If you have a Facebook page or you’re around children at all, you probably have heard of the “Elf on the Shelf.” These little magical creatures fly from the North Pole into children’s homes across the world at Christmas time. They are sent there by Santa to report if the little ones are being naughty or nice. The elves (found at many local Santa’s workshop retailers) bring a book when they arrive at your house explaining to you and your children how it all works. The children are not to touch the elf because he or she will lose his or her Christmas magic. The children must pick a name for their elf, and he returns to the North Pole each night to report back to Santa. He’s home before dawn and sits in a new place each morning. Little boys and girls are excited to find where the elf is sitting each day, whether it be on a shelf or hanging off of Daddy’s 8-point.

Paisley named her boy elf, Spook. We’re just glad she named it an actual word. Usually, she names her stuffed animals something like Tomlar or Shemlin or some grouping of vowels that no one understands. Spook came to see us a few weeks ago. He’s been found in the kitchen eating Paisley’s animal crackers, climbing the Christmas tree, hiding in a vase and many other places. The elf book does not say that the elf does not move when children are bad, but I’ve heard of many elves following this rule. Spook must have not seen Paisley at McDonald’s or the grocery store because he’s moved every night. We must’ve got one of those lenient elves, ’cause I’ve heard of elves writing notes to children, saying they were on the naughty list.

One morning, Spook was found under the Christmas tree with my scissors, wrapping paper, tape and ribbon. He had cut up some paper and I guess the sun rose before he could finish. Paisley warned me that I could not have my scissors back until Spook moved again, because “You can’t touch him!” Unfortunately, the elf was holding my only pair of scissors, so more wrapping had to wait until he moved to the kitchen counter. He was found next to a sack of flour, covered in the stuff. He had taken one of my tiny white Christmas trees and a snowflake ornament. I guess he was trying to recreate the North Pole, but Paisley said he was being bad because “He made a mess!

Yep, the excitement of seeing Spook each new day has caused Paisley to wake up extra early. She bursts through the master bedroom door, “Come look where Spook is!” The first night of our turn to have my stepdaughter, Spook forgot to move. The four-year-old little girl burst through the bedroom door, “I’m going to see if Spook moved!” “Oh no,” I thought, sitting up in bed, eyes half open, hair everywhere. “He didn’t move,” she said somberly, returning from searching the whole house. “He must like Daddy’s deer,” I said, smiling. “Yeah, he must think Daddy’s deer is Rudolph!” she exclaimed. I then gave Spook a stern talking to.

These little elves bring children much joy around Christmas for sure. Paisley knows Spook understands what real joy is, because one morning, she found him reading the Christmas story from my old children’s Bible. Have a wonderful Sunday, sprinkled with a little Christmas magic, but a whole lot of real Christmas joy!

You may write to Jessica Boyd-Smith by emailing jessimarie2010@yahoo.com.