The Elf on the Shelf...

This year we have a new tradition beginning in our family for the holiday season. I was introduced last year to this new tradition on facebook...(oh the wonders of facebook). Anyway, the new thing is The Elf on the Shelf. Now, normally I would not fall to someone else's tradition as I like to be original with our own things but this one we could not pass up. The Elf on the Shelf is a little elf that Santa sends to your home every year at the holidays to "spy" on all the kiddos in your home. Every night your elf flies to the North Pole and reports to Santa if your kiddos have been good or bad. (In our home...if you have made good or bad decisions) So since he flies to the North Pole every night, every morning he is in a different place in your home and he has to be found. (Currently Kian is going nuts trying to find him and telling him it is not funny that he is hiding...LOVE IT!) When he first arrives to your home you have to name him and introduce yourself to him. Once you have given him a name his magic can begin. There are rules that Santa sends along with his elf 1) you must not touch him or he will lose his magic power 2) you must talk to him all throughout the day. Pretty simple.

Last night our elf came to our house. Larry went to the front door, left the box, rang the doorbell and ran. The kids LOVE when the doorbell rings so they came running out. We don't typically answer the door without Larry so they knew we had to wait. Kian went to find his dad and told him someone was at the door. When Larry answered the door all the kids saw was the box. With sheer delight the kids screeched what is that? Was Santa here? They were so excited and it was fun to see.

After we calmed them down we opened the box and Larry read the story. The kids listened very well and we made sure they remembered the rules. The name of our elf is Kibbet. Kian and Nya both talked to Kibbet all night and even when we made our cookies...Kibbet was there with us. Later, the kids wrote letters to Santa and gave them to Kibbet to take to him.

This morning, as I said, Kian searched and searched for Kibbet to the point of frustration and telling Kibbet he was so angry with him. Probably not a good start. But eventually he found him and all was well. Santa even sent a letter back with Kibbet for the kids. They loved it.

Lets just say we are glad we copied a new tradition;)

If you want check it out for yourself at www.elfontheshelf.com