Elf

Here is what happens (and really did happen) when a new Christmas tradition goes over too well...
Last night, Aliyah came to talk to us with a very sad look on her face. Josh was trying to cheer her and told her Christmas is only 2 days away. She looked down even further and replied, "I know, but I don't care about presents and stuff". He asked her what was wrong and she ran off to draw a picture. She's really big into drawing pictures.
She returned with a piece of paper with her first and last name on one side and on the other was a picture of "Taggie" our Elf on the Shelf--Elf. She had gone to where he was sitting and looked at him to draw--oh so cute!! She did mention that she didn't get all of his eye details in the picture--so funny. We knew then that she was going to be sad that Taggie doesn't return after Christmas Eve until next Christmas season.
She went to bed, and later I heard sobbing coming from her bedroom. I had Josh call her upstairs so we could talk to her. Yes, she is sad that Taggie is leaving and will be cold and a myriad of other things. Josh tried to tell her that Christmas is only 1 day away and there would be presents and fun. The one day away thing made it worse because that means Taggie gets closer to leaving and she doesn't need any presents. Then she got really heavy hitting with this..."Christmas isn't about presents anyway, it's about Jesus being born, and spending time together with your family". Josh told her that she would get presents anyway. She continued to sob--you see, Aliyah gains attachment to certain things and they are pretty deep attachments. So much so, that she would in reality give up all of her presents so Taggie would stay at our house.
I told her she could make Taggie a card and draw pictures. She thought of all of the things she thought were cool about Taggie and she will make the card today. She is even going to ask Taggie if he will stay somewhere in our house. This, is what happens when something goes over way better than you ever expected--that's what happened with our new Christmas tradition.