12/23/09

WW: Reindeer in the House!

(This is a repeat post from last year; it still fits because I'm doing the same thing now that I was at this time last year, and the year before, and the year before that, etc.)

There are reindeer in my house.
Sort of.




Years ago, my children – like most children, I imagine – would look for hidden presents before Christmas. It was never very easy to hide gifts.

I believe that when a child found a gift with his or her name on it, that child would shake the gift or maybe even peek under the wrapping paper in hopes of finding out what might be in the box. The "evidence" led me to believe there had been what one might call "tampering."

So, I simply quit hiding the gifts. Instead, I put the names of various reindeer on packages. (As daughter Mandy pointed out, this was not an original idea; a long-ago neighbor did the same.) Each year, it became a game to figure out which reindeer was which person. Usually, each child was two reindeer.

This has become one of our family traditions. It just wouldn’t seem right to have gifts with the real names instead of reindeer names.

Now, the children are grown – ranging from 27 to 34 – and the family has grown to include a son-in-law and a grandchild.

The three children are living in three different states, but their gifts are ready with reindeer names, awaiting their arrival home for Christmas.

Since there are more people, I’ve added Frosty and a few other names, although I haven’t yet had to use Scrooge or the Grinch, thank goodness.

Of course, there’s been another change: I’ve gotten older as well, so the biggest problem now has to do with remembering which person is which reindeer and keeping up with where I’ve hidden THAT list!

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Other Wordless Wednesday participants are HERE.
Other Wordful Wednesday participants are HERE.

18 comments:

Sukhmandir Kaur said...

A clever idea. Probably makes it that much more fun to have to guess. Happy WW

Gattina said...

That's a funny idea, lol ! In my case it wasn't necessary. When I lived with my parents we were only 3 and when I was married there was only one child. Maybe he looked, I don't know, have to ask him, lol ! (now is is 36 !)

Terra Heck said...

Great idea! With six kids, I may have to incorporate that idea next year for the holidays.

Claremont First Ward said...

This is the coolest tradition.......one I'm thinking I should adopt. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hootin Anni said...

What a wonderful, special, and CLEVER post and idea.

I have a Christmas wish along with my usual Wednesday post today. [the Wednesday issue of posting is below my 'card' posted just for you....]

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY.

...for the permalink to my day's post, click here.

Unknown said...

Yes, yes yes! Great idea!

happy ww!

Carolyn G said...

What a great idea. I am passing it on to my friend's who always have problems with kiddos peeking!

Carver said...

What a creative and fun idea. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

Sandee said...

I think it's a wonderful idea. You could keep a password protected Christmas file on your computer. That ought to keep it safe.

Have a terrific day and a very Merry Christmas. :)

Lianna Knight said...

Love that idea!! One year my mom put my name on my sister's gifts and her name on mine...just to throw us off :)

You can visit our WW here...
http://growingourowngarden.blogspot.com/2009/12/wordless-wednesday.html

kayerj said...

reindeer games? No really that is a fun idea. Have a merry Christmas Sherry!

Anonymous said...

What a cute way to outwit the youngin's!

Jenna said...

This is such a cute idea! I dated a boy in high school whos mother did this, I always thought it was so tricky!! Merry Christmas

Jenni said...

That is such a clever idea!

RecycleCindy said...

Great idea using reindeer and other names to hide the presents from the kids. You need a key chart to know which one is for who. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas on this WW!
Cindy

Tiffany said...

What a neat tradition!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

storyteller said...

Creative and delightful solution! Wishing you and yours a Joyous Christmas!
Hugs and blessings,
Small Reflections

"May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace, the gladness of Christmas give you hope, and the warmth of Christmas grant you love."

Corrie Howe said...

My kids don't go looking for gifts. And they actually keep secrets. How did I get such strange children? But I'd be with you, having a hard time to remember who was which reindeer.

 
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