For one month a year, many homes get a special visitor just in time for Christmas: The Elf on the Shelf.

They have a very important job every December. "He comes from the North Pole here and he hides and if you're bad he stays there, but if you're good he goes up and tells Santa you're good and moves places," explained 9-year old Jackson Graham.

The sneaky scout, that each child adopts and names, works for Santa. The elf keeps an eye on children during the day and reports their behavior to the big man at the North Pole every night leading up to Christmas. "You have your own elf. It's really cool and I like when he comes. It's really fun to try and find him," Graham said. "He will hide and watch you all day."

That way Old Saint Nick knows who should be on the naughty and nice lists. "I'll be on the nice list," hoped Graham.

But, while little boys and girls sleep, the magical little pixies can be mischievous: hanging around, creating messes, leaving messages and of course, making memories as a yearly tradition for families.

This year, we saw pictures after the elves tee-peed the Christmas tree, did some cooking in the kitchen, took a bubble bath and even wrapped the toilet in Christmas paper! "He hid in the Santa Claus thing and acted like a reindeer, he went in my room and hangs out in the Christmas tree. He's been a lot of places," Graham said.

Starting around Thanksgiving, kids get to wake up and see what their miniature friend managed to get into. "You have to go around and try to find him. It's like a hunt for him. It's cool."   

But don't touch them or remove them from their hiding spot, or they'll have to go to the house elf hospital in the North Pole. "If you touch him.. His magic will go away. So you have to leave him and he'll get out and go hide."

Until Christmas Eve, when all the elves go back to the North Pole until next holiday season.