ELF ON THE SHELF AND OTHER TRADITIONS

I'm a member of a facebook group designated for Spouses. One of the ladies metioned a holiday tradition that caught my interest. Elf on the Shelf.

After a little research and some searching on eBay I decided to improvise and do our own thing. So this week I told the kids about our adopted Elf that Santa will be sending to our house throughout the year to see how things are going and to see if the kids are behaving or not. Our Elf's name is Nema and she comes to our house in the early morning and spends the day with us and returns back to report to Santa after the kids have gone to bed. I told them that chances are they would never see Nema as she is very much like a Lepruchaun. LM could relate that story.

At first the Little Princess thought the Elf was actually a monster. We don't do that whole monster thing around here but she was convinced Nema was a bad thing. Although for her, having her behavior monitored which could narrow down her chances at some new toys, it just might be a bad thing! Anyways, Thursday evening LP informed us that if she found the Nema she would hit it with a hockey stick. Well to her suprise she got a letter from Santa Claus Friday morning. Her first response was surprise. Secondly she was annoyed that Santa would leave her a letter because "I can't even read!".

I have to say that Nema has helped with some of LP's issues. LM was happy to announce that he hasn't needed to be reminded about his behavior.

Nema will stick around our home for the year for that friendly reminder that might be needed. I thought it was a neat tradition and something that might add a little fun to our home at Christmas time.

While our family is still young, we are working on traditions and hoping to find a couple more. So far we open our gifts Christmas morning which I have never done. Being European we opened gifts late on Christmas Eve. We also watch The Grinch that Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version) every Christmas Eve. I'd be interested in finding one or two more but just can't think of anything.