Wordless Wednesday: Merry Christmas!

Okay, not quite "Wordless" --

The boys and I went to the mall yesterday so they could see Santa. We were trying to decide if this was a Santa Helper or the Real Santa while we waited.

When we got up there, Santa told the boys to "Be good so they would STAY on the Good List."

Josh was so excited because Santa told him he was on the Good List!!! He said,

"Mom, this must be the REAL Santa because only the Real Santa knows who's on the Good List!"

Today we're busy getting ready for the "Big Day!" We're Tracking Santa all day and then off to see "The Tale of Despereaux" this afternoon. We read the book and are so excited to see the movie. The book has made it up to one of our all time favorites! Hope the movie doesn't disappoint!

Merry Christmas everyone!




More Wordless Wednesday here!

The Santa Dilemma

Sam, at 4, is at the perfect age for Christmas this year.

He's old enough to remember a bit about last year; he's excited about all the lights and the decorations.... We watch Christmas TV shows and movies and sing Christmas songs all the time! And he's so excited about Santa.

Every thing he sees on TV, he's asking Santa for. We've had to do some serious expectation setting this year (for both boys). He's narrowed down his list, but still... It's exciting to see him so enchanted by the whole Christmas Spirit.

But, then enter Josh. He's seven. He's in the second grade. Last year someone in his class told him there was no Santa. He said this boys mom said "Santa" was the parents. (This is the same mom that didn't call me when Josh broke his arm at her house earlier this year so she was already not high on my list.)

Luckily, Josh didn't believe him because we can watch Santa on the computer! Thank you Norad Santa Tracker!

But this year, he came home from school and said there are more kids in his class that don't believe.

And he's talking about this in front of Sam.

We've been able to laugh with him about how ridiculous those kids in his class are and say, "Well of course there's a Santa!" I think he still WANTS to believe, but the time is coming... very soon... when he won't believe any longer.

I don't want this knowledge to ruin the magic for Sam. Realistically, you only have a handful of years, maybe 3 or 4, for the whole "Santa" thing with the kids when they really and truly believe.

Rich and I have talked about what to do and say to Josh. Do we tell him? It would crush him. If he brings it up again, do we pull him aside and tell him to stop talking about it in front of Sam? Because it's just not fair to Sam to take the magic away this soon. We can't ignore it and hope it goes away, because it won't.

This is our last year with Josh believing. I don't want it to be Sam's last either.

TGIF!

It's amazing how much there is to do this time of year! I have been so busy doing nothing that my head is spinning!

So, this week Sam and I had a Christmas Party with one of the Mom's Groups I belong to. It was lots of fun. I picked him up early from school and brought him over.

He was so busy playing that I had to force him to sit down and eat some lunch! Thankfully, there was Pizza there -- I think that may be his most favorite food ever! I can always get him to eat that. And grapes.

Anyway, the party was lots of fun. Mary did Story Time...


She's going to kill me for posting this!

Her son Jack and Sam played together very nicely. Of course there were several photo ops of them playing really well, but as soon as I got my camera, they broke up. Here's the one picture I did get.



The only thing that tore them away from that toy was a visit from "The Big Guy."



He looks a bit "shy" in this picture, but he was really excited. He ran right up to Santa and stared talking to him and asking him for his "Big GeoTrax" (which today he told me he no longer wants.... too bad kid!)

Jack then decided to entertain us all with some Karaoke...





He's a trip! So funny and cute and he rivals Sam for "Pickelpotamus" status! It's no wonder the two of them get along so well.



Yesterday, Josh came home from school and announced that a kid in his class doesn't believe in Santa!!!! He told Josh that the Mom's and Dad's put the presents out and pretend to be Santa. He couldn't believe this boy would tell him that!



He said, "But Mom! We know Santa's real, don't we?"



I said, "That's right! Poor (boy's name) he won't be getting any presents from Santa because Santa only brings gifts to who believe."



Josh: "Yeah, and do you know HOW I know he's real? The Santa Tracker on the computer!"



I have to tell you I was so upset after this conversation! I mean, I know he's a smart kid and I know this is probably the last year for him to believe, but I was hoping it would last just a bit longer!



I think he wants to still believe this year so he does. Next year I think he'll start to have his doubts.



It's so much fun to see how excited the boys get about seeing Santa and writing him letters and leaving Reindeer food out on Christmas Eve. And to see how their eyes light up on Christmas Morning when all the presents are under the tree...



I guess this year we'll just have to enjoy it and hope next year we can keep the magic alive... and keep it going for Sam as long as possible.

Off to see Santa

We went to see Santa on Tuesday. The boys have been very good this year and wanted to make sure Santa knew exactly what they wanted.

Sam's been very excited and has been asking for the "Big GeoTrax" ever since we saw them at W-mark a few weeks ago. What can I say. He loves trains. And goodness knows you can never have too many! Right Grampa?

On that same visit, Josh found this: The Pokemon Battle station. He's been very excited about it and can't stop talking about it. There are a few things here, that need to be noted.

First off, if you look, you will notice it only has 1 star from customer reviews. Granted there are only 3 reviews (on this site) but all of them talk about the poor quality of the product, how their children were disappointed and even one mentions they took it back. I found similar reviews on other sites.

So normally, if the quality is a bit poor and it's something that the boys really like and the price reflects the workmanship, I may "give." But this? It's $50 (almost)! I have no problems spending money on Christmas presents for my kid but this combined with the poor reviews, I cannot justify "Santa" bringing this for him. He's already getting a DS Lite and Pokemon Game (from us), which was about $200 all up.

So now, we have to figure out a way to "Change his mind" about the ONLY thing he's asked Santa for. I think Rich will be able to change Josh's mind. He's good at reasoning with Josh. I just don't want him to be disappointed in that toy. It looks cheap and from the reviews, apparently it IS cheap!

Anyway, here are the pictures of the boys meeting Santa. Sam, you will notice, is carrying his Winnie the Pooh. This is his favorite thing at the moment and will go nowhere with out it. My Aunt Mary & Uncle John gave it to Josh when Josh was born. Josh never really cared for it but Sam LOVES it! Thank you Aunt Mary & Uncle John!



Sam was a bit nervous.



They had to take about 8 pictures of the boys before they were both looking. This was the best of the bunch! Feel free to laugh!