I'll sleep when I'm dead.

Our 2nd Annual Kid's Shopping Night is next Thursday and I am soooo excited.

First of all, we're holding the event on two nights to accommodate as many kids as possible this year.

Secondly, we have built a SPECIAL DOOR just for the occasion!

At first glance, it looks like a regular old door. But no! The Blackbird Elves have craftily modified it so that only the bottom half opens! Ha ha!

That's right mom and dad. You're WAY too big! There will be no sneaking in this year. 

See, the idea behind Kid's Night is that kids come with a budget (big or small) and a list of people to buy for.

Parents are shuffled off to the coffee shop across the street for a warm beverage (on us), while the kids shop the store and find great stuff with the help of our friendly elves (yep, REAL elves).

When the shopping is done and the gifts have been wrapped and tagged, we escort the little shoppers safely back to their parents.

It's a cool experience for kids I think.

Despite the trepidations of some parents, we didn't have any issues last year. 

The only piece of collateral damage was a half eaten Lemon flavoured Rogers Chocolate Cream that I found on a shelf the day after our first event. 

It actually made me smile, because Lemon is perhaps the most revolting flavour of chocolate Rogers makes.

So really, the culprit got theirs the second they bit into that nasty little morsel.

And I noticed that as soon as the kids knew their parents weren't around and that they had a responsibility to behave, they did.

It was fun.

Really really fun.

But back to this door.

It's going to be the coolest thing. It's not done yet, but we found the door at the old Flour Mill Sadie has been helping restore and renovate into condos (she even lives in one) and we cut the bottom half and added new hinges.

I still need to paint it. 

I'm going to pretend I'm an elf when I do. 

I think it needs curtains made out of things like boxer shorts and moth eaten grandpa sweaters and stuff. 

Don't you?

I'll just whip that up in my *ahem* spare time. 

On another note, we're also hosting a Men's Shopping Night Tuesday December 23rd from 5pm-10pm.

So, for all you guys who love leaving your Christmas shopping to the last minute, power to ya.

You wife gave us her wish list and Brad's got a cold beer waiting here for you.

xoxo Em