What is the Elf on the Shelf? It’s an exercise in remembering to surprise your children every day in December. I kid, sort of. Elf on the Shelf is how Santa keeps track of his naughty and nice list. The elf hibernates until the family that adopted it reads the book, Elf on the Shelf. The elf receives a name from the adopted family, and formally registers the adoption online. That’s when the magic begins.

Believe. Elfie Star, our Elf on the Shelf is back for a December full of mirth and mischief.

We received our Elf on the Shelf from one of my good friends. Our daughters named him Elfie Star. He spends all of December in our home. Each evening he flies off to the North Pole to report to Santa all the activities in our home. Each morning, the girls get to discover where Elfie Star landed after his trip to the North Pole. He is an adorable mischief maker, and is always in a different spot. The key to his magic? The girls can’t touch him, or the magic is lost. There have been a few times where Elfie Star perched too precariously, and our rule is that Daddies and Mommies can help Elfie Star back to his his spot without losing the magic. On Christmas Eve all the Elf on the Shelf elves return home to the North Pole until they’re called back into duty next year.

Santa left a note for the girls. He wanted them to know that though it would be late, one of their presents would arrive.

Our Elf on the Shelf came in quite handy last year. Our daughters had requested Zoobies last year. Unfortunately, Santa was a bit backed up, so he sent our Elf on the Shelf, Elfie Star to our home on a special mission to deliver the belated Christmas gifts from Santa. Elfie Star brought Spot the Dog and Olivia Zoobies thrilling the girls with his out of the ordinary appearance.

Return of Elfie Star, our Elf on the Shelf for a special delivery misison in January of 2010

For a forgetful, Dory-brain like myself, remembering to help Elfie Star find a new location each evening is a creative exercise. The payoff is the excitement reflected in the eyes of my daughters, as they discover where Elfie Star chooses to land. I have to say, I’m grateful my hubby gets in on the act, as he has a much sharper memory, and can reach much higher than I can.

Elf-happy girls!

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? What’s your elf’s name?