Mud Puddles and Dandelions

We started a new tradition this year. It is called Elf on the Shelf. This is the first year I had heard of it, but I guess it has been around for a while. I got it at a bookstore. It is a box with the book and the elf. The story explains how this elf (which you are supposed to name) moves to a new spot in your house everyday. He watches and listens and then reports to Santa on how you have behaved.



So, we brought the book home and sat the kids down and read the book. Because Caleb had to announce why it was not possible for the elf to talk to Santa (because he is full of cotton and cannot see or talk - you should have heard Dad and I trying to save that one) and Isaac and Bryce had to start criticizing, we let Andrew name him. He named him Dudely (yes, Dude-lee).

Dudely changes locations every night and guess who is the first one EVERY morning to try and locate Dudely. Yep, Caleb. And I tell him not to tell anyone. The first day RIGHT after I said not to tell anyone, he stood in front of me and told EVERYONE. He got in trouble and has not done that since.

Because he feels he has to show his smartness ALL THE TIME, it is becoming increasingly harder to let the little kids have fun and traditions without him spoiling it. He is already telling Isaac and Bryce that Santa is fake. Little does he know, he is about to stop reaping the rewards that Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and everyone else that brings "secretly" bring things to him!