Meet......

Duncan Bob Oodles - our elf.

(funny how he is "my" elf, and yet, has name from everyone but me - but I digress)

I cheated, these are from the website..but I will post other pictures of our elf as he explores the house.

I spotted him at Hallmark today. My heart skipped a beat.

My grandmother had two elves almost exactly like him, that she always put out on Christmas. I was immediately 7 again, and remember playing with those elves. Thier little legs folded up under their arms. I hemmed and hawed about getting it. K. talked me into it and told me I should spend the money on myself and buy something that "brought me joy", her words. So I caved on the impulse and paid, ::gasp::: full price, and she even told the sales lady that I was buying myself some joy. Gosh I love that kid.

This one of course is much smaller than my grandmother's, and doesn't have a bell on his hat. when I asked her a few years ago where she had gotten her's because I wanted one, I believe she told me she had gotten them attached to Christmas candy or something one year.

I had no idea there is actually a little elf tradition. this little guy, after you name him for your family, supposedly, according to the storybook that came with him, travels to the North Pole every night to give report to Santa about who has been good and not so good. He then returns to your house, and sits somewhere new. The kids are then supposed to find him in the morning, but not touch him, cause that may drain his magic. The kids love the idea, altho K reports that his eyes creep her out and he better not move at night. (Little does she know her door knob may be the first place he reappears tomorrow morning::insert evil mommy laugh here::) I have always wanted to start some sort of yearly tradition with the kids for Christmas count down and while they are way to old to believe he goes to the North Pole, just the fun of moving him every night is enough to bring a smile to thier faces.

I am seriously thinking after Christmas when they are on sale, I should go buy one for each of them, so when they have their first baby, I can gift their families with an elf too.