Chahlee, our Jersey Elf

 

Yes.

Yes, it is true. 

The Clark's are one of the millions and millions of families that take part in the 'Elf on the Shelf' every year.

If you haven't heard of 'Elf on the Shelf', you may have been living under a rock for the past eight years, which is totally fine! But your 'Elf' comes in a box with a book. As the story goes, every year, your elf, which you name, comes to your home after Thankgiving and watches over the kids and reports back to Santa at the North Pole on if you've naughty or nice. He leaves on Christmas Eve and returns again the next year.

People get pretty creative with their elves and what they are doing every day. Pinterest has LOVED the 'Elf on the Shelf' series because I can't tell you how many different pins there are of elfs taking baths in marshmallows, sipping hot cocoa, hanging from a light fixture, etc. The list goes on.

I take a look at that list every year. And every year, I never use a single one. Not because I do not want to, but totally because of my lack of effort! 

We've had our Elf now for probably five years. And we've moved, Charlie - that's our elf's name - around for five years.

Sidenote: I have no idea how we came to name the elf Charlie. But Sloane has ALWAYS said it with a Jersey accent. "Chahlee". And last night, as I was reading the 'Elf' book to Reece, I said, "Do you remember our elf's name?" And his response was, "Elf". No, but close, son. "His name is Charlie!" "Chahlee?" What is it with my kids?! It's the one word they say that makes them sounds like they came straight from 'Jersey Shore', with Pauly D and JWoww.

 

Year one with our elf was probably a bust because Sloane didn't get it one iota. Year two she started to get it and we actually had to pick our game up and move him around every night. Some nights, Charlie was in the same place for three days in a row and we said that he was tired. Or that was the best place for him to watch over her and Reece. Year three and on have been better. Sloane knows why the elf is here, what his purpose is and is excited to see him.

Reece has no idea what is going on, which is not a surprise! My guess is that this is the year he finally grasps the point of the elf and has fun searching for him.

Listen, I get it. I get why people turn away from the 'Elf' and it's purpose and how you shouldn't choose one time of the year to make your kids be better individuals.

Maybe you are a better parent than me because this is all about bribery. And it's something we use all year round with our children. Does that make us good parents? Probably not. But does it work? Sometimes.

And I'll take that sometimes over never!

We have fun with it - as much fun as we can. It's Matt's job to move the elf around every night and sometimes he fails, and I give him crap for it. But sometimes he finds great places for Chahlee to hide.

Do you see him?!

Sloane came downstairs last night after we had put her to bed and was looking for something, then asking questions and we kept telling her it was bedtime (also, it was the season premiere of 'Fixer Upper' that was I was not taking my eyes off of) and she needed to go back upstairs. All of a sudden, she finds the elf, who made his first appearance last night. Her eyes lit up, she had a huge smile on her face, we reminded her he was reporting back to Santa that night, and she high-tailed it to bed.

Now do you see him?!

Boom.

In all seriousness, this is my favorite time of year. I love the magic that comes with the season and the extra gleam in my kids eyes when we talk about Christmas. The elf is just a fun addition to the madness at our house. If we can get our kids to behave a little better because their is an elf watching, I would gladly accept an elf in my house all year long!

Found him!

I just hope he isn't watching me!


Happy Hump Day, everyone!

XXOO,
Allyson