You can purchase Elf on a Shelf box at Barns and Noble. The package comes with your elf and a cute little story book to explain to your kids all about the Elf on a Shelf.
The story tells the kids that the elf works for Santa and that the kids get to name him. Every night, the elf returns to Santa at the North Pole in order to let Santa know if the kids were good or bad that day. Then every night Santa marks his list and keeps track. If the kids are good all month, then Santa will bring them presents under the tree on Christmas.
Sounds great right.
But to make this activity entertaining, there are some elf "stipulations."
The elf can return to Santa every night because of magic. However, if you touch the elf his magic goes away. If he loses his magic, he can't tell Santa if you have been good or bad and Santa will know you were bad and touched the elf - so we don't touch the elf.
Santa insists that the elf is not allowed to talk to anyone but Santa. That's just the rules. But he can listen to you. So if the kids tell him what they want for Christmas he will make sure to tell Santa.
Santa doesn't let the elf move around during the day. Once the kids wake up in the morning, the elf freezes where he is for the whole day in order to watch them.
Sometimes the elf is naughty and mischievous. You might catch him doing silly things.
My Brown Eyed Girl was so excited after we read her the book and showed her our new elf. We told her she needed to name him and she said she would think about a name for him in her dreams. I tucked her in and told her she couldn't get up to look for the elf until after mommy had taken her shower in the morning - Lord knows our late night prowler would be up all night scouring the house in the dark for that elf. She promised she would stay in her bed.
This morning, I went upstairs to take my shower at 5:00 am. There waiting for me on the end of her bed was my bright eyed and bushy tailed Brown Eyed Girl. Ready to find the elf.
I asked her what she was doing up so early and she said, "Mommy, I was thinking about him (the elf) all night while he was visiting Santa. I want to go find him."
I asked her if she decided on a name for him, but she hadn't. I told my Brown Eyed Girl that we needed to give him a name before we found him (and mommy needed to take a shower) so she came into the bathroom with me and we brainstormed.
Buddy
Willie
Henry - "That's the donkey's name Mommy!" You're right
Wilber
Thomas
Fred
Jack - "Mommy that's our horsey." You're right
Wilson
Aaron
"Mommy, maybe Thomas. I like Thomas."
Thomas it is!
Last night we left Thomas on the shelf in his box when we went to bed. And this morning...
His box was empty!!!!
Thomas used his magic and went to the North Pole to tell Santa that he had found a new family and there were two good children living there - a Brown Eyed Girl and Mr Blue Eyes.
My Brown Eyed Girl searched and searched for Thomas.
And suddenly she spotted him!
That silly Thomas was peeking out of the cupboard.
Isn't he cute!
Most importantly, let me just say ow "effective" our little Thomas is. The first time my Brown Eyed Girl started to give me a little attitude this morning, I just slowly pointed and gestured towards Thomas and said, "Careful. Thomas is watching..." That was the end of that. She got dressed and even put her shoes on without asking - of course she made to sure to point out the fact that she was such a good girl and put her shoes on all by her self with out me asking.
Regardless....
Thomas might be staying with us the Whooooooole year!
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