Welcome, Trophy

The new Unfading Beauty winner is #22, Jamie Pennington! Since you left your email address I will forward it to Leah. Thank you!

Also, I want to say Congratulations to my brother, Andrew and his fiance, Jessica.  They got engaged on Dec. 8th.  We are all very excited!

We joined the Elf of the Shelf bandwagon this year and it has been so much fun.  I got one last year but waited to do it this year since I knew Westin would be more into it.  Plus, I wanted him to be old enough to name him all on his own. 

I knew I wanted to do the Elf but also wanted to incorporate Jesus so Westin doesn't try to be good just for the Elf, but because he knows it makes Jesus happy.  I also knew he wouldn't be able to sit still for the whole book so Santa wrote a letter explaining that he was sending his friend to help Westin remember what Christmas is all about....loving others, helping others and remembering God sent his Son because he loved us so much.  I adapted the letter from THIS letter.

While I was taking these pictures of Westin and Reagan, Cody snuck out and put the package outside the front door.  He then rang the doorbell and yelled, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" loud enough for us to hear.  I SO wish I had Westin's reaction on video camera.  He jumped up and said, "Santa is HERE!!!!"  It was precious!  He was ecstatic!

He ran to the front door and was so excited to see a present that he truly believed was from Santa!

I read the letter to him while he played with the elf (and while Reagan ate paper).  Then I told him he had to name him.  At first he said he didn't know.  I offered "Christmasy" suggestions but he said, "how about Trophy?"  I have no idea where he got that.  He doesn't have any trophies and I have never talked about a trophy but he chose that name and I love it.

The no touch rule was hard that first day but he gets it now and loves seeing where he is every day.  His favorite times are when Trophy makes a "booby trap" with ribbon or string.  :)  Sometimes I don't know where Cody has put him but Westin always spots him. 

The funniest thing about the whole thing is that he blames Trophy for things!  I asked him how his toy got behind the chair in the living room and his reply was, "Maybe Trophy did it."  He is a mess!  I love doing the Elf.  It is not really about being good to get toys but just seeing the funny things Trophy does every day.  I can see this tradition lasting a long time!