Is It Christmas Yet?!?!?!

We had a great Thanksgiving. It was the first Thanksgiving in our ten years of marriage that we weren't either travelling or having company. Now, no offense to our family that we travel to see or host here at our home, but it was HEAVENLY to have a low-key holiday. We did drive to Baldwin City for Thanksgiving Day, where we obligingly ate way too much at Dad and Lori's (and had a great time doing it), but the rest of the weekend was "just us" family time...and involved A LOT of Mario Kart playing on the Wii.

Thank you to those of you who have been praying for us since our last post. Your prayers are making a difference and our spirits are lifting as a result of your kindness. Your continued support through prayer means so much!

Part of our Thanksgiving weekend involved pulling out the Christmas decorations. The kids thought this meant that Christmas was the next day...so it has been interesting to tell them, on almost a daily basis, that Christmas is still a little ways away. I love a child's enthusiasm for this time of year.

We were standing in the kitchen the other night getting ready for dinner. Connor asked THE QUESTION point blank..."Is Santa really even REAL, Mom?" I froze.

Some background...certain family members (who shall remain nameless) have given us some good natured trash for fostering the belief in our house that Santa is real. Santa was a big part of my family's Christmas growing up, and the year I found out that he didn't actually exist was DEVASTATING for me (it was the Christmas of my third grade year...I remember it like it was yesterday). So, I have allowed our children to participate in the "Santa rituals" that surround Christmas because it brought me so much joy as a child. What's the harm?

Anyway...back to the story....

Brandon and I looked at each other. We both smiled. We had talked previously about how this exact moment was going to happen anytime. I looked at Connor and then said "Daddy, what do you think?" Brandon said "No, Buddy. He isn't real." Connor smiled...like he had decoded a big mystery.

That night, as I tucked him into bed, I explained to Connor that Santa was just something fun...and that he should be careful about saying he wasn't real, because some children (including his sister) still believe in him. He asked "Then where do the Santa presents come from?" I shared that they came from Mommy and Daddy, secretly gleeful that at long last, we, not Santa, would receive credit for the REALLY cool Christmas presents he has been given over the years. ;) He smiled at me again.

While I completely understand that Jesus, not Santa, is the center of our season, having some good-natured holiday fun with the guy in the red suit has always been special (we throw out reindeer food and the whole bit). This is another sign that our little man is growing up...

Thank goodness the tooth fairy is real, right?