Stealth on a Shelf

Last year we adopted our own Elf on the Shelf.   "Icicle," who was a mere "Snowflake" (oops) last year, perches somewhere in our home to keep an eye on the kiddoes by day and then flies back to the North Pole each night with a report for Santa on our behavior.  She returns to a new spot in the house by dawn. 

She has a lot to remember, that elf.  Of course, there are the daily details of naughtiness (was it yesterday or today when Big Sis threatened Little Sis?  How many times did Little Sis say "NO!" to her mom?).  Then she has to remember to find a new secret yet conspicuous roost each morning.  How easy it is for her to accidentally wind up in that same comfortable nook she inhabited yesterday...

Our daughters aren't expressing concerns about Icicle witnessing their infractions and reporting them to Santa, nor does the elf's presence seem to deter misconduct.  The sisters are rather boldly confident in their positions as non-coal recipients. 

Me?  I am not so sure. 

Nevertheless, the daily hunt for Icicle is a first waking thought.  Where she'll be each morning, and whether or not she has the power to direct Big Sis to her missing iPod are pressing concerns (Big Sis has left her a note requesting this service).

And then there is the issue of her proximity to Little Sis. 

Big Sis sprung from the womb a lover of costumed characters and mall Santas.  At two years old, she ran through the gates of Disneyland and into the arms of a six-foot furry Tigger. 

Little Sis, on the other hand, is having none of it.  She's skeptical of strangers both costumed and plain and warms slowly even to family friends.  She loves fairies and elves, but Not In Her Room.  Meanwhile, Big Sis would like nothing more than to find Icicle snuggled under her covers one morning. 

Hence, it is an unspoken agreement that the girls' room is off limits to Icicle.  Little Sis is clear on the fact that no sleeping will occur if the elf's beady little eyes are focused on her. 

Fair enough. That leaves Icicle five other rooms from which to choose as she alights in our house each morning.  Big Sis sent Icicle this heads-up in the form of a note tucked info the elf's little arms the other night: 

Note the extent to which her compassion has its limits. 

Santa, if not the elf, is watching!