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Tonight the husband had to work late, so it was just the little man and I. It was just minutes before our usual time where we venture upstairs and begin bedtime routine of brushing teeth and reading stories.

The little man hopped up on to my lap.

"Snuggles, mommy," he said as I wrapped my arms around him.

"Guess what?" the little man whispered.

"What?" I replied.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you MORE," I said as I hugged him.

"I love you as big as the house," he replied.

"Hmmmm," I said as I thought. "I love you as big as a toot-toot boat."

The little man giggled.

"Whoa," he said. "I love you as big as a ZILLION toot-toot boats."

"Wow! That's really big, mommy can't beat that one," I said. "I love you, too."

And with that, bedtime was postponed a bit for a few more minutes of precious snuggles.

Wilson

Our family was recently introduced to what has already become a favorite Christmas tradition.

The Elf on the Shelf.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I received an e-mail from the little man's Aunt asking if he had an elf yet and if not, if it would be OK to bring him one. She explained the story of the Elf on the Shelf and said it had been a tradition in her family growing up, and also one that she has continued to enjoy with her own daughter.

The elf appears every year around Thanksgiving. He comes to your house to watch you in the weeks before Christmas and every night, when everyone is asleep, he returns to the North Pole to report to Santa if you had been naughty or nice. Because of his Christmas magic, he is able to fly to the North Pole and return to your house before you awake. Each morning you will find him in a new spot - watching and listening for his report back to Santa. However there is one rule - you cannot EVER touch him, for if you do, he will lose his magic. On Christmas Eve, your family elf returns to the North Pole with Santa - until he reappears next Thanksgiving.

I of course said an elf would be more than welcome at our home. So, on the day before Thanksgiving, our family elf appeared. We told the little man the story of the elf and said that he had to name him.

After some thought, the little man smiled and said "Wilson."

And on that day, our family welcomed Wilson into our home. So far, Wilson has quite the busy elf - he has been found on the chandelier in the dining room, perched above the living room on the speakers, in the Christmas wreath and even stuck in the blinds.

As the little man wakes each morning, the first thing on his mind isn't what to have for breakfast or what cartoon he wants to watch - it's to find where Wilson is perched for the day.

Wilson has also come in handy for reminders about the importance of not being naughty - one night when the little man was protesting the vegetables on his dinner plate, Mommy reminded him of the elf watching him up above.

"Wilson is watching you - you don't want him to tell Santa you didn't make a happy plate," I said. "Santa ALWAYS makes a happy plate."

The little man sunk back in his chair.

"I wish I didn't have a elf no more," he said as he begrudgingly picked up his fork and began to eat his vegetables.

"You just made Wilson said," I said. "Don't you like Wilson?"

The little man smiled and peered up at Wilson.

"I sorry Wilson. I like you a zillion," the little man said with little smile.

And with that, a tradition that is sure to continue for a zillion more years became a very big part of our family.