the Elf on the Shelf

On Lily's birthday, Grandma B. brought over this wonderful book. It comes in a kit with a little stuffed Elf.
In reading the book, you learn that the Elf is one of Santa's helpers sent to your house every day until Christmas Eve to watch and listen to you and report back to Santa every night what he has seen and heard to determine if you have been bad or good that day.
You are to name your Elf and go onto the website to register him for your family.
You cannot touch the Elf or he "loses his magic" and will not be able to report back to Santa nightly.
Lily just LOVES this Elf. His name is "Elmo" and she talks to him daily.
The kicker of this book for the parents is that the Elf flies to the north pole nightly and returns back to your house by the morning. So....he has to be in a new spot every night!! It has been quite funny the panic this little Elf has caused Justin and I when we have forgotten to move him.
In fact, earlier this week we did forget!
Lily walked in the living room and said: "Daddy, the Elf did not move!"
Justin replied: "He didn't? (nervous pause) Well, maybe he got tired and just wanted to go back to his old spot! Hey Lily, did you remember to turn your light off downstairs?"
Lily: "No"
Dad: "Well, go turn it off please."
(Justin quickly moves the Elf)
Lily returns: "Daddy, he moved!!!"
Dad: "He did?!?"

Here are a few places "Elmo" has been in our house so far:



This will be such a fun tradition for years to come. And I know Lily and Jackson will be on their toes every year as to where "Elmo" will be next. Thankfully, Mommy & Daddy have smartened up and set alarms on our cellphones so we don't forget! (Thank you technology!)
And thank you Grandma B. for introducing us to a new fun activity for the Christmas season!