Seeing RED

so I've never claimed to be Mom of the Year

and here's just another example as to why:

Meet 'RED'

He's our 'Elf on the Shelf'

So here's the deal. I started this thing late. 

I think I pulled him out of the box on Dec 3rd 

(even though I bought him in November)

I didn't read the book, I didn't read any instructions, 

and instead I told Claire before she went to bed:

hey - so what do you want to name this Elf?

At night when you sleep he goes and tells Santa if you've

been good or not. So if you want Santa to bring you 

a locket, you better be good so this guy

can give Santa a good report.

So she picked 'Red'.

(I guess that's what I get for waiting till the last minute)

and here's where Red has been sitting for the past THREE nights.

When Claire is not making good choices, I have been known to yell out:

Hey Red! Be sure to tell Santa tonight that Claire 

is having a bad attitude and isn't sharing with her brother!

It makes her stop for a minute, but I haven't been convinced

that she totally believes it's real or not.

until this morning.

Last night before going to bed Bob asked if we should move him.

Which I responded with, 'um ... I guess so ...'

So we tried a few different places 

but this elf is kinda stiff and he can't sit unassisted. 

So we shoved him in the vase.

I made sure that he was facing out into the living room

where he could keep a steady eye on things.

when you think about it ... this guy is kind of creepy.

oh - and we got the 'dark' version

(which actually looks like a nice tan)

so I forgot about Red when I came downstairs this morning.

but this girl certainly didn't. 

all of the sudden she started yelling

he moved! he moved! 

Red moved!

why did he move Mom?!

so I cringed a bit inside since I obviously put no effort into explaining 

how this Elf thing is supposed to work and then just nonchalantly replied with

of course he moved Claire - he leaves at night

to go give the report to Santa and this time he decided

to sit somewhere else where he can watch you.

If I didn't think she believed in him before, she certainly does now.

She kept telling Charlie how Red moved and how she just couldn't believe it.

I have to say, I think it's kind of fun that Claire believes in Santa.

In fact, this afternoon I was in the living room and she was in the kitchen

and I heard her yelling

hey Santa! Santa! 

Can you bring me a locket already?

Santa, can you hear me?

so I guess I should probably explain

that this isn't how you talk to Santa.

or maybe she knows the real dealio with Santa

and was just trying to give me a heads up.