🎲 Game Night at the Claus’s: Santa, Strategy, and the Great Candy Cane Lane Incident

July 1st • A Life With Santa Blog Post

Oh, my darlings,

Let me tell you something that might surprise you.

You know Santa as jolly. Cheerful. Full of ho-ho-hos and cookies. But I know him as something else, too—fiercely competitive when it comes to board games. Especially NorthPoleopoly.

It was mid-year game night at the Claus’s, our little tradition to break up the rhythm of toy planning and cocoa sipping. We invite just a small crew—usually Herman, Santa’s right-hand elf (and a selective vegetarian, but more on that another time), and a few others. But last night, it was just the three of us. And that was quite enough.

I personally chose to sit out this time. Not because I don’t enjoy the game, but because I’ve learned—after decades of observation—that my presence on the board only heightens the stakes.

Instead, I kept the goodie bowls filled: roasted nut clusters, peppermint bark pieces, and those little frosted gingerbread squares that taste better after 8 p.m. I made sure they both had cocoa in their mugs, and then I pulled up a chair—not to play, mind you, but to watch the mayhem unfold.

🎁 What Is NorthPoleopoly?

Ah, NorthPoleopoly. Think Monopoly, but with more sparkle, more sugar, and a lot more shouting.

• Instead of Park Place, we have Candy Cane Lane (and don’t even try to take it from Santa).
• Boardwalk? That’s Reindeer Run.
• Jail? That’s The Naughty Corner—and Santa’s been sent there more times than I can count (especially after questionable trades).
• Community Chest is Stocking Surprises, and Chance is now Elf Escapades. You never know when you’ll draw a card that says, “Jingles broke the sleigh again—pay 20 gumdrops for repairs.”

But I digress…

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🧝‍♂️ Round One: All Is Merry

Santa and Herman started off as gentlemen. Smiling. Cheering each other’s wins. Offering each other cocoa refills like they were in some 1950s television special.

I even heard Santa say, “Good job, Herman, you landed on Gumdrop Gulch! That’s a great property!”

I should have known then it was too quiet.

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❄️ Round Two: The Gloves (and Mittens) Come Off

Somewhere around the second round of property buys, Herman snuck in and bought Candy Cane Lane.

Without warning, Santa gasped—clutched his beard—and muttered, “Herman… you did that on purpose.”

Herman blinked innocently. “It’s just a game, sir.”

That’s when I began refilling the goodie bowls at double speed.

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🧊 Round Three: Cocoa Gets Cold, Tensions Get Warm

Santa refused to land on anything but the Snowflake Toll Bridge for four turns in a row.

He claimed the dice were cursed. Herman said maybe Santa’s “luck magic” only worked in December. I believe I heard Santa whisper something about “holiday betrayal.”

Then came the auction for Gingerbread Cottage. The bidding escalated from five peppermints to a week’s worth of dish duty. That’s when Jingles, our larger St. Bernard, howled from the corner in protest—and honestly, who could blame him?

I wiped my hands on my apron and said gently,

“Santa, wouldn’t you be a little embarrassed if the children saw you like this?”

He adjusted his spectacles and muttered, “Only if I lose.”

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🎄 The Final Turn

In a stunning comeback, Herman managed to collect all three Cocoa Cabins and added hot chocolate taxes to every one.

Santa, trying to land on Free Cocoa (the North Pole’s version of Free Parking), rolled a four. Landed squarely on Cocoa Cabin #2.

He had no gingerbread tokens left. His face fell.

And I quote: “This is an outrage. I invented Cocoa Cabin!”

Herman shrugged. “Play smarter, not harder, big guy.”

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🕯️ A Lesson in Love and Laughter

After a moment of silence—and some minor muttering—Santa leaned back in his chair, looked at the board, then at Herman, and said with a sheepish smile:

“I may have let the spirit of winning overtake the spirit of Christmas. I’m sorry, Herman.”

I brought him a warm cocoa with extra whipped cream.

He sipped, sighed, and added,

“I promise I’ll do better next time.”

To which I replied under my breath…

“Next time?”

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💌 A Note to You, My Darlings

It’s a funny thing, living with Santa.

He carries the weight of the world’s wishes on his shoulders, but the moment you pull out a board game and dangle Candy Cane Lane in front of him—suddenly it’s “every elf for himself.”

But that’s part of the joy of this life. Even in the off-season, we’re reminded how wonderfully human it is to laugh, compete, forgive, and share cocoa after a hard-fought game.

So wherever you are tonight—whether you’re rolling dice, roasting marshmallows, or just enjoying a quiet summer evening—I hope you find a moment to laugh, love, and maybe let someone else win once in a while.

(Just not Candy Cane Lane.)

With flour on my apron and a referee whistle in my pocket,
—Mrs. Claus