December was upon them, and Beca and Jesse were ready. At nine- almost ten- the triplets were on the cusp of not believing in the big jolly man anymore. So they had to up the ante ("do they really have to grow up?" Jesse had complained, as he untangled the lights).

"Hello Buddy", Beca said softly, as she pulled the elf out of his box. "Welcome to yet another holiday season".

Beca and Jesse had introduced Buddy to the triplets the year they were five. While it had them behaving for the entire month of December (Beca had come home one night the Christmas earlier and heard Molly shouting "Buddy's gonna tell Santa Toby and then you're gonna get a big lump of coal! Is that what you want?"), it was a huge game for Beca and Jesse. Every night, they hid the elf in a new spot around the house and waited for the kids to find him in the morning.

"Let's do this", Jesse decided.

That night, they placed Buddy beside the toaster, waiting for the triplets to wake up for school in the morning and see their visitor.


December 1st

"Guys!" Toby all but bellowed up the stairs. "Look! Buddy's back!"

"Aw, Buddy!" Molly said in delight, tripping over her feet as she took on the stairs.

"Don't touch him!" Jack hollered, sliding on the banister and beating his sister to the bottom. "If we touch him he loses his magic!"

Buddy was holding a folded up piece of paper, and Jesse eased it out carefully, as not to touch the elf.

"Read it for us, Molls". He held it out.

"Dear Jack, Molly and Toby", she read out loud. "Welcome to another holiday season! I'm very excited to be staying with you again this December, but will return home every night to report back to Santa Claus. Remember to be good children! Or I will have to return for good- and remember not to touch me!"

"Or the magic will go away", Jack and Toby said together.

"I hope you have fun finding me every morning. Love, Buddy". Molly handed the letter back to Jesse, accepting the cup of milk he was offering her. "Wonder where he's gonna be tomorrow?"

"You'll have to wait and see".


December 2nd

Jesse sat in the bed he shared with Beca, almost wiggling with anticipation. December was his favourite time of the year, and he had passed that love on to his children (and Beca, but on a different level). And when Buddy had been introduced to the Swanson house that love had grown.

Beca was one hundred and ten percent certain that Jesse liked the elf more than the kids did.

When the kids' alarms sounded, Jesse followed the sleepy kids down to the kitchen, waiting for their reaction.

Buddy had gotten up early to make them breakfast, apparently, and there were eggshells scattered over the counter and bread shoved in the toaster and orange juice spilling over their cups.

And the three of them screamed with laughter, calling for Beca to come and join them.

(She wasn't a total Grinch.)


December 3rd

"Jesse stop moving the ladder I swear to God-"

"I'm not doing anything Bec!"

"You're shaking the ladder!"

Their kids were finally asleep (Jesse had had the bright idea to take them looking at Christmas lights, and the three of them were wired), and Beca was standing on a ladder in the living room trying to hang toilet paper on the ceiling fan. Jesse had already flung an entire roll down the stairs, and made a trail into all three kids' rooms.

"You're shaking the ladder!"

"I am not shaking the ladder Beca you're going to wake up the kids!"

"I am not!"

Beca flung the roll of toilet paper down, climbing off the ladder. "You can finish that off Jesse, you're shaking the ladder and I'll fall and break a bone and then the kids are gonna be like 'oh you have a broken leg what happened?' and then the ladder will still be there. You can finish that and we have been married way too long".

"You're in far too deep now". He shrugged.


December 4th

"Look what Buddy did!"

"He's so silly!"

"How much toilet paper did he use?"

"He's funny!"

"He's such a good elf".

"We did good", Jesse whispered, slapping his palm against Beca's and she grinned.

"We did real good".


December 5th

"Mum!"

"Look at what Buddy did!"

"He crashed our cars!"

The night before, they'd set up a car wreck with the remote control cars the boys had received for their birthday two years earlier. The elf was sitting smugly on the coffee table, between the two remotes, while the cars were tipped on their sides on the floor.

"He's naughty", Molly laughed, and Beca laughed at her.

"He's a naughty elf, isn't he?"


December 6th

"This might be our best one yet", Jesse commented, as he climbed off the counter.

They'd spent the last hour using masking tape to secure the elf to the corner of the kitchen, before using blu tac to secure a rubber spider beside it.

"Molly's gonna flip her shit", Beca predicted.

