'Elf on a Shelf' brings about its own type of Christmas spirit

Those darn elves are at it again and children all over Saline County are truly enjoying the fun.

Over the past few years a trend that is seen as either great fun or exceedingly creepy has taken flight. Much of social media is covered in pictures of "ELF on the Shelf" a pesky little elf that gets into trouble throughout the Christmas season.

"We have been enjoying Buddy (Elf on the Shelf) since December of 2011," said Rachel Russell, mother to six children. "He was adopted for the kids by their Nonnie (Bonnie Mahan)."

This little elf's story is an imaginative one. The scout elf is sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice list. When a family gets to adopt an elf and gives it a name, the elf receives "Christmas magic" and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa about all of the day's adventures. Each morning the elf returns and perches in a different place to watch the fun.

"When the kids woke up this morning and saw Buddy on their dad's deer, they couldn't believe Buddy touched a deer," Russell said.

Many have adopted fun and imaginative ways to entertain the children and inspire their Christmas cheer with the elf's antics. The elf has been seen making messes with breakfast cereal, unrolling the toilet paper in the bathroom, having parties with other action figures and toys and treating other Christmas favorites poorly.

"It's just fun! I love seeing all the pictures from other parents," said Emily Randolph, hairstylist at Cut Ups Hair and Nail Salon. "And there are some people who just can't stand it."

But of course there are those who come up with some not so nice things for the elf to get into like elf barbecue roasts, dogs tearing the stuffed toy apart and elf-napping. Kids continue to be amazed by -- and parents love coming up with -- things the elf does, but there are some mischievous children who would like to ruin fun and imagination for others.

"Our oldest daughter was being bullied at school because she was sharing a story of Buddy. She came home upset because the older kids were telling her Buddy was not real and making fun of her. So I personally wrote the Elf on the Shelf to keep the spirit alive and we received a note specifically written to encourage our daughter," Russell said.

Kevin Peyton, pastor of Galatia Village Community Church and a Galatia school bus driver brings his elf, Tricksie, on his bus during the holidays. According to Sherry Peyton, Kevin's wife, Tricksie lives up to his name.

"Tricksie is very popular with kids on Kevin's bus," Sherry said. "The children are already asking for him to arrive."

We would love to hear your stories and see some fun pictures of what your Elf on the Shelf is doing. Send email and pictures to aturner@dailyregister.com. We will be sharing the photos and stories on our Facebook page and website.