Tickle Me Elmo is popular!

Tickle Me Elmo is popular with kids of all ages and the biggest kids of all ... parents! I've always been partial to red-haired people, so naturally I fell in love with Elmo; his hair (faux fur) is the reddest of the red! He's handsome, hilarious, and a big holiday hit! It's a joy seeing everyone laugh and have a good time with him.

I remember going from store to store in 1996 before managing to get the first incarnation of Elmo for my kids. I had to make five trips to only succeed in getting four Elmos, and I had to be pretty creative (sly) in getting the fifth one. It happened like this: I was out to breakfast after church with a friend and wasn't expecting to go shopping, so didn't bring my credit cards or much cash. As luck would have it, we passed a store that advertised they had Elmo in stock. When we went in, there was only one left. I grabbed it, then asked my friend to hold it while I returned home for my money. While waiting, she carried Elmo all around that store, with everyone she met trying to talk her out of it (even offering her more money than it cost). My friend held out until I returned with the money, and Elmo was mine ... er ... the kids!!!

Now, ten years later, this new Elmo, the most secretly guarded toy of this Christmas Season 2006, is a vast improvement over the first one: Three different tickle spots trigger rounds of infectious laughter and movement (see above description for more hilarious details). And best of all, the 6 required AA batteries are included. (No unexpected trips to the store on Christmas Day. ... YAY!)

Playing with this toy is a real delight, setting a happy mood for the entire Christmas Day. I join America in looking forward to the giggles and snickers on Christmas morning when the kids open their ELMOs. Of course, I won't see all of my kids open theirs since they're in their own homes now (with their own children), but we now have two of our grandchildren staying with us, so their laughs will brighten our day aplenty! And I'm certain some of the kids will bring their ELMOs with them when they arrive for Christmas dinner at "Grandma's."

Get your very own ELMO while it's not too late! But, actually, it's never too late for laughter, so if you miss getting Elmo for Christmas, he'll still be laughing ... ALL YEAR LONG.