(Beca had been against that one since the beginning, but Jesse had insisted. Molly, much like her mother, was deathly afraid of spiders. Jesse still remembered the screams that had escaped Beca that night in the radio station when she had come across a tiny spider behind a shelf, and all but leapt into his arms, bridal style.)

"This looks so good".

"Okay, but when she's up all night worrying about spiders eating her face off, guess who's gonna be dealing with that? And it certainly ain't gonna be me".


December 7th

"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Molly's scream echoed through the house and Beca's eyes popped open as she struggled to sit up in the armchair.

"What the hell is going on?" she croaked out.

"There's a spider in the kitchen!"

Jesse stood sheepishly in the doorway. "I guess you were kinda right when you said she was gonna flip her shit".

"Kinda right? Like she's kinda flipping her shit?" she wanted to know. "Go and deal with your kid!"

"All of a sudden she's my kid?"

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!" Molly howled, running into the room and flinging herself at Jesse, hoisting herself into his arms.

"She's your kid".


December 8th

When the kids came downstairs, they found Buddy propped up against the iPad, a video open.

"What's that video?" Toby furrowed his brow slightly and Molly shrieked.

"I remember this!"

"I don't", Jack complained. "What is this?"

Beca eased the iPad out from beside Buddy. "You guys were four", she remembered. "Christmas when you were four".

When they were four, Beca had been told how alike her kids were.

They weren't.

So, to prove it to everyone, she had gotten her kids to make an electronic Santa letter. She had sat them down and filmed them, mashing it together to show their family and friends how different four year old Jack, Molly and Toby were.

"That was a million years ago", Toby laughed. "Can we watch it?"

"Get your breakfast and we can watch it", Beca agreed.

"Wait, where's Dad?"

"Dad had to go to work early today, but he'll be home to pick you up tonight".

Molly pulled the box of cereal out of the pantry, and Toby got their bowls out, while Jack got the milk and the juice.

"Can we watch it now?" Molly wanted to know, and Beca pressed the triangle play button on the video.

"Hi Santa!"

"Hi Santa".

"Hello Santa".

"We're gonna see you soon!"

"I'm not scared of you anymore!"

"I've been a really good girl this year!"

"I'm a good boy. I'm not naughty!"

"I'm on the good list!"

"I made my Christmas list!"

"I know what I want you to bring me for Christmas please!"

"Can you elves make me my present?"

"I want a stroller for my baby doll please".

"Its okay I don't need anything... I want a really really really big hug! Can I get a monster truck?"

"Can your elves make me some trains please?"

"I think Toby wants a new Caitlin engine. I think he really likes that one".

"Molly's baby needs a new dress. Can your elves make Molly's baby a new dress".

"Jackie wants magic tricks to be like Uncle Benji. Can you bring Jackie some magic tricks?"

"We got carrots for the reindeers!"

"How many reindeers do you have, Santa?"

"Sing the song guys, how many reindeers does Santa have?"

"Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen..."

"Comet, Cupid, Donner... Blitzen!"

"And Rudolph! Rudolph the red nose reindeer!"

"That's nine!"

"We're gonna leave nine carrots!"

"And lots and lots of cookies. Mummy's gonna help us make chocolate chip".

"And snickerdoodle!"

"And sugar cookies with sprinkles!"

"Nanna's gonna help make the sprinkles".

"We're gonna see you soon! And get a picture!"

"I'm gonna make you a picture Santa".

"I'm gonna give you a big hug".

"I love you Santa!"

"We'll see you soon!"


December 9th

"Buddy's back!"

"MOLLY ABI COME AND SE WHAT HAPPENED!"

"WHAT?" Molly screamed down the stairs. She and the redhead appeared at the top of the stairs, running down clutching hands.

"What's Buddy doing?" Abigail laughed.

The elf was positioned on the counter, holding onto the grater with one of their toy snowmen leaning against him. Underneath the grater was a handful of mini marshmallows, and Abigail screamed with laughter.

"Mr Swanson, look!" she laughed.

"Is he grating my SNOWMAN?" Jack said indignantly, plucking the snowman away and checking him over for injuries. "Mum!"

"He's just pretending". And Toby rolled his eyes, making Beca laugh.

(He was the most like her, and she didn't know if she should love it or be one hundred percent concerned.)


December 10th

When they came downstairs that morning, they found Buddy looking through the album Jesse had dedicated to their Santa photos.

"We were so little!" Molly giggled, pulling the album out from underneath Buddy and flipping through the pages.

"Why didn't we get photos when we were babies Mum?"

