a little magic elf

i am so in love with my little boys, i just really need to share this story....

a couple of days ago my nine year old jackson came home from a friends house and said, "mom, i need to look around the house for a red elf on a shelf." i had no idea what he was talking about, but apparently his friend has an elf that lives at his house during the advent season. jackson said that the elf appears every morning in a different place. he also added that the elves might not come to our neighborhood....this could have been my out....but, being the good mom that i am i did a little research. apparently there is an "elf on the shelf" phenomenon. there is a little story about an elf that santa sends to live at your house prior to christmas. this little elf reports back to santa each night while the children sleep. the reports to santa include whether or not the children have been naughty or nice. of course when i read about this i had to find a red elf.

last night after work i quickly ran to our friendly neighborhood toy store, thinker toys, for an elf on the shelf kit. the kit includes an elf & a story book about the elf. before the boys returned home i was able to get the elf set up in their bedroom with a note from santa, the story book, two chocolate coins and a number tag indicating the number of days until christmas (in lieu of an advent calendar). when the boys came home i was in the kitchen preparing dinner. we were chatting about our evening the night before, and miles was wondering how he ended up in my bed during the middle of the night (a nightly occurence for our 4 year old). i suggested that maybe an elf brought him downstairs. within a few seconds jackson said, "i need to look around for an elf." i nonchalantly replied "ok", and continued making dinner. within a few minutes i could hear jackson yelling, "mom, i found an elf, i found an elf". he was sooo excited. he ran downstairs with the little elf and said, "i think he came because i believed in him". my heart seriously melted!! it was all very exciting....except i will say that miles was a little apprehensive of the elf. he looked at me and asked if the elf could fly, and whether or not he really had brought him downstairs the night before. after we read the story book about the elf, the boys named him cinnamon, and i caught them periodically whispering to him throughout the evening. apparently he can take requests directly to santa. miles is still a little unsure about the elf's magic, but i can tell you that he was not afraid of him this morning when he found him with a couple of chocolates on his lap :)

oh, i love christmas time....