Believe

Our house is dripping with the excitement of the holiday. I can feel the electric energy emanating from my children. We are in the thick of the best stage, where everyone wholeheartedly believes that there is a Santa Claus living at the North Pole. I love it!

Lily is six-years-old (almost seven!) and is a complete believer. Santa sent them personal video messages this weekend. It is an amazing website that lets you customize a message to your child directly from Santa. After she viewed the message, she ran to her room and wrote a thank you note. She wrote: "To Santa. To Elf. Thank you so so so so so so much for my note. I loved it! Love, Lily Stivers" She left the note with our magic elf, Elf, to have him deliver it back to Santa.

I am hoping we have at least a few more years with a fully magical Christmas. However, Lily was asking some pretty serious questions after our face-to-face visit with Santa. She was wondering why his beard was fake. She is also wondering why the elves will not be making the camera that she asked for. She just doesn't understand why Santa would have to purchase the camera instead of his magical elves making the gadget. I don't remember giving her the idea that the elves weren't making every toy, but maybe I did. Either way, she is frustrated by the revelation.

On the way home from school today Drew asked me if Daddy and I would please stay up the night before Christmas and watch for Santa. He said, "It'll be dark, but maybe you'll see Rudolph's nose. You just stay up while I sleep and watch for him. That's when he comes. The night before Christmas day. The night before is when he comes. I'll be sleeping, but you might she him!"

I hope that everyone is enjoying the holiday spirit as much as we are this year.