The Hodges Five

The Elf on the Shelf is more than just another Christmas book. It's magic! It's a tradition that will last in our family for years and years.

Okay, first for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about let me explain. The Elf on the Shelf is a book written by Mother and Daughter, Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell. The book comes with an elf. The story explains that just after Thanksgiving the Elf comes to visit the children and watches to see if the child has been naughty or nice. Each evening the elf flies back to Santa to report on the day. The next morning, you never know where you might find the elf...he's somewhere in the house watching you. The book also explains that the elf is your own special elf and you get to name him. Oh, and you can't touch him because he will lose his magic.

Our Elf was given the name Elfie by Evan when he was just three years old. We love our Elfie! The magic that I have seen come alive in Evan's eyes is so special to me and so treasured, especially this year as he's now 5 1/2. Every morning when he first wakes up, he rushes to find Elfie with such excitement and is always amazed by where ever he is sitting.

Elfie and Evan developed a strong bond this year and it was very difficult for Evan to not be able to touch him. He created a bed for Elfie, made out of a shoe box. He cut a paper pillow, used a burp cloth for a blanket, and made a picture for him. I couldn't figure out why he was doing this, since Elfie didn't spend the night here. Once the box was complete, I overheard Evan whispering to Elfie. He said, "Elfie, I'm going to go in the kitchen and when I'm out of the room, I want you to fly into your bed that I made for you. Okay, Elfie? Please, Elfie, just fly in your box that I made for you." Of course, Elfie did and Evan was so excited!!! "Now, he can go with me" he shouted. You have to admit, that was very clever of Evan! He knew he couldn't touch Elfie but this way, Elfie could go places and do things with Evan without the risk of magic lost.

As Christmas approached we realized that Evan was really going to miss Elfie when he was gone. You see, Elfie's job would be done and his instructions from the book were to fly back to the North Pole only to revisit next Thanksgiving. We started thinking and knew how sad Evan would be. On Christmas morning, when Evan read his note from Santa. It said that he had talked with Elfie and that they decided that he could stay and that since it wasn't Christmas anymore Evan could touch him!

Evan was so excited!! At first a little nervous to touch him even, but that didn't last long. The two are now inseparable! Elfie even went with Evan to show and tell today for his first day back at school.

The other day, I asked Evan what his favorite gift from Santa was, I was expecting him to say my science stuff or my watch. Instead, he replied, "That I can hold Elfie and he can stay!" That's what the magic of Christmas is all about!!

Elfie came to visit us just after Thanksgiving day. The picture is a drawing of Evan and Elfie adn the note reads, "Evan, Elfie, Best Friends"

Christmas 2007