Game Elf

One of Santa's elves visited us last night, like he does every year a day or two before Christmas. Elves are doing lots of serious business this time of year, like watching to see if you are being naughty or nice. If you are being nice and hanging out as a family one evening near Christmas you can put out treats for these elves. Elves like treats just as much as Santa anyways. Put them on your doorstep. Then sing some Christmas Carols as you get ready for bed. You'll find that if you open the door back up, there is a family game in place of the treats you left. It works like a charm for us every year. And results in the most memorable moments of Christmas with our children. The gift seems to stand apart because it is not with other gifts. It is the first exciting magical piece of Christmas our children see. And we always have tons of fun together playing the game all night. This year we opened the door a bit early, and the elf had not eaten all of the treats and the game wrapped up was down the walk a bit. It was awesome seeing the kids put the pieces together. Sam kept saying "an elf bringed us this game" Kate had mentioned to me in the bathroom while I helped them get ready that maybe the elf would bring us this elephant game she had seen at the store. That elf- he must have been listening.

I made up this Christmas tradition, and I hope we do it every year.