"You did", Beca reminded them. "But you were two days old when Christmas happened, Santa came to the NICU".

(Santa photos were the last thing on their minds when the triplets were newborns.)

"What are we doing today Dad?" Jack wanted to know.

"Suit up, we're doing Santa photos".

Jesse was usually more organised at that time of the year. But nine was hard work, and ten was right around the corner. They were leaving things to the last minute.

"Do you think Buddy will see us at the mall getting Santa photos?" Molly wanted to know, once they were back down the stairs, dressed and ready to go.

"Who knows?" Beca shrugged. "Into the car guys, get your coats".


December 11th

"This is pretty much our best one yet", Beca chuckled, as she shook the Tupperware container.

The night before, she and Jesse had frozen the elf. And when he was frozen solid, she positioned Molly's Elsa doll in front of the block of ice.

"You're that Pinterest mum".

"Don't talk to me, this was meant to be your night".

All of a sudden, three alarm clocks sounded upstairs and a collection of groans followed.

"They're awake!" Jesse said cheerily, before slipping into the laundry. Beca followed suit, moving into the office, waiting for their reactions.

It was exactly what they expected.

"QUICK COME AND LOOK WHAT ELSA DID TO BUDDY!"

"MUUUUUUUM!"

"DAAAAAAAAAAAD!"

Beca laughed, sticking her head out of the office. "What's going on?"

"Come and have a look what Elsa did to Buddy!" Jack wailed, and Jesse's laughter rang through the house.


December 12th

"This is probably our worst idea ever", Beca said slowly, as Jesse tore off a strip of scotch tape.

"We've had worst ideas".

They were wrapping the toilet in the downstairs bathroom.

"Beca", Jesse said cheerily. "This is our BEST idea ever. Seriously. This is probably the greatest thing we've ever done as parents".

"Well that's definitely not right". She shook her head, as Jesse sliced through a piece of wrapping paper.

"Worst idea". Beca shook her head, chuckling.

It took them almost an hour to completely cover the toilet with wrapping paper, and an entire roll of scotch tape.

But they were proud.


Beca Swanson took a photo with Instagram: what happens when there's an elf in the house #SwansonChristmas #ElfOnTheShelf #LifeWithTriplets


December 13th

"MUUUUUUM!"

"MUUUUUUUUUUUUM quick come and look!"

"LOOK WHAT BUDDY DID TO THE BATHROOM!"

"Best idea ever", Jesse said smugly.

She shrugged. "Debatable".

"No, not debatable Bec, we're the best".

"Well that's right". She nodded.


December 14th

Jesse Swanson took a photo with Instagram: Elfing it up this December #tistheseason #elfontheshelf #lifewithtriplets


December 15th

"Is that enough?" Beca wanted to know, as she stood back and admired her handy work.

The kids' Skylanders were lined up like little soldiers on the floor, and she had used a shoelace to tie the elf up. He was propped against the wall and Jesse nodded.

"Niiiiiice", Jesse said approvingly, and she laughed. "They're gonna love that".

"Of course they are, I'm awesome". She grinned smugly and he laughed.

(He loved the confidence Beca had around their kids. She was so far removed from college freshman Beca that it was crazy.)


December 16th

Toby's laughter echoed through the house that morning, as he called for his brother and sister.

"Hey guys come and look what the Skylanders did to Buddy!"

They were the cool parents.


December 17th

When Molly opened the letterbox that morning (Jesse had sent her out to get the mail as he knew a majority of it were birthday cards for the triplets), she let out an excited scream.

"Buddy's in the mailbox!"

Toby came running, his feet bare as he skipped over the damp grass (there hadn't been any snowfall yet, much to their disappointment). "That's so cool!" he shrieked, taking the pile of letters from his sister. "Its like he knew!"

(Jesse would have loved to have seen the look on their poor mailman's face when he opened the box to find an elf grinning up at him.)


December 18th

"They were foul today", Beca informed her husband, as she tossed the minced meat into a pan. "If they think the elf is coming tonight they're sadly fucking mistaken".

"Beca".

"Nope. That thing comes if they're good, they're not good". She glared at him. "Why don't you finish work for another two days?" she complained.

"It'll go quick, Bec".

"I doubt it".


December 19th

"Where's Buddy?" Toby wanted to know, sticking his head into Beca's office.

"What are the rules about Buddy staying?" she wanted to know.

"We've gotta be super good", Jack said quietly.

