Santa Claus came to our town!!

We had a special visitor the day before we left for College Station..... Yup, the man in red paid us a visit. Stephen and I like to think that our kids just needed an added incentive to be good for just a few more days. His visit was AMAZING!! This guy was the closest thing I've ever seen to the REAL DEAL. His beard was real, his suit was beautiful and he had a perfect way with children. When talking with him on the phone to schedule the appointment he only ever referred to himself as Santa and if I didn't know the truth, I'd be a believer!!

All Christmas season Kaitlyn has been in this quandary wanting to know what is real and what is just pretend and she's been asking specifically about Santa Claus. Now she's only 5 1/2 and a very bright 5 1/2 at that but I didn't want to spoil the truth while she can still have the fun and magic that comes from believing in Santa so HIS VISIT came at a PERFECT TIME!!

She was thrilled to have him come and in preparation for his visit my kids compiled a list of questions for him:

1. How do you get up and down the Chimney and will you demonstrate it for us? (the Reindeer only go in the snow and so he hadn't brought them with him, they were at the North Pole resting and getting ready for the big night)

2. Who is your favorite Reindeer (it's actually not a Reindeer at all, it's a big animal that's part Moose and part Reindeer that helps Santa train the new reindeer to do their job, his name is Oscar)

3. Who is your favorite elf? (He then told us a story about a special elf, who's normal job is to paint the red stripes on the candy canes who once went out after a lost reindeer and found him by his bell)

4. How many elves do you have at the north pole? (2500, and they work all year long making the toys and treats for Christmas day)

He gave each of us a candy cane that had been made by his favorite elf and a magic jingle bell that if you rub it in-between your hands on midnight on Christmas Eve, then you would get to see Santa delivering the presents.

In total, his visit lasted about 30 minutes, Kaitlyn was the most eager to see him, she hopped right onto his lap. Sam and Lindsey both took a bit to warm up but they got there by the end. Of course they each had a turn sitting with him and telling them what they wanted for Christmas (these are very insightful moments as a parent--at their age, the list is always evolving).
After his visit, Kaitlyn asked: was that the REAL Santa? Well, what do you think? His beard was real, his boots were real, his suit looked real....YUP it was REALLY HIM! Thanks Santa (and Aunt Rachel for sending him!!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Hope this guy was as good to you as he was to us!!