My Adventures and Places Life Takes Me: Figgy and Russ Do Determinations

This was my first full year with a new job and so I planned my Figgy and Russ adventures accordingly with being in the office on Thursdays. I tried to make them simple, so I didn't have to bring a lot of stuff with me to work. I picked up a few new ideas, new props and made a schedule to make sure I made it easy on myself. This year I will have a couple repeat scenes with a bunch of new ones to enjoy. I even asked Del if it could make me some small chain saws with his 3D printer. He was able to do that for me and I thanked him. Everyone enjoyed the elf scenes from this year, and I even have a few new followers.

Here are the scenes from this year:

Instagram Post: Look who's back...back again, the elves are back, tell your friends! Figgy and Russ took a joyride in their car and decided to be obnoxious and do donuts. I hope they were at least safe while they were doing them. Time will tell; I guess. December has arrived so that means elf antics until Christmas Eve! #elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #joyride, #dfo

Instagram Post: Yep, you probably called it. Figgy and Russ went a little wild doing donuts yesterday and flipped their car over. They sustained some injuries and need to rest and heal today. I ensure you they will be find and back in action tomorrow. Always wear your seat belt and be aware of road conditions! #elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #holidayseason, #dfo, #caraccident, #restandrecovery

Instagram Post: Figgy and Russ have staged a frosty coup in our freezer with their arctic friends! They've built an igloo between the frozen blueberries and gluten free bread, declared the ice cream tub as their throne and are hosting nightly snowball fights with stray ice cubes from the ice bin! Every time we open the door, we hear giggling from the mischievous elves! What will they get into next? #elfontheshelf, #russ, #figgy, #igloo, #freezer, #dfo, #frozen, #ice

Instagram Post: Buzzing with excitement on their day off, Figgy and Russ zipped through a snowy clearing, their mittened hands ready for the next throw. Figgy, aiming his disc with confidence, launched his silvery disc at the basket nestled below the slight hill. He and Russ watch it nearly miss a tree and slid right in for a satisfying clink. Figgy cheered for his hole in one, but Russ hoped for a win at the next hole. #elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #getoutside, #discgolf, #getoutandplay, #birdy, #holeinone

Instagram Post: No holiday season isn't complete without a haiku!

Elves drop cocoa mugs
Short straws pierce bright oranges
Joy flows from the source

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #orangejuice, #straightfromthesource, #whimsical, #dfo, #vitaminc

Instagram Post: For it's one, two, three strikes you're out, at the ol' ball game!

This year was another historical run that was cut short by one game. It is frustrating being a fan of the only team that has never gone to the World Series. Figgy and Russ also felt it.

Fans are the heartbeat of sports, transforming every game into something bigger than just competition. Their cheers, chants, and unwavering loyalty create an atmosphere that electrifies stadiums and inspires athletes to push beyond their limits.

What makes it truly special is the belief that fans carry - the hope that one day their team will rise to the grandest of stage, the World Series. That dream fuels generations, turning ordinary moments into lifelong memories through shared passion. It's not just about the watching; it's about believing, hoping and living each pitch, at bat, throw or catch as it it's the one that will make history!

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #baseball, #gomariners, #refusetolose, #sodomojo, #nationalpasttime, #truetotheblue, #fans

Instagram Post: Huddled around a wooden table, cards and dice strewn over a miniature map, "roll for initiative!" Figgy, the half elf exclaims! Russ, who chose to play a dwarf wizard, rolls his dice and gets a nat 20! Figgy adjusts his pointy hat and narrated the unfolding adventure with dramatic flair. Their laughter rang out like holiday cheer with the thrill of epic quests lasting for hours on end. Dungeons and Dragons brings friends together in dramatic fashion. #elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #dungeonsanddragons, #rollforinitiative, #dice, #tabletopgames, #rpg

Instagram Post: Yay! Smalls the trivia shark made an appearance this holiday season! He showed up while Figgy, Russ and Jones were getting ready for a deep dive. Smalls got their attention that he was being chased by a bigger, meaner shark. Figgy had to chews wisely and got out the harpoon gun to warn the shark. With one shot, he hit and took him down. Figgy and Russ are not shell-fish elves and Smalls was forever grateful. Have a fin-tastic day! #elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #deepseadive, #rescuemission, #sharks, #oceanadventure, #smalls

Instagram Post: The elves have been chosen to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! The sorting hat has also spoken! Figgy will be with Gryffindor and Russ is Ravenclaw! They are both really excited for the opportunity and can't wait to learn spells and compete to catch the Snitch! #elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #harrypotter, #ravenclaw, #gryffindor, #sortinghat, #hogwarts, #wizard

Instagram Post: Let the Pokémon battle begin! Trainer's, Russ and Figgy compete for Figgy's badge in the battle arena.

