It happens this time every year. Thanksgiving is over. December has started. And your child lets you know, “Sally’s elf showed up last night. Where’s our elf?” Oh, Sally. Thanks a !@#$% lot.

If you follow me on instagram, you’ll know I tend to post a bit of Elf Mayhem during the month of December. Other moms do it for their kids, I do it for the clout.* But, mostly, I’m just amusing myself.

*I have less than 200 followers, so, as you can see, I’m killing it.

Anyhow, one of the worst best parts of committing to this pint-sized trouble maker, is the hours and hours and hours of sleep you lose while trying to come up with fresh and funny ideas after having done the whole elf thing for many many many years—with no repeats. (Seriously, those monsters your kids will point out when your elf has already done a particular prank. Trust me. They’ll remember.) Never fear, though, because I got ya! Here is a gallery of Crayla’s (that’s our gremlin) terrorism fun shenanigans. It’s not a comprehensive record of her nighttime pranking. Not only do I often forget to photograph her escapades, some nights she’s exhausted and just finds a high spot to rest a spell. It’s okay. Elves get burnout, too.

Okay…As you have seen, there will be repeats…you can keep it fresh, though, by putting a slight twist on tired old gently used ideas. For example, maybe your elf is decorating oranges instead of bananas? Maybe she, he, or they are drawing snowflakes on the glass windows with chalk marker? Just have fun with it.

There are a few more days left before Christmas, and, seriously, the struggle is real. I am constantly looking for inspiration around me. Obsessively wondering what our goblin elf can get into next. (A tombstone in one of the planters? Is this the year I kill her off the show?)

Let me know if you want more elf content. Maybe tutorials on how to make elf knitting needles, or pencils, or how to modify your elf with some string and craft wire to make it easier to manipulate and pose them.

Love them, or hate them, the elf is here to stay. Before you judge those “extra” moms who go out of their way to make “elf donuts” (cheerios dipped in icing), painstakingly knit teeny tiny scarves with elf-sized knitting needles, just remember: they’re doing it for the kids.

But,I’m not. I’m doing it for likes and because I think I’m very clever.