The Elf on the Shelf

Colby and his mom recently became the proud adoptive family of one of Santa's scout elves, which was given the name of Charlie (after Colby's favorite El Dorado Wildcat Football Player, Charlie Hays). As the story goes, the scout elf makes his intial appearance in the adoptive familiy's house sometime after Thanksgiving, and upon his first visit he must be given a name. Each night, after the family is soundly asleep, the elf flies back on Christmas Magic to the North Pole to report to Santa the events of the day; however, he returns to his family's house before they awake the next day. Santa's rules are that you can't touch the elf (or he will lose his magic) and he can't talk to you (he's just there to observe); however, you can tell him you deep, dark secrets -- and that, Colby does. Colby's mom will tell you that this was the best $29.99 that she has ever spent (at Hallmark, no doubt!), as the little man now pops out of bed every morning (without being threatened) to find the spot that the elf has chosen to "sit" for the day. And, because the elf is there during the day to spot all bad behavior, Colby has been displaying the best of the best manners that he can muster. Alas, the elf can't live in Colby's house year-round, so after Christmas Day, it will be the attitude of a five-year old once again!