Freddy - Santa's Snowman Scout

There's 1 month until Christmas and Santa's scout's have started their recon missions to held him figure out those tricky Naught and Nice lists. In our house, we don't have an elf. Instead we were blessed with one of Santa's snowmen scouts. His name is Freddy. He lives with us all year long, and during the Christmas season, he makes nightly journeys to the North Pole, to let Santa know how are day was and to reassure him that we are all doing our very best to stay on his Nice List. Every year we find him all over the house, in a different hideout each morning. (This morning he's in one of the pantry cupboards in the kitchen.) Finding him each morning is a fun way to start each day, and a great way to remember that we're trying to follow the Golden Rule and do our best to make each day a good one.

Santa's Snowman Scout, Freddy.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out the Elf on the Shelf Website. It explains it pretty well:

The Elf on the Shelf Tradition

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? The Elf on the Shelf – A Christmas Tradition is the very special tool that helps Santa knows who to put on the Naughty and Nice list. This interactive holiday hide-and-seek tradition is perfect for children and families of all ages. The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centers. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf, gives their elf a very special name, and registers their adoption online. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.   Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously. Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa and visit with elf friends where they will tell stories about their beloved families, play with the reindeer, and of course, sneak some of Mrs. Claus’ cookies!  Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot!  While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families. On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season, wishing every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy.  Cheers!