santa, lists and reindeer food

Last year, our children were too young to care, notice or expect anything from Santa.

It was a good thing, since Husband and I still needed to get our barrings on the whole Santa thing.

Husband doesn't recall much of any Santa while a youngster, and says his family focused on the religious aspect of the holiday.  I, on the other hand, wrote lists, prayed lists, made cookies, listened for reindeer, stayed awake, snuck downstairs, and believed in Santa until somewhere near the forth or fifth grade.  We, too, focused on the religious aspect of the holiday, but Santa was very much the man of the holiday.  My heart ached a bit, realizing that Husband might not want to do any Santa with our kids, since I very much believed all those years, but as an adult, I want to pay credit where credit is due, and make sure the religious meaning is forefront amidst the rest.

Well, we didn't have to make any executive decisions on the Santa issue, because come November, Brooklynn proved she was very much aware of the holiday approaching, and talk of Santa became regular conversation.

First, she brought me a color sheet with a picture of Santa's cookie plate and milk, and explained "this is what we need to do this year."

Then there was talk of presents.  Lots and lots of presents, so I decided she had to write her official list, and Asher, too.

Brooklynn 4 1/2

Asher 2 1/2

As if we weren't already bound to Santa by the lists,

Brooklynn brought this home from school:

Did you know there was reindeer food?!  Husband and I didn't, either! 

Along with the sending of the lists and making cookies for Santa,

we will also be feeding the reindeer this year!

And we are having such a fun time.

Here's to the real meaning of Christmas and a little fun, too!

P.S. Did you hear about the sale?