Best present, with bells on

The Alexander Residence prize for the most magical present packaging this year, goes to....drum roll...Warner Brothers.

It was a few days before Christmas. My husband had just finished work for the holidays, we'd been to collect him from the station, we were starting to feel festive. On the way home we stopped at the sorting office to pick up a parcel. All the internet present shopping I had ordered had already arrived, so I had the feeling it might be something unusual. You know when the postie ticks both the 'too large' and the 'needs a signature' box that you're onto something exciting.

I emerged from the sorting office with a big brown box, and that's when I started to hear the faint jingle of sleigh bells. A magical sound that immediately woke my inner child. My actual children couldn't wait to see what was hiding in the box either. We peeped.  Inside was a hessian sack tied with red ribbon and a gold bell, with a label addressed to 'The Alexanders'. We took one look, our eyes popped, our jaws dropped.

 'Is it from Father Christmas?' my 5 year old whispered reverently.

I felt it was only right to tell the truth, although those few minutes of dalliance with the sack being from Father Christmas were rather lovely. I explained where it came from, and we started looking through the films and goodies inside.

It didn't take long for my 3yo to claim the model campervan from Scooby Doo, so my husband quickly removed the entire Scooby Doo back catalogue on DVD it was housing. It's a very special collector's edition which would make a fantastic gift for the Scooby Doo lovers out there (And quite frankly what self respecting child of the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, noughties or twenty tens isn't?)

Warner Brothers have classic Christmas titles for children: Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Polar Express, which we've added to our box of Christmas DVDs.

There was Yogi Bear (with, I might add, Mr Justin Timblerlake voicing Boo Boo) and the rather fab looking Scooby Doo Curse of the Lake Monster the live action movie. And although I don't let my 3yo anywhere near it yet, Ben 10 came in very handy when the older cousins were staying over. We've also fallen in love with Happy Feet again, and now can't wait for Happy Feet Two to come out on DVD.

My children are finally both old enough to both appreciate the magic of film, and these titles reminded me what an exciting part of family life that is.  I'm really looking forward to reviewing some Warner Brother's titles in 2012...watch this space.

Picture credit © Photographer Michelle Milliman  Agency: Dreamstime.com