The girls decided today that they couldn't wait until December first, and that we should pick names for Secret Santa now. Sounded like a fine idea to me.

We've done this in-house for several years with varying degrees of success. In the past, I would stock up on craft supplies so everyone could make presents for their recipient-pipe cleaners, beads, candy canes-and sneak them into the felt bags that they keep at their bedsides. The problem with that was that everyone could pretty much recognize each other's handiwork and handwriting. And some members of the family were more motivated, shall we say, than others to make and give gifts on a steady basis for several weeks.

Also, to the degree that whoever's name I pulled was a lucky duck, whoever's name Tim pulled was, um, not so lucky. It reached it's nadir last year when Lindsey received a stream of chocolate covered sunflower seeds, and lip balm, and the like...and Emily would be surprised to even find anything in her bag. The straw that broke that camel's back was her finding a sharpened pencil in her bag after days of waiting for a treat. It wasn't a pretty scene. *

Eventually, I took matters into my own hands and started gifting to both girls, but it did sort of defeat the purpose of the whole exercise.

Which is what exactly, one might ask?

Well, it gets us all excited and in the spirit of the season. It's sort of like an interactive advent calendar, of sorts...counting down the days until Christmas. And it puts the emphasis on making someone else happy, which is key, I believe, and an important counterpoint to the ritual of writing up a wish list long before the decorations are even out of the attic.

This year is a little different. We've got Anna in the mix (she and I are a team), and the rest of the girls have the ability to walk into town and stock up on treats and surprises to give out-something they've already begun to do.

And so, with much enthusiasm, we drew names out of a hat today, and our holidays have officially begun. I even hung a few strings of little white lights around the house, and they give the rooms a nice warm glow.

I don't see us having a big, elaborate (read:expensive) holiday season this year. Our mindset (and our budget) just doesn't make that seem appealing. But I've got a good feeling about things. I think we might all end up appreciating the small, simple gestures and traditions that much more.

Enjoy your evening. Thanks for reading.
tt


*ps::Tim still points out that he did sharpen it, at least. Emily still points out that it wasn't even a "decorated" pencil, just a regular yellow one.
*pps::In Tim's defense, one year when he had Callie he painted a Santa in wite-out on a smooth black rock. Everyone made fun of it, but she still has it on her desk, years later.