Letters from a Christmas Elf: Unexpected Humor for any Season

Parenting with Love and Logic meets Erma Bombeck. A humor book for the whole family that will make your family seem normal. Letters from a Christmas Elf: Unexpected Humor for any Season is 25+ years of real Christmas letters chronicling the witless antics of an ordinary family -- resulting in extraordinary humor.

One of Santa’s trusty Elves is assigned to report on the Johnstons. He follows the lives of Kirsten & Kurt and their eight children, along with a few cats and a dog. The family has gotten older, but wisdom still eludes them as they continue to find new ways to get laughed at without even trying. These letters tell the truth most sane people won’t admit -- the naughty, the nice and the nonsense. Does this family deserve anything from Santa? You decide.

The Elf shares the following insights:

If You Let Your Kids Talk to Strangers, You Will Be Sorry

Kirsten had all five kids at Walmart. They came across a friendly man and Ellis (3) gave him a cheerful “Hi!” Then she really charmed him with, “You poop in your pants.” By this time Kirsten was frantically trying to leave the aisle. As they “raced” away, Ellis repeatedly yelled with increasing volume, “You poop in your pants!!!”

Fashion Advice From Your Teen Isn’t a Guarantee You Won’t Look Like a Fool

Kurt asked for Anna’s (12) advice about a new pair of sunglasses. A few weeks after the purchase, Kurt determined the glasses were unisex at best. He complained to Anna. She replied, “You brought me three pairs of women’s sunglasses and I chose the pair that looked best on you.”

How an Older Sister Can Torment Her Little Brother (without touching him)

One day Maren (16) was babysitting. She had a Sonic drink that she shared with Hyrum (6). With anguished tears, she told him the drink was only for girls and he was going to die. Skeptical, but worried, Hyrum said, “I’m going to ask Mommy when she gets home.” “You’ll be dead by then,” came Maren’s loving reply.

How a Younger Brother Can Torment His Big Sister (without touching her)

Whenever Maren (15) comes into the room, Hyrum (5) sings (to the tune of Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?) “have you ever seen a fatty?” Although he has never specified Maren as the fatty, she always responds by swinging him over the stairs by his feet.

Not All Skills Children Develop are Useful

Maren (6) won the Conversation Starter Award when she introduced herself to Uncle Aaron by saying, “Hi. I’m Maren. I’m the biggest barf machine in my family.” Daniel (18) learned to take a tire off a car. One day K&K received a phone call that went something like this. Daniel--“I think there’s something wrong with the van. The wheels are locked up. If I give it a little gas, the van won’t go at all. But if I give it a lot of gas, then it will kind of lurch forward. I took the wheel off, but I can’t see any problem.” Kurt--“Is the emergency brake on?” Daniel--“Oh. Um. Yeah that was it.”

Resolving Arguments

When the kids were fighting about who was the favorite child, Kurt settled it by saying, “I dislike all of you equally.”

Getting on Your Child’s Good Side Without Any Effort

Lily (8) said excitedly to Kirsten, “Daddy promised to eat school lunch with me in July!”

Childhood Love

Caprice (16) said to Hyrum (9), “So, tell us about hitting on Lizzy.” He replied, “I wasn’t hitting her.” Caprice challenged his claim to disinterest in girls. “I’m pretty sure you talk to way more girls than me and Ellis talk to boys.” “Yeah, because I have 6 sisters!”