MOULTRIE, Ga. — Students in Cox Elementary’s pre-kindergarten program visited The Elf House Wednesday.

Gloria Smith, who created The Elf House, has mentored for more than 17 years at Cox, where she’s fondly called “Miss Gigi.” She’s also the author of a series of children’s books featuring Annie Elf.

Smith said her guest house is filled with lots of children’s toys and stays decorated with Christmas all year for children to visit and enjoy. Each child always leaves with an elf toy.

She read her book, “Annie Elf’s Christmas Wish,” to the children before touring them through The Elf House, where Santa Claus waited to hear their own Christmas wishes.

After viewing the house, the children came outside to see Santa’s and Annie Elf’s old fashion buggy filled with gifts for each child.

“Santa sometimes has to come in a buggy because there isn’t snow for his sleigh in South Georgia,” Smith said. “There was lots of joy on the faces of these children as they received gifts of bears, dolls, trucks and other toys that children love!”

Helping Smith were Mike Manning as Santa; Joe Smith and Patricia Toler as elf helpers; and Paul Toler as photographer.