Elf on the Shelf

If somehow you've missed Elf on the Shelf, please let me introduce you to this fantastic Christmas tradition.  My mom purchased the Elf on the Shelf set last year when we spent the month of December at her house.  The book tells the story about an elf that comes to live at your house during the holidays to observe for Santa.  He takes note throughout the day whether or not you're being good and at night returns to the North Pole to report directly back to Santa.  In the morning, he'll be hiding in a new place from where he will watch the day's happenings.  He doesn't speak and can't be touched - he only observes.  When he arrives at your house for the first time, you must give him a name.  That elf then becomes YOUR family's elf - remaining at your house throughout December and then returning to the North Pole until the following December.  

Now, granted, because of our family's displacement (here, there and everywhere) since the girls have been around, we have few family traditions for Christmas.  Elf on the Shelf has become one of the things that my girls are most excited about this year.  It's truly exciting EVERY DAY when they wake up and Elphie (our family's elf) was hiding in a new spot for us to find.  They took Elphie and his responsibilities very seriously and are really excited for his return soon.  

I was cynical and a hard core skeptic when my mom first brought Elphie home.  Being the Jesus freak that I am, I was initially frustrated about a Christmas tradition that didn't have anything to do with Jesus and instead kind of emphasized Santa.  However, since then, I've decided to lighten up and let my kids be kids.  :)  Elphie is "Crazy Fun" as Shelby would say.  He gets two thumbs up and a high recommendation from our family.  If he wasn't kind of an expensive investment ($30 on Amazon), I would purchase him for each of my dear friends that have little kids.  Look into getting him now before December arrives!  You can enjoy him for the whole month!