Sunday After Thanksgiving Update

The daily reports have ceased, but ABP continues. I trust someone will tell me if there's something I really need to know.

I took Trevor back to college today. Four days were not enough time with him. Evan took his departure very hard, in spite of knowing that his big brother will be back in less than three weeks. Last night as I was tucking Evan in I started tickling him to cheer him up. He loves being tickled. But after a few moments he became serious and said, "You won't be able to tickle me much longer." I asked why he said that. "Because I'll be too old. You won't be able to tickle me anymore when I'm 10." I'm not sure why 10 is the Age of No Tickling. But I think my little boy is growing up, and so is his perception of the passage of time.

A few days ago on Facebook I saw this creepy looking thing:*

It is the main character of the book Elf on a Shelf, published in 2005. How have I not heard of this before? It is apparently the latest holiday tradition. The book comes with an elf figure like the one above. The story explains how the elf, once it is named by its family, is magically able to return to the North Pole on a daily basis with reports about the naughty/nice ratio of each child in the family. Each morning the elf shows up in a different location in the house--part of the game is finding him (her? it?). The children may talk to the elf but they can't touch it for fear of draining its magic. There is now a parallel Elf on the Shelf industry devoted to depicting the elf doing inappropriate or disturbing things (e.g., an elf sitting on top of a microwave with the caption, "Ask me where Fluffy is"). All I know is that the original concept is disturbing enough and would totally terrorize my child.

I wasn't able to go to church today. Bummer. Trevor and I had to leave early enough for him to get back to campus for a 6:00 rehearsal with his choir. He has been asked to play organ on several pieces! I guess that is a good reason to miss church. But I wish I could have been there. So much great music today.

Going to bed in a little while. Long drive back home tomorrow. I wish I could get Lutheran Public Radio in the car!

*If you like it, no offense. Enjoy! It's just not our kind of fun!