Dear Santa ...

As we rolled into the holiday season, I was heartbroken one day when Mason came home from school and said, "Mom, someone in my class said there is no Santa Claus." As a mom, I felt horrible that he heard such a vicious rumor in his first grade classroom ... yet, as a mom, I felt horrible when I lied to him to keep on with the story of Santa Claus. 

Now why would he say such a thing? Doesn't Santa leave gifts for him on Christmas morning?

Mason told me his friend said it's really your parents that leave gifts, not Santa. And, the clever kid that Mason is, he told his friend that he gets presents from his parents and Santa! That's my boy.



Now that Mason can write on his own, a new meaning in writing to Santa has landed upon our home. I'm pretty sure he has sent Santa 1,374 letters so far this year, each time listing out what he would like for Christmas. Most days, I find sealed envelopes from Mason in the mailbox, waiting for the mailman to take them to Santa.

Little things like that just make me smile.



Imagine Mason's surprise when I told him I received an email from Santa just for him. The grin on his face as he watched Santa speak was unforgettable. And shame on me for talking as Santa spoke ... Mason shushed me about 37 times.



One of the things I have always loved most about this season is sitting around with nothing but the Christmas tree lighting the room. The twinkle, the warmness ... I'm not sure I can really put into words how it warms my soul.



We received a box packed with gifts in the mail the other day from my dad and step-mom ... or Mickey Mouse Grandma and Grandpa, as the kids call them. The distinction being that they live near Disney World. Anyway, the kids have been drooling over these gifts since the second we opened the box ... but they have been told repeatedly that they are for Christmas and that they cannot open them until Christmas morning.



The girls ... um, clearly they don't so much understand. After getting in trouble once already for opening two of the smaller gifts a few days ago, I found yesterday that they opened all of them ---> time out chicks.



The holiday season is upon us ... enjoy it while you can! Time outs and all.