Lightning

I'd like to introduce you all to the newest member of our family. His name is Lightning and he is our "Elf on the Shelf". He will help Santa keep an eye on Sophie and Trey until Christmas every year from about Thanksgiving until Christmas. Trey is so excited because they have an elf in his classroom at school. His name is Reporter because he reports to Santa about the boys and girls in the class. His friend came to stay with us. Trey and Soph named him Lightning because of his lightning speed when going to the North Pole every night to report back to Santa (better known to Elves as "The Boss") and return to our home to continue spying on the kids. There are rules that he must follow and the kids must follow. He is not allowed to speak to the kids. The kids are not allowed to touch him. If they do he will lose his magic and that is a curse worse than death to an Elf. So they know they can not touch! They can talk to him and tell him secrets and what they wish for Santa to bring them when they are good (which Santa makes the final decision on) but they are not allowed to touch. On Christmas day they can blow him a kiss and he goes away until next Thanksgiving. Even Elves need a break! Every night he leaves to go tell Santa all the things Trey and Soph did that day, good and bad (not that there is any bad !) then returns to our house and hides in a different spot to keep an eye on the kids. It is their job to find Lightning every morning and let me tell you that little guy I think is very creative on where he will try to hide to keep from being spotted. He is a tricky little guy! Trey suggested his first night here we should put him and his "home" (which is his little box) in front of the fire on a pillow "to keep him warm and cozy". So I will make sure to put him there and we shall see in the morning where he appears to try to spy on the kids!

See doesn't he look happy and comfy? I hope he isn't so comfy he decides to just stay right there and not go see Santa to report on the kids.

Sophie is introducing herself to Lightning. She is making sure not to touch him!