Meet South Dakota’s queen of Elf on a Shelf

Parental attitudes toward Elf on a Shelf dolls seem to fall into one of two categories: love ’em or loathe ’em.

The posable figure that serves as a pre-holiday stand-in for Santa in many families either adds to the joy of Christmas as it moves from spot to spot every night or stresses parents who have run out of ideas where to pose it.

Christene Iverson Goff falls into the first category. And this mother of three — one of whom may still be a true believer in the Elf on the Shelf — not only has infinite ideas for her elves buy also has shared her imagination with others for several years.

Goff’s Facebook page for Holly and Jolly Elf features the devoted companions who go far beyond dangling their legs over a shelf. They cuddle cozily on a couch playing a game of Pictionary with their friends or go camping or re-create the attic scene from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” or emulate Wayne and Garth from “Wayne’s World” or … well, anything Goff’s imagination, her family and others can suggest and she can devise.

“I start making the costumes in August and their scenery and stuff,” Goff said. “My elves always come Dec. 1, and the 25th is their last day with us. They do come and make an appearance for some other holidays. They will be here for Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter and Valentine’s Day, and there could be more days they come to celebrate with us in the future.”

Not only does Goff spread Shelf on the Elf cheer through Holly and Jolly’s own Facebook page, but also she helps others make the experience more fun. Goff makes posable hands for the Elf on the Shelf dolls, allowing them the flexibility to hold items such as tiny root beer cans or point to something or say “I love you” in sign language.

People look at Goff’s creations and say to her, “You must have a lot of time on your hands.” That’s not the case, but she is willing to sacrifice sleep for this joyful outlet.

“I do sometimes take a nap after work,” she admitted.  “Moms who set up these big scenes, we all go through the same thing. We work full time but enjoy this artistic thing with the elves. We bring entertainment to people.”

Goff attended school in Watertown and Waverly before graduating from Black Hills Beauty College and working as a cosmetologist in Rapid City. She and her husband, David, now live in Kranzburg. When her sons started school at what today is Waverly South Shore, Goff followed them there.

“I decided I want to work with children,” she said. “I really enjoy that.”

Goff now is a paraprofessional with the Watertown School District, working in the Watertown Intermediate School computer lab with fifth and sixth graders.

Her sons, Brad, Andrew and Evan, range in age from 23 to 13. The Elf on the Shelf made its first appearance in 2006 in a book. In 2012, Jolly the Elf joined the Goff household, followed by Holly in 2013.

“My sons were the ones who came up with the names once we read the books, and then we just kind of started building scenes,” Goff said. “A lot of people enjoyed watching them (on my Facebook page), and I decided to make a Facebook page for them.”

For Goff, the Elf on the Shelf combines three current and past interests. As a girl, she enjoyed playing with Barbie dolls. She also loved collecting miniatures so much that her grandfather built a shelf to display them. And she has an artistic side that always seeks a way to express herself.

The Goff family collection of elves has grown over the years. Three elves bear photos of her sons’ faces, and newcomers this year have expanded her collection from 18 to 26. Two new favorites that arrived last year have been dubbed Grandma Pearl and Grandpa Earl; her mother donated those elves, and Goff painted their hair gray.

Goff knows not everyone appreciates what she sees as the elves’ magic adding to Christmas. And on occasion, she admitted, she too has forgotten to move the elves to a new scene and must scramble in the morning.

Her advice to other parents? Make the tradition your own. Do as much — or as little — as you like.

For herself, Goff doesn’t imagine calling a halt to this tradition any time soon. Even if she were so inclined, family and friends wouldn’t let her. And for some friends, Goff’s creativity brings a sparkle to an otherwise blue Christmas.

“I have a few friends, and Christmas is a little bit hard on them. They have lost somebody important,” she said. “They have written to me and told me watching the elves every day makes them smile and brings joy. It reflects what’s important in the season of Christmas: the memories that you hold.”

Find the adventures of Holly and Jolly Elf on their Facebook page. Christene Iverson Goff’s Etsy page can be found here.