Christmas Thursday John Lieb

[magus]

THEME:   ELF in hiding --- 8 of them!
   
GOOD ONES:    
Seasonal children's book…   THE ELF ON THE SHELF   
One in a shower   METEOR   
Gives a hand   DEALS [1960's joke: "Daddy, can I play with the kids outside now?"  "Shut up and deal!"]   
Big shoes to fill?   EEE   
The way it goes   FATE   
   
BTW:   
Star Wars letters   SDI [finally a Star Wars clue I knew right off]   
   
Lean- ___   TO'S [the term is "lean-to" without the -S so not traditionally allowed in Xwords]   
   
   
RATING:    
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun