Marshmallow

We welcomed a new member to our family this morning as well as a Christmas tradition. My mother brought over the Elf on the Shelf and the holiday fun began. I opened the box while the boys were sleeping and carefully removed the little cloth and plastic elf along with the hardback book filled with the magical story of the elf. After breakfast we all sat down on the couch and I told the boys I had a surprise for them. The four of us squeezed onto the love seat (because why on Earth would we sit on the perfectly good couch?) and fell into the story of Santa's helper who was coming to live with us for Christmas. The elf would watch over the boys and their behavior to see the naughty and nice things they were doing until Christmas Eve. The boys could tell him what gifts they wanted from the Big Man and he would let Santa know. Each night the elf would fly back to the North Pole and report back to Santa all of the things he saw and heard and Santa would decide on Christmas Eve what things they got out of his red sac.

There were three things the boys had to do though.

1.) Never touch the elf. He would loose all of his magic and not be able to fly back to Santa!

2.) Find the new hiding place where the elf was residing each day when they woke up.

3.) Give the elf a name so he could become a part of the family.

Al and I were sure the boys would have no trouble with #2 and #3 but that tricky #1 was going to be tough for our 3 and 5 year olds. We shall see how they do but I'm sure it will be fun no matter how it goes.

Carson and Elias were thrilled to have a new game as well as a magical elf straight from Santa's toyshop living with us. They kept whispering back in forth that them better be good so they would get their trains and Lego cities and tool sets. It was fun sitting back and taking in their childhood imaginations. Back and forth they went trying to pick the perfect name for red felted friend.

Would it be Macy? "No, that was already the dog's name, " shouted Carson.

What about Snow? "No, no, no," said Elias...."the elf wasn't white enough!!"

Finally they looked down into their hot chocolate mugs and Carson said, "What about Marshmallow?". Elias loved the name and they both grinned from ear to ear. They ran over to me and said, "Look Mommy, his name is Marshmallow and he knows Santa!!". Can you get any sweeter than that?