Over the years, I have tried to make Christmas morning last a little longer by bring a little more fun into opening the gifts.
There’s always one gift that is the most important. The “I want “this”, if I don’t get anything else” present.
It’s always the last gift to be opened, right? It’s hiding behind all the other presents in the back of the tree.
The kids always know how many presents are under the tree and who they are for. And how many for whom. And they are surprised to find a present that they DIDN”T know about.
Several times over the years I have wrapped boxes that held only a note. Usually that note led them on a wild goose chase all over the house.
From the tree, to another wrapped box with a note that led them to somewhere else. Maybe the freezer, the washer or dryer, in the oven or maybe even into their own bedroom. Leaving them to wonder how that got there.
And sometimes outside where my youngest son found his dirtbike hiding in the shed.
It is a lot of fun!
A few years ago my Father-in-law started a goose chase of his own, but with a different twist.
Each note is a poem written by him, and a clue. So not only are you sent to find the other box, but you have to figure out where it is.
Or maybe you just have to guess what the gift is before you can open it.
The whole family gets involved in the hunting or guessing. There is much laughter.
It continues the moring with more happiness than it began with.
And there’s always the little box wrapped in a bigger box and a bigger box………
I have done that several times, too.
The poem guessing also works well with birthdays.
Recently, on The Captain’s birthday, he was given a wrapped shoe box. Attached to it was a poem.
Inside, was another poem.
Both giving hints to what and where his gift actually was.
Maybe this Christmas you can add a little laughter to your morning by wrapping boxes for a wild goose chase.
Or if you’re good with rhyming words you can add a little more twist to your chase.
But, however you do it,
HAVE FUN IN THE MAKING AND THE CHASING!
Twisted Fencepost 