On the 22nd day of December…..a memorable Mickey gift

For today’s Daily December christmas blog post, I want to share a memorable gift we gave the kids 3 years ago.

As well as gifts from Santa, our kids also get something from us. This particular year we just told them that we were getting them a surprise. Our usual routine here on Christmas morning is to go downstairs together and open the Santa gifts and stockings. Then we get breakfast and get dressed, and then hand out the family presents.

We presented our kids with a box, which had a jingly bell rattling inside. The kids were intrigued, and guessed maybe a puppy or kitten with a bell on it’s collar. Fortunately for us (and any puppy or kitten which by then had been shaken vigorously) it was not a pet.

They opened the box, and just as I hoped it would, out floated a Mickey Mouse helium balloon with a note and bell attached. The note said “Can you guess where we are going?”

I love the look of realization on their faces.

In 10 days from Christmas Day we were heading across the Atlantic to see Mickey and friends at the Magic Kingdom, WDW, Florida.

The kids loved both the surprise and the way it was delivered. After they returned to school, our eldest wrote us a thank you letter as part of an english lesson. Her letter included the phrase “I didn’t think you could get a holiday in a box!”

Here are a couple of layouts from that great holiday.

It was certainly one of their most memorable Christmas gifts.

What is the best surprise gift you have ever given or received? I would love to hear.