8:51 am

    OMG THE BREAKING BAD ONE

  8. Adele Ankers says

    1.06.2016 at 4:21 pm

    LOL, this is hilarious! My personal favs were Reuben with the Kardash spoof mag cover and as Walt ready to get his cook on in the BB scene. Very creative and fun!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      1.06.2016 at 4:38 pm

      Oh my gosh the Kardashian one is one of my all-time favorites too!!! Thanks for checking them out! 🙂

About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

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Something I tell my little girls all the time, yet Something I tell my little girls all the time, yet wish most grown women understood too. I see so many adults actively TRYING to fit in…work, church, neighborhood, sports, etc. 

You shouldn’t have to try. If you’re trying to be someone you’re not, it’s not right. For you, or for them. Your tribe will come along, I promise you. Even if that tribe is one person, it’ll be better than a hundred women who just don’t get you.
Listen. I’m all about having a good time. I love t Listen. I’m all about having a good time. I love to travel, I love to go out for dinner, I love having new clothes. But somewhere along the way, we’ve lost the ability to just say “No, I don’t want to spend the money on that.” 

Our budgets don’t always allow for the same experiences that our friend or neighbors may have, and that is perfectly okay. We need to stop overspending and start saving. We need to be financially secure before buying more junk that isn’t fulfilling, or going out for another dinner. 

Do you feel comfortable telling someone you don’t have the budget for something?
Somewhere along the way we forget to find the joy Somewhere along the way we forget to find the joy in all the little things. The little joys in twirling in a flower field. Stopping to smell the flowers. 

If we want our children to enjoy all of the little joys, we need to make sure we are doing it too. What little joy did you enjoy today?
Growing up, I dreamed of living by the beach and p Growing up, I dreamed of living by the beach and palm trees. It was magical to me. I never felt like my soul belonged in a landlocked state. A cold state. Were there beautiful things about it? Of course. Summer in Wisconsin will always have my heart. But living by the ocean will always be where my soul feels at home.

Over twenty years ago I got in a car and drove across the country to San Diego with a few friends. I’ve now lived here longer than I lived in Wisconsin. And even though I’ll always “be” from Wisconsin, my girls will always be from San Diego. And that’s a crazy concept to me. Raising the girls at the beach was something out of my dreams. So now I can teach them firsthand that we CAN make our dreams come true!
I remember when my oldest was little and someone t I remember when my oldest was little and someone told me that she NEEDED to go to preschool or she’d never catch up. I feel the same way today that I felt then, six years ago. My daughters never NEEDED preschool. Is it a good option for some parents (or the only option for others)? Yes. Is it BAD? No. But kids don’t NEED it. They need outdoor spaces, they need playgrounds and parks and beaches. They need free play with neighbors and friends and family. And yes, if none of those are options, of course preschool is not a bad idea, but can we stop pretending kids that don’t go are going to be irreparably harmed?
There’s just something about that second child. Th There’s just something about that second child. They pick up everything so quickly. They’re unstoppable. They want to do everything and they want to do it now. 

Second child life.
The day my husband looked at me and said, “I’m so The day my husband looked at me and said, “I’m so glad we have daughters,” I just about melted. Because like most men, he always envisioned a son. Someone he could pass his useless sports knowledge to, someone he could play mediocre golf with. Maybe someone to watch the hockey playoffs with (that doesn’t complain like I do). 

When we found out our second girl was coming, he famously said he watched the pink smoke hoping it would turn to purple and then blue. The first thing out of his mouth after he really digested it was, “now I have to pay for two weddings.”

And then one day, not long after the second came along, he realized why he’s a a girl dad. Because he couldn’t be more perfect for them. And they are exactly what he needed.
After seeing the beauty of this world, I just don’ After seeing the beauty of this world, I just don’t see how there’s any other option. God’s beauty is in everything, and sometimes I feel sad that I’ll never be able to see it all.
My husband and I never thought we’d be the homesch My husband and I never thought we’d be the homeschooling family, but here we are. What started as a few things here and there that we didn’t like, exploded into not liking much of anything in a traditional school, and liking just about everything about homeschooling. 

So now, here we are, on a random weekday, exploring our city. Picking up shells and learning about science. Meeting new people and gaining new friends. There’s so much more than doing lessons at home (although those happen too, don’t worry). There’s a whole big word out there to explore.
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