Elf on the Shelf - from Dec. 2011

So this year we finally jumped on the bandwagon, and got our very own Elf on The Shelf a few days before Christmas. For those of you who don't know what that is, you get one of Santa's very own tiny elves who lives in your house during the Christmas season.

He finds a cozy, funny, or sneaky place to surveil your children daily and every night he flies back to the North Pole to report their activities (bad and good) back to Santa. The kids have a giggly time searching the house for the new spot he chooses when he comes back to watch again the next morning. It is a fantastic behavior modification tool... "Our elf just saw you do that, and you'd better believe he's going to tell Santa!!!" It both terrifies and excites them, it's great fun! Reilly decided to name our elf "Brownie". He was either hungry, or referring to the elf's dark hair and eye color, I'm not certain which. ;)

The elf came with a book to help the kids understand just how the whole deal works, and Reilly couldn't wait to read it to Avery.

Here was Brownie's first stakeout spot...(in the dining room)

And the next (in the kitchen) ... He seems to be a fan of mini marshmallows.

Then the next... Brownie invited Avery's Strawberry Shortcake & Lemon Meringue to join him in a Beyblade Battle.