Have you heard of the "Elf on the Shelf"? Apparently some lady came up with the concept back in the early 70s to explain to her kids just how Santa knew if they were being good or bad. This little elf comes to your house and sits on the shelf. During the day, he doesn't look real, but at night, when everyone is fast asleep, he comes alive and travels back to the North Pole to relay to Santa all of the happenings at your house throughout the day. Then he returns to your house and resumes his position in a different place before everyone wakes up. (The new location is how you know he left during the night.) I actually remember my Grandma McAdams had one of these decorations when I was a kid, but I never knew it was an "elf on the shelf" or the theory behind the elf. She probably didn't know the meaning herself.
So Kellie came home from school last week after hearing about the elf on the shelf and it was all she could talk about. She is convinced this is the real deal. (This is my daughter who has been skeptical about the whole Santa being real thing...so I'm surprised she is convinced about this. Actually I think getting coal for Christmas a few years ago sealed the deal for her and now she is a believer.) She refused to go to bed until we had gotten on line and ordered one of these "elf on the shelf" for our house.
The next morning she was up while Alex was getting ready for school. She excitedly told Alex all about how I had ordered one of these and it would be arriving in 3-5 business days. Alex comes busting into my bedroom and the following conversation took place:
Alex: Mom did you really order one of these elves on the shelves thing?
Me: Yes, I did
Alex: Mom, you know this isn't real. You know this is some dude in a costume. This is freaky having some dude in a costume come and hang out at our house until Christmas. (I'm sure she is thinking of all the conversations I have had with my children over the years about pedophiles and thinking I have lost my mind.)
Me: Alex, trust me...it isn't what you are thinking
Alex: Rolls her eyes and walks out of the room with a grunt and unrecognizable mumbling.
Jeff and I were telling our friends about this over the weekend while we were out to dinner. They suggested it would be hilarious if we found somebody to dress up in an elf costume and show up at our door. Can you just imagine the doorbell rings as we are sitting down at the dinner table. All the kids rush to the door to see who is here. They open the door to find some strange man in an elf costume who says "Hi, I'm your elf on the shelf." The thought of this scene has brought a smile to my face ever since it was suggested. So if you see me smiling during the holidays, now you'll know what I am thinking about!
