Santa Claus

A few weeks ago I was buying presents for something at church where families in need can buy toys for their children for Christmas at a greatly reduced price. Abigail saw the toys and asked who I was buying them for. I told her "I'm buying them for kids who might not get presents for Christmas." She looked at me with the most serious look and said "But mom, I don't understand. Why can't Santa just bring them presents?" We felt it was time to have "the talk" with her (thankfully it's just the Santa talk at this point...the other talk is still a little way away...I hope). We told her about Santa not being real, but also threatened her from telling her brother or anyone else who believes in Santa.

Well...when we were in Chicago my sister-in-law, Kelly, wrote a note and left it on our windshield, in a parking garage. It said "Dear Abby, I know you don't believe in me anymore, but I've been watching you today and you've been a very good girl. Love, Santa" Now she's a bit confused since she has no idea who wrote it. She's still not believing really, but the note just doesn't make sense to her. So now her big question is if he is real or not. We went to see Santa on Monday night and while she didn't ask him that question, she really wanted to. Henry told her later, "You should have just pulled down his mustache, then you would have known!" Ah, Henry, the voice of reason.
Johanna all adorable and smiley PRIOR to going close to Santa. At this point, while waiting to see him, she is saying "Santa, Santa" and pointing to him all excited.
And THIS is how she felt about sitting so close to the jolly man in the red suit.

We didn't torture her too long. Daddy rescued her and then Henry and Abigail got down to business asking him for American Girl clothes (for Abby) and Playmobil and Sharkbite Bay (for Henry).