"OK, I want the truth." Our 9 year old eyed my husband and me with a most serious expression. We were trapped at the dinner table with our accuser and his 14 year old brother as a witness. I looked to my husband's guilt ridden face. He wasn't about to say a word. The 14 year old was grinning his 'I told you so' grin. So, I was tossed to the wolf cub.
"Well it's true," I said. "Your father and I put the presents under the tree.... but we are doing it in the spirit of Santa Claus."
"?" The 9 year old stared at me.
"You should have seen us trying to stuff the piano down the chimney last year," I continued.
"Nooo!" he wailed as he writhed in his chair with a mixture of frustration and delight with our playfulness. His brother and father stifled laughs. "How did you get the piano into the house and hidden behind the tree last year?!"
*Silence*
"Well," said his father, "a magician never gives away his tricks," he grinned.
"Did you and dad carry it into the house?" the boy asked.
"Hah!" I laughed. "Your father and I couldn't carry a piano into the house on Christmas Eve."
"So what did you do?" The nine year old insisted.
"We hired some elves!" I smiled.
"Arrrrrgh!" he yelled and laughed at the same time.
After the laughter died down, we told our little boy that we are all part of the spirit of Christmas and now that he knows where the presents come from, he would also be responsible for helping bring the spirit of Christmas to others.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
Good answers! So...how DID the elves get the piano down the chimney? 8-)
ReplyDeleteHi Leenie! We had the kids help us build 'Christmas Mountain' which was where we put microphone stands, speakers and boxes of stuff that we had in the living room that I didn't want house guests to see. We covered this giant mound of things with two white bead sheets calling it a snowy mountain. Then we had the kids decorate it with Christmas pictures and ornaments. In front of that we erected our Christmas Tree. One afternoon just before Christmas, both of the kids had play dates at the same time. The piano movers were on call and came quickly. We took all of the junk to the basement and rebuilt Christmas mountain just as it had been but hid the piano beneath with a few props to give it the same shape. The piano was in the house several days before Christmas. The 14 year old said Christmas mountain was an 'ugly fail' until he saw a note on Christmas morning that told them to look under Christmas mountain. It was a Christmas miracle! Even the non-believer was truly impressed.
ReplyDeleteso sweet, i do miss these conversations of childhood and i love yours. merry christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeletebutternut you are so awesome dancing around the pivotal piece so cleverly and with a smile..........oh you! steven
ReplyDeletegood for you. when i confronted my mother, thanking her for the 'bobby sox' I had wanted that supposedly came from Santa, she denied doing it. it sort of insulted me, that she still tried to make me believe something I had naturally outgrown.
ReplyDeleteI love your Christmas mountain trick. What a clever idea. I would never have thought of that.
ReplyDeleteI also love the way you used humour to explain the situation.
We are Santa, but there are real Christmas elves. haha
Love it. The logistics of the Xmas piano. You trapped yourselves.
ReplyDeleteLoved your story, and the Christmas mountain tale. Now that my kids are grown I do miss those times when they were little, but that too is life.
ReplyDeleteCraciun Fericit (Merry Christmas) from Moldova1
That time always comes, doesn't it? You handled it beautifully! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI got asked a similar question a few days ago. Fortunately I was asked this by my youngest daughter who was easily convinced with a calm, matter-of-fact "yes". That was all she needed to confirm her belief... In a year or two I may need to spill the beans and come out with it. Until then she can just enjoy it :)
ReplyDelete