Why We Have an Elf on the Shelf

I was mostly awake in my bed yesterday morning, enjoying a few moments in a snug bed on a cold morning, when the voices of my three smallest children came tinkling up the stairs.

"Do you see him?"

"Where is he?"

"Did Jasper go see Santa last night?"

"Don't forget we can't touch him like Evie did two days ago or he loses his magic."

"MICAHHHH!!!! I found Jasper!  He's on Santa's hat!"

"Where?  I want to see . . . There he is!"

I eavesdropped with a smile on my face.

This is why I love elf on the shelf.  I know it seems like just one more thing to worry about every night.  I know that it's become a trifle over-commercialized.  I know that it's not for every family, and I'm not quite as invested as some families are (our elf doesn't do crazy stunts or make mischief or anything--he just moves every night unless there's a snowstorm at the North Pole and he stays where he was the day before--;) ).

I love the extra dose of Santa's magic that Jasper brings to our home--that daily sprinkle of Christmas excitement that seems to be in such short supply with our children these days.  These wondrous days of childhood are far too short--days where men in red suits bring presents, where reindeer fly, and where small red-clad elves twinkle back to the North Pole every night to report on the daily activities of naughty and nice children.

I wish they could stay like this forever.