The Early Elf: A favorite Christmas tradition...

With December well under way, so too are holiday traditions. A favorite in our family dates back to the days when I was a little girl eagerly anticipating Santa's arrival. The tradition is the early elf and he visits your house sometime in early December. His visit signals the beginning of the Christmas season. When I was young we would know the early elf had come because he left a small present by our bed in the middle of the night. We never saw him or heard him but the day he arrived was a magical one to us. My sister recently began the tradition with her two young boys by purchasing the book, "The Elf on the Shelf" by Carol Aebersol. This adorable gift set came with a small elf figurine and a book that tells the tale of the elf's arrival, his purpose in your home and how your kids can interact with him on a daily basis. A week into it and the kids love it!