Animated Figures Add Smiles

One way to give a laugh to visitors at Christmas is to add animated figures to your decorations.

In our house, there's a unique cactus fellow in a green suit with large red and yellow polka dots who wears a big "sombrero" and a white and red striped scarf. He sits on the upstairs bathroom counter, waiting for his next "victim."

He sings in both Spanish and English every time something moves in front of him. If a drawer closes with a bang, the little figure starts to dance and sing.

"Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad y prospero ano y felicidad! I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, from the bottom of my heart!"

He's guaranteed to cause even the grouchiest guest to smile!

Then there's a furry Santa Christmas mouse, with long whiskers and green gloves, on the downstairs bathroom counter. Press his right foot and in a high-pitched, squeaky but sweet voice, he sings a cheerful chorus of:

"We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Please bring us some figgy pudding, please bring us some figgy pudding, please bring us some figgy pudding, and a cup of good cheer."

A gingerbread boy with bright red reindeer antlers from which green bells jingle, wiggles and sings. His rosy cheeks light up, too.
Here's the song he sings:

"Oooooo. I want candy. I want candy. Candy in the morning sun. Candy when the day is done. All I want to do is,candeeeeeee. Hey!"




Last, but not least, is an adorable reindeer, singing about how Grandma got run over by one of his own kind!

It's important to laugh, especially when the stress of the holiday frenzy gets you down. So what'll it be? Mouse? Reindeer? Gingerbread boy or cactus man with the sombrero?