FlutterShy

Our Elf on the Shelf, FlutterShy, is celebrating her fourth anniversary with us. A lot has been said of these mischievous elves. Some say that they are creepy. Some feel that they send the wrong message to children during this Christmas Season. Some think it is a tool to drive parents crazy. Some think they are a waste of time. At one time or another I agreed with each of these points.

 The Adoption in 2012

Our little girl  was only six when we adopted our Elf.  She is now 10 years old, and still "believes" in the "magic" of Christmas. She very well knows what Christmas means. She knows that it is what we as Christians do to celebrate the birth of our Savior. But she is also a child, who is still floating in the innocence of flying reindeer, Santa Claus, elves building toys, and all that is absolutely unbelievable to us as adults.  For that matter she still believes in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.

And with all that she will face in this cruel harsh world, I am totally okay with that. 

So my hubby and I leap around like total crazies finding new places and setting up scenarios. We may not have much time left to do this as she is getting closer and closer to totally busting us, and her teen years are fast approaching.

 Her first hiding spot on a shelf (of course!) in Olivia's room.

A date with the Nutcracker.

 

Snow angels on my counter!

Hanging upside down in our entertainment center.  









This year, our scout elf received a package from the North Pole to commemorate her 4th anniversary with us. A kit filled with tools to help mom and dad...er....FlutterShy come up with new ways to be silly. Thank goodness! We, uh, I mean SHE has been racking her brain for ideas.

 

She's been swinging and rappelling and zip-lining all over the house ever since!

With all of the magic and fairy tales during this season, our Elf is always sure to remind Olivia that the best and truest reason for Christmas can be found in our Bible.

The day is coming when she will learn the truth. When the innocence of childhood slips away.  But I want her to be able to look back on these events of silly elves, chocolate giving bunnies and a little fairy that passes through a special door to exchange cash for her baby teeth with a fond heart. I want her to remember that we jumped around like idiots to stay on top of the antics each night, to remember to have a few singles on hand, to hide a basket full of candy from a curious child in a very small house.  Because we lover her, and her innocence, and her childhood.