This was my first year in the exchange and it was so wonderful! I had shared the experience with my two daughters who thought the whole thing was the coolest idea ever.

Our package arrived in a cardboard box which was beautifully decorated on the inside. This was one of the best parts - opening an unassuming box and having the interior lined with beautiful metallic wrapping paper, garland, a llama, and many, many wonderful little wrapped gifts!!! Whoever this santa was definitely went overboard on the presentation :)

There are a ton of gifts from larger to small, the coolest being a stove-top espresso maker, a brick of espresso, and a link to a youtube video for how to make cuban coffee. I yet to type in the youtube url because i just can't risk a rickroll ruining this for me.

My santa definitely put a focus on sharing food from his home in Miami - which I love. There are a number of foods in here which i've never run across where I live in Vermont: Guava paste, little Cuban meringues, and some sort of mystery dense crackers that were excellent in last nights chicken noodle soup.

Also, thoughtfully, our Santa thought to include gifts for the kids - hair bands, very cute calendars, and teddy bear change purses. The kiddos love them. The pictures here show most of what was sent, but a number of the smaller candies and gifts had already been whisked away upstairs.

This was a brilliant introduction to the gift exchange. I'm so glad we partook and look forward to doing so again next year. Thank you!!