This Christmas the Thomas family added a little member to our Christmas tradition - A little Elf on the Shelf who Andrew named November.The story behind the Elf on the Shelf is that he comes to your house around Christmas time from the North Pole and sits and watches you the whole Christmas season. He does leave however when you're sleeping to return to the NP to report his sightings to Santa himself. He returns to your home each morning only he finds a new perch to sit on while watching. So every morning it is important you find him.
I had no idea that Andrew and even Kendyll would have so much fun with this little guy. He was one of the hightlights of our holiday season. As soon as AJ jumped out of bed the elf was the first thing he tried to spot. We had to be very creative as you can imagine. If you mentioned the elf Kendyll would always look to the place the it was the day before. However once she found the elf it was pure excitement and joy with a loud shreek "eeeeek," "eeeeeek." The elf brought to our house the just what an adult needs seeing the innocence and excitement of what Christmas is throught a child's eyes. And even better, all I had to say when AJ wouldn't mind was "Elf, did you write that down!" and AJ jumped to get it done. Now, I'm just not sure what I'm going to do for the next 11 months to get him to obey?
One of my other favorite traditions is lining up in my mom and dad's hallway waiting to see what Santa brought. I have been doing for as long as I can remember and the tradition still holds even with my children.
One last great thing that happened this holiday season. On New Year's Eve we came home early from our party just to be home together as a family. Jeremy, AJ and I stayed up until midnight and toasted together. Before the toast we practiced with AJ by counting down 10 to 1 then saying Happy New Year then toasting. After we practiced and said "then we toast" he asked us "where is the bread!" Don't you love what goes through the minds of children?
