Christmas!

Shortcake flew home to Chicago on Christmas Day (Santa was using the sleigh, doncha know).  (We've been over this; Shortcake is stationed in Chicago to watch over the kids to see who's been naughty and nice.  Not every elf goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Day.)

Merry Christmas from Chicago

And Chicago feels like the North Pole.  It's a high of 10 degrees Fahrenheit here.  This is how bundled Shortcake has to get when she leaves the house.

Anyway, Puncake picked Shortcake up at the airport and promptly took her to see Star Wars The Last Jedi.  It was quite good.  Shortcake recommends it.

Then Shortcake and Puncake headed home where Shortcake opened all her Christmas presents.

Look at those awesome Macy's pajama pants!  (That Shortcake hemmed while watching Miracle on 34th Street.)  Look at the awesome dinosaur Christmas sweater!  Look at that High School Musical mug! Look at this zen garden and adorable bonsai tree!

Shortcake got other stuff too - like gloves and earrings and books and artwork and stuff.  She's going to write her thank you notes today - because she was properly trained.

Don't worry, gentle readers, Shortcake got you some presents too.

This story made Shortcake cry.  And Puncake introduced her to these songs: "Elf's Lament" and "What do you get a wookie for Christmas when he already owns a comb?"  And this story made Shortcake giggle.

After Shortcake opened allllll her presents (it was a good year), she and Puncake drank hot chocolate while watching Elf.

Merry Christmas!  See you in 2018!