a pinch of homestead

Nim and Lil had just returned after reporting to Santa. They were a little tired from flying back through snow and wind.

“We have to come up with something really good tonight,” said Nim.

“I know,” Lil sighed.

Nim and Lil were disappointed. They had hoped their tricks and stunts would be special, but last night they heard that many of the other elves had done the same thing.

Apparently, twirling around the tree with a roll of toilet paper was an elf favorite.

Nim and Lil flitted around the kitchen, looking for inspiration. On the second lap around, Lil saw a bag of mini marshmallows and knew exactly what to do.

“Marshmallow fight!” she whisper-shouted to Nim.

Nim just had time to react as he dodged a mini marshmallow hurled at his head. He looked around wildly, searching for the marshmallows so he could return fire. He spotted them on the counter and the great fight began.

They got marshmallows everywhere.

Spilled on the floor.

Sprinkled on the couches.

Scattered on the stairs.

Lil rocketed around the kitchen, bumping into cabinets, marshmallows shooting from her arms like so much confetti.

She stopped to rub her head after bumping into a stack of red solo cups and a plan flashed through her mind.

Nim was still bursting with glee, flying wildly around the living room and pelting marshmallows at the stuffed animals on the floor. Quickly, Lil grabbed a red solo cup, a marker, some shiny red ribbon and tape. She stashed her booty by the stairs and flew back to the kitchen to finish preparations.

Once ready, she darted to the living room where Nim had just crashed to the ground, exhausted.

“Gotcha!” Lil giggled, pulling Nim by the arms toward the kitchen counter.

“What are we–” Nim began.

“Get in the jar,” she ordered with a twinkle of mirth in her eyes.

Nim, looking at the marshmallows in the jar, jumped in feet first and Lil poured in marshmallows up to his chin. She handed him a sign and placed a note on  the marshmallowed countertop.

If it’s Nim who you seek
Then go take a peek
He’s buried chin deep
In a marshmallow heap

Once Nim was settled and stuffed with marshmallows, Lil set to work.

She used a hole punch on the cup and pulled the red ribbon through. Then she taped the ribbon to the wall so that the cup hung down like a basket.

Leaving a bowl of marshmallows for the kids to throw in the cup, she gave Nim one last, amused look, and flew to her perch in the Christmas tree, waiting for morning to come.

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Nim and Lil were very pleased with the first day of the season.

The four cousins bounded down the stairs and squealed in delight when they found Nim and Lil hanging from the light fixture. All day long, the elves had watched the kids for good behavior (and bad) to include in their report to Santa.

Bella and Cheyenne both behaved and helped out around the house after school.

Bella watched Jacob while her aunt and mom made dinner.

Cheyenne played a game with Joe.

And Joe and Jake were…for most of the day…well-behaved.

After everyone in the house was fast asleep, Nim and Lil zoomed to the North Pole to report what they had seen.

As they waited for their turn with Santa, they listened and laughed with the other elves.

“And then, I sat in the fridge with my arm around the green milk!” said Iggy the Elf.

“I had fun ziplining from the top of the Christmas tree to the fireplace,” added Muffy.

Later on, after their chat with Santa, Nim and Lil flew back through the starry night, discussing what they should do for night two.

“Maybe we should add some decorations to the tree,” offered Nim.

Lil nodded happily. “Yes! We can add paper snowflakes!”

They searched for scissors and paper. They buzzed around opening drawers and cabinets, making a giant mess as they hunted.

Lil drifted into the bathroom and opened the cabinet under the sink.

“Nim!” she cheered. “I found paper!”

She flew out with a roll of toilet paper and whisked around the living room, a stream of paper billowing behind her.

Nim and Lil set to work on the tree.

Nim soared up, intending to place the roll on the top of the tree and twirl the paper around and around.

But…he got stuck in the middle of the roll and couldn’t move.

“Lil! Help!” he crowed. “I’m stuck at the top of the tree!”

Lil sailed over, flittering around Nim and howling with laughter.

“Here, let me help decorate. We will have to get you out of this pickle tomorrow night. Up here you’ll be able to see everything,” said Lil spinning around the tree with the toilet paper.

Exhausted from the work, Lil perched atop the fireplace.

They grinned at each other and settled in for the short wait til morning.

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“And now, the night we’ve all been waiting for,” Santa boomed. “Christmas Day is here!”

The exhausted Elves of Christmas smiled wanly at Santa, their hearts still full from the season’s joy, yet ready for a brief respite before the next year’s preparations.

“We have something special planned for today’s gift. A reminder of sorts,” Mrs. Claus said with a warm smile, placing a small box in front of each elf. “We would like you to leave this under the tree at each of your houses. As part of the program, we want to leave a reminder of the true spirit of Christmas for the kids and their families.”

“The start of a tradition,” added Santa, clearing his throat. He took a deep breath and began to read a poem aloud:

Your mischief may be fun
But remember everyone
That Christmas Time is more
Than presents on the floor
A King was born this day
In a manger filled with hay
Though He was very small
He’d come to save us all
He grew into a man
Who traveled ‘cross the land
He came to fulfill the call,
To save and heal us all.
So delight in all your play
Have fun planning every day
But each day remember this
It’s to Christ we owe our bliss.

Each elf sat with misty smiles as they opened the boxes. A small Fisher Price nativity set lay nestled in each box. Even Smarti, who rarely showed emotion, couldn’t help but feel the significance of the moment. They all looked at one another, each realizing they couldn’t think of a better way to end the season. Or a better tradition to begin.