Well...every year the Kaman family has their annual visit with Santa Claus. I really think we only have one more year doing this with the middle kid. He's about figured it out. He is entirely too logical to understand how this thing makes any sense...here's his questions..."how could someone really fit down our chimney? how can one man deliver all those presents? what is an elf anyways??" Well... Brian and I have always said we would not lie to our kids about this whole Santa thing...but Gracie and Bubs are still firm believers and I hate to spoil this for them...so I just run when Samuel starts in on his quest for the truth. Let's just get through one more year, please.
I know some folks really have a problem with the whole Santa thing but we find really no harm in it. And...I don't have a problem with folks that don't really get into the Santa thing. If you ask my kids they will tell you the REAL meaning behind Christmas. They understand why Jesus' birth is so important to us. We make sure to spend more time on the Nativity and we do have a very special Nativity play we attend every year and our kids REALLY look forward to it. This year it was quite special...it snowed on us while we were singing our Christmas carols that night...God made that extra special for us I think. Oh, and...the whole Naughty/Nice thing isn't a focus for us...only God sees our hearts and knows if we are naughty or nice...but here's the thing I DO love about our yearly visit with St. Nick...my child's own personality comes out when we go.
So this year is no different for my kids. Bubs was absolutely EXCITED! You would have thought he was about to be given a plate piled high with Chick fil a nuggets and fries. He was quick to climb right into Santa's lap and give him a hug, he quickly told him what he wanted for Christmas...just the TOY STORY 3 movie. As always, this kid never has a long list. Usually just one thing he REALLY wants. And...quite frankly he would be content to just get that movie. You know he'll get many other things. BUT...that movie will be his most favorite gift...you mark my words. That's why I love that kid! :)
Well Samuel! HEE HEE HEE. That kid cracks me up... he brought his list. He was so scared he might forget the three things he wanted to ask for...Legos, a Spy kit, and a science kit. He wanted me to hold on to the list while he saw Santa. Poor kid...his nerves did get the best of him for a minute. He stood silent and stared at the man in the red suit for a minute and then ...he remembered and proudly smiled at me when he finished. Gotta say...I love that kid too!
And then Gracie...Santa couldn't resist that sweet thing..who really can??? So, I told him she would most likely be too scared to sit with him, I mean the last three years of her life she has screamed BLOODY MURDER when she saw him. She had already told us she would NOT sit with him. So she held Bubs hand at first. He asked her what she wanted and then all that came out was "Barbie." She really wanted a Barbie Make Up Vanity. But she couldn't get it out...
Now, we had an AWESOME Santa. He quietly put his arm around her, talked to her really softly and picked her up as gently as he could and sat her on his lap. Can you believe she didn't cry but smiled so proudly at me and Brian. Santa said, "See Mom, she's not scared anymore." Well...so I love that kid too and my eyes started to well up with tears. You know that's not really what got me...it was thinking...she has just grown up on me. She's not a baby anymore. That really made me feel like crying!
But I must say that seeing those three kids smiling at me and running to give me a big hug when they came off that stage was enough to make me feel like the most blessed woman in the world. So...I look forward to this Santa visit every year...not because I just love Santa that much...but because I love those three kids and just when I think my heart cannot love anymore it just fills up again some how... So Santa makes me remember that my loving God chose me to be their mom and for that I will be forever grateful!
