So Carole and I will be around to help celebrate with Antonia, my 6 1/2 year old niece. I bought her eight presents; Channukah isn't as commercial as Christmas so we exchange smaller gifts and mainly the first night or two, with the equivalent of stocking stuffers the other nights.
Plan: Make eight envelopes, each with a note and colored dots. The colored dots match up with the real gift which will be hidden somewhere (or at least otherwise undistinguished).
And for each gift, I have written a Channukah Chaiku. I may change these by the time we leave, but at the moment:
Forehead light straps on
Light emitting diodes charge
Darkness to banish
Bright color when wet
Free the imagination
Live in the moment
Spirit wolf message
with Love from Minnesota
Constant reminder
An architect's dream
Holds Torah and Menorah
In wingéd word
Deal with the results
Minnesota memories
A trick is a treat
Stuff from your pocket
Pencils and coins and earrings
All in one safe place
An eagle soars high
Your thoughts take wing as you write
Let the ideas flow
It is said moose poop
Is not all that it may seem
That is up to you
I also got gifts for other family members, but haven't written their chaikus yet.