Christmas Traditions: The Christmas Elf!

My Dancing Boy's Christmas wish this year was an Elf. A REAL elf. From the North Pole. We would be driving in the car, and he would get a smile on his face, and blurt out, "I can't wait until Santa sends my very own elf! I am so excited!"

I have been so worried! How do you give someone a real elf???

I found soap in the shape of an elf-but Tin Man said he didn't think that would work. I asked my mom for an old elf ornament that my Grandma made-but Dancing Boy saw it and said, "That's funny looking!!"
What in the world was I going to do??? I had visions of him crying on Christmas over the missing elf!
THEN, our DEAR, SWEET cousin in the great state of Alabama called me with the answer to our Elf SITUATION...

(Thank YOU, Christie!!!)

She read about this elf situation in our Christmas letter, and called me immediately to tell me about the "Elf on the Shelf". (She has two darling little girls, and she knew how important this could be to our son. She even offered to over-night it if we couldn't find it, but I did. I am in your debt on this one Christie!! Merci!!!)

The "Elf on the Shelf" book talks about how this elf "flies to the North Pole" to tell Santa if you were naughty or nice each day, and then "flies" home to a different spot in the house with a small gift for good little boys... and it includes the ELF that YOU get to name as a family!
The boys came home from school last week, and we sat down and read the book while the elf was sitting and watching:

Nature Boy had to be prepped-"Yes, Honey-I know you don't believe in Santa or elves, but just let your little brothers have fun with this." (Translation for those without children: If you want a gift too-keep it on the down-low!!!) He readily agreed-a small gift is fun for all!
The baby just wandered around eating his candy cane while we read the book. (He is content with sugar, his Clifford {Fifford}, and his blankie...)

But Dancing Boy was in heaven. His little face was one giant smile as we read the book. When I told him his elf was sitting somewhere in the room-he was so excited! His eyes darted around the room frantically until he saw his little elf!
He believes everything about his elf and what the book said-and he loved the 2008 ornament that the elf brought the boys to hang on the tree as their first gift...and he said he saw the elf blink, so he KNOWS he is real!

Without further ado, we would like you to meet Dancing Boy's Elf:

(He saw that!!...Zookie the Elf is watching if you are naughty or nice at the Lions, Tigers, and Boy's house this year!)