Meet Emily

Have you heard of Elf on the Shelf?  

It's a super cute tradition that has really taken off in the States.  

Because I'm always trying to pinch my pennies and want to be at least a little different; 

I've taken the concept and changed it up just a little bit.

Last Sunday Emily the elf made her first appearance in our home. She brought a note and a North Pole Breakfast for the kids.

She was an instant HIT!

The mornings that followed the kids discovered her in different locations.
She always has a treat and a note for them.

{Emily has brought us a few Christmas books}

She even brought the kids stockings to hang. 

This weekend our sweet elf brought us a Christmas Tree!  

Fiona woke up in the middle of the night and spotted the twinkling lights.  Ryan & I sat by the tree with her for awhile as she told us how beautiful the lights were and thanked Emily a million times over for bringing it to us.  It was nice for Ryan & I to set it up without the kids under foot. {we left the decorating to them} 

This morning Reed & Fiona were gifted a couple of Australian ornaments.

In return The kids have written letters & drawn pictures for Emily to deliver to Santa on her nightly trip to the North Pole.

I always write exactly what they say to better remember the how they talk at this age.

Dear Santa,

I am Fiona.  Reedo and I was very good today.  Reedo didn't hold his ears at my ballet. I was very very very very very good.  Reedo and I did excellent at my ballet Santa.

Love, Fiona

Dear Santa,

Santa I want to have a guitar. I want to have it for Christmas. I really really really want to have it for Christmas.  I was really really really really good Santa.

Love, Fiona

She and Reed have written a couple more that I need to recover from their hiding place. (the notes have to disappear every night. Half asleep, I just toss them in various drawers)