Michael

Michael is our elf.

He arrived under our tree the day after Thanksgiving.  My best friend Beth gave him to us in a wrapped box at the end of last year as a gift to be opened sometime after Thanksgiving this year. Her family has an elf, and I think she knew this one was looking for a home and thought we might be a good fit.

He came with a book explaining his role.  The elf is magical and, once named, his magic allows him to observe the kids in his household during the day and then fly away each night to the North Pole to give Santa a report on the day's happenings, both good and bad.

He gets lost on his way back and lands all over the house, so every morning when Anabella and Daniel wake up, they have to find him.  He's quite agile and very clever; we never know where we're going to find him:

Look, Look! There's Michael!

I'll get him!

  

Michael, what are you doing up there!

I'll get him!

Let me try!

Now, according to the book, the elf is not to be handled by anyone as he can lose his "magic."

But, since every elf is different, ours plays by a different set of rules. At least this year. Though we are careful to handle him only a little and always very gently.  Whoever finds Michael brings him to Mommy or Daddy.  Then, Michael gives Anabella and Daniel both a kiss on the cheek and returns to our shelf for the rest of the day.

According to the book, the elf may lose his magic if handled, and so he is supposed to remain wherever he "lands" when he returns each day. But....we think Michael can "see" better on the shelf.  And, the way we see it, he is less likely to lose his magic if he's in a special place.  Plus, he just looks like he belongs on the shelf! He is, in fact, an elf on the shelf! (Our rules may change next year when Daniel and Anabella are more mature and can understand why he can't be handled- this year they enjoy finding him and in their excitement, they can't help not picking him up! And, he can't hang out all day where he lands without being handled.)

Sveta and Sergey, our friends who visit before and after school twice a week love Michael, too.  They always ask where we found him, and they occasionally help find him if he's still "missing" when they arrive.

They like him so much, word must have gotten to Santa because they ended up with an elf at their house, too!

Their elf is a girl.

They named her Isabella.

And, she gives kisses when they find her in the morning like ours does, too.  I think our elves must be related. :)

It doesn't say anything in the book about the elves bringing presents (Santa is supposed to do that on Christmas Eve!), but our Michael is a generous little fella.  And, since Daniel and Anabella (and Sveta and Sergey) are so good all the time, he brought them each a little gift last week.  A snowman necklace that jingles- to spread the cheer!

On Christmas Eve, Michael flew back to the North Pole until next year after Thanksgiving when he will return to watch over us again.

Farewell, Michael! We will miss you and look forward to seeing you next year!

Thanks, Beth, for bringing Michael to us and for the start of a new, fun Christmas tradition!