The Citizen, 2017-12-21, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017. PAGE 9.
Elf on a Shelf marks Christmas for Ansleys
Family time
The Ansleys of Blyth make sure to carve out plenty of time
for one another on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That
includes last year, when they moved into a new house and
all slept in the same bedroom waiting for Santa Claus to
arrive. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
In many ways, the most important
figure at the Ansley house once
Christmas rolls around isn't even a
member of the family.
The Ansley family's Elf on a Shelf
signifies the start of the Christmas
season at their Blyth home, even
though the festivities get started a
little earlier than that.
Every year on Dec. 1 the elf
returns to the family home. He stays
throughout the day, but then it's said
that he makes the long journey back
to the North Pole every night to
report back to Santa; both the good
and the bad.
The next day, he returns in a
Merry Christma
With greetings and gratitude from all of us to all of you at this
joyous time of year.
It's been a pleasure serving you, and we look forward to
seeing you again soon.
Chamney Auto Repair
Used Car and Truck Sales
38897 Blyth Rd., R.R. #1, Auburn
519-526-7283 or 519-440-7800
Proprietor - Eldon Chamney
different spot in the house ready to
do it all again. And while children
Mikayla, Rodney and Lexi certainly
enjoy the elf's company, others in
the house aren't so enthusiastic
about their new house guest.
Dad, Mike, personally, said he
doesn't know what all the fuss is
about and mom, Katie, said that the
elf, while a friend to her children,
can be a bit of a troublemaker and
pretty messy at times.
Mikayla confirmed her mother's
claims, saying that the elf has turned
up in some strange places and some
odd scenarios over the years.
The elf, according to Mikayla,
once built a slide in the house and
there was another time that he
constructed a toilet paper igloo in
the middle of the family room.
While the kids found it funny, Katie
said it was just one more thing for
her to do around the house.
But, it's all worth it, she said, so
that her children can have that direct
connection to Santa Claus.
And while the family's elf has
been known to be a bit of a
rapscallion, the focus really is on his
main job, which is reporting back to
Santa. All the kids agree that the elf
very rarely has anything bad to
report to the big guy.
Mikayla and Lexi said that they
produce good reports to Santa and
while Rodney chuckled a bit when
asked, his parents both said that he is
also the source of positive reporting
to Santa.
Christmas time doesn't start at the
Ansley house on Dec. 1 when the elf
shows up, however. They have to be
ready for him on Dec. 1 and that
means decorating the house, both
inside and out, in late November, so
the halls are decked in time for the
elf's annual Dec. 1 arrival.
That means that Mike, Katie and
the children are busy in late
November decorating the house,
putting up Christmas lights and
erecting the Christmas tree all before
they flip their calendar over to the
year's final month.
Katie said it wasn't until she began
spending Christmases with Mike
that she realized the virtues of a
traditional Christmas tree.
Growing up on a farm outside of
Bayfield, Katie said her family
always had cedar Christmas trees.
She knows now, she said, that cedar
makes for the "ugliest" Christmas
trees and hasn't made her way back
to one since.
That rigid decorating timeline
made for an interesting first
Christmas in their new Gypsy Lane
Continued on page 12
Royal Canadian Legion
Brussels Branch 218
Wishes to extend Christmas Tidings
and New Year Wishes to all its
members and faithful supporters
for all their work and support
this past year.
Best Wishes for a Happy 2018.
of giving
The Wingham BIA would like to thank the
community for their support of the North
Huron Food Bank. We wish you a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year!
Winners of the Wingham BIA Dollars
1st Prize - Mary Lou Cameron
2nd Prize - Bill Deans
3rd Prize - Carolyn Schofield
Back Row: David Miller, Jason Shipp, Gord Miller, Jon Miller
Front Row: Clarence (Fergie) Ferguson, Marg Miller, Carolyn Miller, Dawn Johnston, Roger Roth
All of us at D&D Glass & Mirror want to thank you for your business and support for this past year.
We look forward to serving you in 2018.
1st Avenue,
VANASTRA
LOCAL CALLS
519-482-7869
IF BUSY CALL
519-482-5816
WEBSITE
Andersen
YOUR AUTHORIZED ANDERSEN
WINDOW & PATIO DOOR DEALER
ANDERSEN"
Excellences"
DEALER
Come Home To Andersen'
dndglass.ca "Andersen" and the AW logo are
registered trademarks of Andersen Corporatio
PROFESSIONAL SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION