TL:DR I have an amazing Santa. Skip to the last section called The Box is opened. Or really, just check out the pictures.

The set up: I got a message from my best friend's boyfriend that his gift to my girl this year is a surprise trip in January to Disney World and Universal Studios, specifically to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We are both big fans and had talked about going "someday." He wanted to know if I wanted to join the two of them, their daughter, and her mom. I cried, partly because I really wanted to but mostly because I couldn't afford it. I messaged him back and thanked him for the offer. So like any adult woman I ran to my mommy to cry on her shoulder. I have an amazing mother. She told me it was a once in a lifetime trip and offered to send me. I excitedly told him that I could go for part of their time there. But here's the deal, it's a awesome thing that I can't talk to my BEST FRIEND about. So I told my Secret Santa, who should be good with the secret part right. So I edit my likes to tell them about my trip and the secret and how I'm about to burst with excitement.

The first gift: I woke up a few days later to an email congratulating me on my elfdom. HOLY BALLS I'M AN ELF! I maybe cried. My santa set me up with six months as an elf and it was the day before my cakeday so I could give out ALL the awards! It was great. I really wanted to be an elf but it kinda felt selfish. One of those things you want but won't give yourself. So that was cool and if it had been the only thing they gave me I would have been thrilled. But wait there's more!

The Box arrives: I got a message that a box had been sent the other day and that I couldn't open it in front of my bestie. I did not know there was a higher level of excitement. My mom has slowly been warming up to the gift exchanges and this totally got her curiosity going. There is a small chance I checked tracking every chance I got. Finally this morning it said it was "out for delivery." Every time the dog barked I ran to the door, f you leaves. It was getting late and I had Christmas dinner at the SOs grandparent's tonight that I had to get ready for. So I left a note and cookies taped to the door to just leave the box there, because I wasn't going to risk having to go get it at the pick up place or worse waiting until Monday. I wait a bit longer than I should have and finally give up and go, because even if I get the box I don't have time for an unboxing. I pull out of the driveway and go about a block to a stop sign, look left, look right, look left again...mother funnel cake, that's the post man. I wonder if I just walk up to him, will he give me my box or will it turn into a breaking news situation. "This just in, local suburban woman arrested for demanding "loot" form terrified letter carrier, more at 11." Yeah probably best to just keep driving. Several hours later, I'm stuffed but still eating cookies and decide to check tracking on my phone one last time. Success! It was delivered to the parcel bin on the communal mail box. So no cookies for the mailman, but a box waiting at home for me. Fast forward to my arrival home I ask mom where my box is, she's all there's no box for you, and I'm all it was in the bin I checked tracking. That sneaky lady had gotten it and hidden it so I couldn't open it without her if I came home late.

The Box is opened: Spoiler, I cried. There was a card, oh cards are read first, grab. Big bold letters tell me to open my Hogwarts trunk first, toss card. Oh my word it's a freaking trunk, with stickers, Lockheart and the Weird Sisters and others. It's beautiful and perfect and heavy. I open it and there he is looking up at me. A Universal gift card with Harry looking all wizarding. But that's just a card why is it so heavy and full of tissue paper? I dig and find a wrapped object. As I open it it slides into my hand, gasp a time turner. Absolutely stunning, all the parts move, there's real sand in the hourglass even. I have an amazing Santa. My mother isn't as into HP but she was captivated by the necklace. The card is retrieved and read. The gift card has $25 for a round of butterbeers and the timeturner is so that we can do the park over and over again. There is also a big bag of rawhide chews for my dog Gypsy, who just threw up another sock and won't be getting her gift for a few days when her tummy is settled. These are amazing gifts and I love them, buuut I REALLY want to brag about them to my friend. My God, I felt so bad today when she was all "I miss you, you should visit." We live 2 hours apart and have conflicting schedules. So I replied with "after Christmas I'm sure we'll have the time and money." I can't wait to get the call from her Christmas day that he told her they are going. Because that's when I get to tell her that the butterbeers are on some stranger from the internet and we can ride that train over and over again. I have the most amazing Santa. Thank you Skylac so very, very much!