"Right. And were you?" she raised an eyebrow at him.

They were not.

"No".

"Do you think Buddy's told Santa we were naughty?" Molly checked. "I wasn't naughty! It was just the boys though".

"Santa already knows, he knows when you're naughty or nice".

"The boys were naughty".

"Molly".

"Sorry".

"Do you think Buddy will be back?" Toby checked. "Its not Christmas yet, there's still six sleeps!"

"Are you gonna be good enough for Santa to come?" she wanted to know, and she was met with three enthusiastic nods.

"We will!"

"We're good!"

"We're probably on the nice list!"

"Probably", Jesse said from the doorway, and Beca snickered. "You're really pushing it guys".

"We'll be good", Molly said with a sigh, trudging off with her brothers at her heels.


December 20th

"Buddy's back!"

That morning, Buddy had returned from his hiding spot to his place beside the toaster, with a warning letter from Santa (Santa's signature looked an awful lot like Jesse's handwriting, but Beca would never ever tell the kids that).

"Next time he won't be coming back", Beca called from the living room, as she hung the dozen baubles Toby had knocked down that morning alone (the kid didn't know how to walk, and he was their clumsiest kid). "Remember that. He goes to the North Pole every night and reports back to Santa".

"And also Santa knows when we've been naughty because the elves at the North Pole have a thing that tells them". Jack nodded. "Remember Mum? Like the Polar Express movie, that shows us what the North Pole actually looks like".

"Even though the one at the mall says we're all good", Toby said, almost smugly.

"I think the one at the mall is defective, Toby James", Beca said with a grin and Toby scrunched up his nose at her in a facial expression that was just so Beca Mitchell she had to laugh.


December 21st

"I'm running out of ideas", Beca sighed heavily, closing the dishwasher and yawning. "How many more days do we have to do this?"

"Whoa, Grinch, you're gonna miss this when they don't believe".

She nodded, smiling. "I am gonna miss this when they don't believe anymore. The elf? Not so much".

(The thing gave her the creeps.)


December 22nd

"Oh, fuck", Beca groaned, glancing at the clock.

"What's wrong?" Jesse said in alarm, sitting up a little.

"I forgot to move the fucking elf. Isn't it your night?"

"Definitely yours".

(Beca had taken a photo on Instagram that night, proclaiming how much Jesse had been helping her prepare for the triplets' birthday. 'Look how much Jesse is helping me. On the couch. With his eyes shut'.)

Jesse almost laughed at the look of defeat on Beca's face. "Come on, let's go".


December 23rd

"Happy birthday!" Jesse sang brightly, as the newly turned ten year olds all but skipped down the stairs.

"Where's Buddy?" Jack said instead, and Beca passed him a plate.

"Pancakes".

"Chocolate chip?" Toby checked.

"What do you think?"

Buddy was positioned between the three packets of candles shaped like the number ten (Jesse had Instagrammed a photo the night before, 'I can't believe we are lighting these tomorrow #doubledigitstimesthree #lifewithtriplets'), and Beca moved it slightly to open them.

"Happy birthday guys", she said softly.


December 24th

"Is Buddy going back to the North Pole?" Jack wanted to know, as Beca stuck the prepared turkey into the refrigerator.

"He will be", Beca nodded. "But Santa's coming tonight guys, and Dad's gonna go to the airport very soon to get everyone".

"Because we've been super good". Toby grinned smugly.

"Well that's debatable".

"Beca".

"What?" her eyes shone and he rolled his eyes.

"We've been married for too long".

"You're in far too deep now".

That morning, Buddy had arrived with their Christmas Eve box. Inside were three brand new sets of pyjamas (they were growing like weeds and by some miracle, they'd received no clothing for their birthday), a packet of microwave popcorn, three sachets of hot chocolate mixture, a zip lock bag of reindeer food and a Christmas DVD (Jesse had found one that they didn't already have, which Beca was amazed at).

So that night, wearing their new pyjamas and drinking their hot chocolate, Beca popped the popcorn and set them up under blankets in front of their new Christmas DVD, while their grandparents watched from the lounges.

It was December twenty fourth, and all they had to do was place their Santa presents under the tree. Another year was almost over, but they still believed.


Jesse Swanson took a photo with Instagram: goodbye for now Buddy (do you think you can stay all year round?) Let's hope the kids still believe next year #elfontheshelf #christmasswansonstyle #lifewithtriplets