Last Saturday was a special day..... Santa came to visit! This visit is extra special because he brings REAL toys, (not just some lame candy cane, to quote my ever articulate 8 year old.)

Santa coming to our family party and bringing a preview of things to come has been a tradition since I was a kid. Totally the highlight of the Christmas season, minus Christmas itself, when you are little. A chance to play with cousins and run around a church like a crazy maniac,, followed by a real present from Santa, what could be better?!

The entertainment for me this year was watching my kids sit on Santa's lap. Not because sweet memories of nostalgic childhood flooded my mind, (although a few did sneak their way in,) but more because I knew exactly what they were thinking and it cracked me up.

Here is Kaden.

First of all, I can't believe his feet almost touch the floor. Where did my baby go? Second, what 8 year old wants to sit on someones lap? Notice where his eyes are focused. I am sure this mantra is running through his head, "just keep your eyes on the prize...... eyes on the prize....." We had to have "the big Santa talk" with Kade this year. It broke my heart to do it, but he was asking too many questions, I felt like I was lying to cover lies. He didn't take it well. Poor guy cried and cried until we told him that even though Santa is not a person, he is still real and if you don't believe, you won't get any presents. That seemed to help. It's tough to grow up.

Wes is also at a really great age, but he still isn't 100% sure what is going on. All he knows is he sits on this strange dudes lap to earn a present. He knows that Santa is coming to our house and will bring us presents, but he doesn't really get the whole asking thing. His requests change almost daily. Currently he wants a brave, white dog that is really alive to be friends with Nora (our current, not so brave and not so white dog) and save "all the days." You never know what he will ask for, but this particular wish keeps popping back in. It is what he told Santa he wanted at the party. Santa said, "we'll see."

Lucy won't even sit on her uncles laps, little own a jolly, fat man with a huge white beard. We did not expect her to love Santa and she proved true to form. She was nervous the minute he walked in the room. When it was her turn, I, the mean mommy, made her sit there screaming so I could snag a few photos. Someday she will laugh at this picture, but today is not that day. We hoped that she would be a little more impressed after she opened her present......

She wasn't. Soon the words Santa and Christmas will send shivers of anticipation and delight down her spine, but like I said, today is not that day.

All in all a great day. I love watching my kids enjoy the same traditions I did when I was younger. Christmas seems to have a stronghold on all the good stuff and it is a great time of year to be a parent and enjoy your children.