Although it hasn't yet become an every year tradition, my Mom's siblings have had a couple of really great holiday get-togethers in recent years which culminate in a white elephant gift exchange.  Everyone sits in a semi-circle, and the first person picks and unwraps a gift.  The next person can either steal an opened gift, or choose an unopened gift from the pile.  A gift can be stolen for a maximum of 3 times, and the person who has been stolen from may not immediately steal back the gift they just lost. 


A couple of years ago, I recall an air compressor being a highly desired gift.  My parents had it, and my strategy was just a bit off...I was the second to steal it (from my Mom), thinking they couldn't take it back from me.  However, Mom stole Dad's gift, and Dad then stole the air compressor from me...I may have the details a little confused, but that's sort of how it went.  It was fun. 

We were able to all get together again this year, and somehow I ended up first in the order.  The person who goes first has the luxury at the end of stealing any other gift if they so choose, with the exclusion of those that have thrice been swiped.  My original pick, a lovely gift bag, and the contents, a luxurious burgundy shawl...very nice, just the thing for chilly nights with wakeful tots.  As the game proceeded, there were some fun things, but nothing much caught my eye...until the next to the last...my cousin's hubby opened up what appeared to be a very heavy duty vacuum cleaner.  Mine was having problems the couple of days before, and we were faced with a potential purchase, so I could hardly contain my excitement.  "Yes!"  I started to nicely fold up the shawl, replacing it in the bag.  And I stole the vacuum!

Other fun little things happened in the exchange, including another cousin's wife trying to talk others into stealing the stereo receiver and speakers she had gotten...my hubby is tonight enjoying near surround sound quality football, thanks to his astute trade.  My Dad swapped out his gift, a bath and beauty sort of set, for the shawl.  Guess what I opened up on Christmas night at my parents' house?  The perfect shawl for wakeful nights with restless tots.  And it's come in handy, let me tell you.  It's NOT going into the pool of gifts next time, no siree, it's staying here!

As for my vacuum...I should have examined a little more carefully...the name inside the box?  Bissell.  Not a vacuum.  A carpet cleaner.  Still, a very useful gift in a house of messies, but, it was definitely not what I thought.  Fortunately, hubby discovered where our vacuum was shorting out and replaced the cord, so we can keep things semi-tidy.  I just have to figure out storage.