Meet Kyle the Elf

This Christmas, Santa thought we needed a little extra encouragement to be good, so at the beginning of December he left this note on our doorstep:

Dear Nielson Girls,

It's the month before Christmas, but I've been watching all year

To see if you've been naughty or always full of cheer.

As Christmas gets closer you always need to be nice-

Because if you are naughty you may pay a steep price.

But Santa is busy, I can't watch you myself;

So I'm sending one of my most trusted elves.

Each day he will sit and watch what you do-

If you're bad he will see it, if you're good he will too.

Each night he will tell me how you acted and played

He will do that each night, until Christmas Day.

So be good Nielson girls 'till I come to town,

And watch for my elf, 'cause he will move around.

Love, Santa

P.S. Never, never, never touch the elf - he bites!

My girls were so excited to have an elf come to their house! Brynn promptly named him Kyle, and it just stuck. He showed up that first night perched on top of a cupboard, sitting really still and watching. Each night he goes and tells Santa how they've been, and comes back and sits somewhere else. It's somewhat of a contest each morning of who can find Kyle first. Brynn and Liz are deathly afraid of touching him, and super nervous that they will wake up one morning with Kyle snuggled up by them. As a mom it's been great to have such a visual reminder for the girls to be good, and sometimes all I need to say is "Do you think Kyle can hear you?" to quickly change behavior. Fabulous!!