Typhlosion unleashed a searing wave of Flamethrower, the inferno rushing towards Fennekin. The small fox Pokémon stood its ground, its ears twitching intensely. With a burst of focused mental energy, Fennekin erected a shimmering, orange protect barrier just in time, the wall of flame washing harmlessly over the protective shield. The battlefield filled with steam and a tens silence before the little fire-starter dropped the barrier, staring down their opponent ready to counterattack.

It was quite the battle, but in the end, Figgy got to keep his badge and his title of Pokémon master.

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #pokemon, #pokeballs, #battle, #pokemoncollector

Instagram Post:

Ten days remain until Christmas day,
But the ground is still bare, too much rain - go away.
Figgy and Russ dream of a fun, snowy sleigh ride,
Outside, in the cool, crisp air, they glide.
They have nothing else on their list planned,
And soon take a break with a hot chocolate in hand.
The elves hope you and your family have a great rest of the year,
Have a happy holiday with merry and cheer!

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #winter, #snow, #sleighride, #hotchocolate, #raingoaway, #happyholidays

Instagram Post: Zipping through the void in a stolen TIE fighter, Figgy and Russ, two of Santa's most notoriously nosy elves, finally breached the Executor's cavernous hanger bay, a space filled with the menacing hum of Imperial power. Barley avoiding a patrol of Stormtroopers - snuck deep into the maze of hallways, their mission to find out what Darth Vader wanted for Christmas.

Their luck, predictably, ran out just as they were trying to decipher a panel labeled, Bridge Access: Lord Vader's Quarters. The elevator doors hissed open to reveal not just members from the rebel alliance, and more Stormtroopers, but the towering, cape-swishing figure of Darth Vader himself, who paused, his iconic heavy breathing filling the silence, before coldly intoning, "You find my lack of holiday cheer...disturbing."

Was the force strong with Figgy and Russ? We will find out tomorrow.

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #starwars, #TIEfighter, #theexecutor, #darthvader, #stormtrooper, #deathstar, #rebelalliance

Instagram Post: They may have escaped Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers, but I am not sure if they escaped the dark side...I mean, they are a little mischievous, but this is overkill.

Let's hope it wears off in a day or two.

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #chainsaws, #gingerbreadman, #thedarkside

Instagram Post: Figgy, Russ and Blitz are ready for the big Thursday Night Football game tonight. Both teams are 11-3 with the NFC West title on the line. Who will prevail in the rainy Pacific Northwest?

We will soon find out.

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #seahawks, #blitz, #football, #tnf, #nfl, #nfcwest, #gohawks, #tailgating

Instagram Post: Wow! What a week! The elves have been busy and after that insane Seahawks game last night they just decided to take the day off, chill and get some reading and relaxing done.

Figgy enjoys sci-fi, true crime and biographies while Russ ready more fiction, romance and old-fashioned newspapers. They like what they like.

Happy Friday everyone!

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #reading, #bookworms, #fiction, #nonfiction, #books, #randr, #friday

Instagram Post: Concluding this college football season - the Cougs play Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl! You know Figgy is super stoked along with Russ and Butch.

Let's hope the weather holds up today in Boise so we can bring another bowl trophy to the Palouse! Go Cougs!

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #gocougs, #collegefootball, #bowlgames, #alwaysfindoutwaybackhome, #wazzu, #idahopotatobowl

Instagram Post: It's the smell of freshly baked sugar cookies, wafting through the air. You hear the sound of elves clanking dishes and arguing about who gets to man the mixer and who gets to roll out the dough.

They heard you, your mom and your friend making cookies on Friday night and they thought they'd try their hand at baking too. They succeed but, made a giant mess in the meantime. It's the thought that counts, right? #elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #cookies, #baking, #mess, #sugarcookies, #goodtimes, #holidaygoodies

Instagram Post: Today is the last day! The elves sure had fun with their obnoxious fun. Thank you to everyone who followed along for those three weeks. We appreciate you and your time. We have more in store for 2026!

Have a great holiday season, however you and your family celebrate, and a happy new year!

#elfontheshelf, #figgy, #russ, #dfo, #winter, #sweaters, #hotcocoaseason, #friends, #goodtimes