Sneaky Cheeky

Our newest Christmas tradition, is a very, very commercial, totally fad craze that will probably faze out in a few years.  None the less... the Cofer's have jumped on the bandwagon.  Much to my mixed emotions. 

The Elf on the Shelf.

I know all the debate right now about Santa Clause and all the commercial Christmas hype.  I agree that teaching your children that Christmas is about our Savior's birth.  I agree 100%.  But I also can't help the enjoyment of Christmas magic that lasts such a short time in a child's life.  So while we "do" Santa, we cover our home in nativity scenes, have an angel and star in lights on the outside of our house, and had Trace write "Jesus Is Born" on a chalkboard as one of our many decorations.  I want my children to get it.  Trying to find the balance...

Anyway, Cheeky arrived in grand style this year.  He rolled Trace's room and left a welcoming note taped to his light fixture.  To see the thrill and dismay in his face when he ran upstairs to change clothes after school and found this, was worth it.

Thanks to Pinterest, Mama had some craftier, more creative ideas that just hanging him from a different light fixture every night!  ha!  There is a special place in heaven for the inventor of Pinterest.

He even referenced in his letter the new additions to our family, Nemo and Dino.

Then he set about making mischief.  He zip-lined across our living room, just like Trace had done in Destin on Thanksgiving.

He rolled our toilet!

He read to his friends.

And got into the chocolate icing and marshmallows.

He even got locked outside one night and nearly froze his little elf tooshy off!

For all the nonsense and silliness this little elf is, it came at a time when Trace was not enthusiastic about going to school and was having some anxiety over it.  So, to have something to bound out of bed and look for every morning the month of December, I feel was a little blessing from above.  It does nothing to teach the true meaning of Christmas, but God works in mysterious ways (and sometimes uses Elves himself.)  :)