Here Comes Santa Claus...

With only a handful of days left until Christmas, the kids are beyond excited about everything that goes with it! Ethan has his school performance tomorrow, they are doing lots of Christmas related activities at school (which includes a party on Friday), they are excited to bake cookies and help with our Christmas Eve dinner, etc etc... (of course the presents too!)

On Friday when I was helping in Natalie's class, they were making a wish list using pictures they found in advertisements. Although I didn't get her anything that she cut out and put on this paper (she did cute out a picture of the table that is wrapped and behind the tree!!!), there are some very similar things that will be waiting for her Christmas morning!

I'm sure this was more for parents to see than to actually "send" to Santa, but Nat really really wanted to put it in the mail. I suggested that she write something on it before doing so, so it wasn't just a list of "give me's"...she was even more excited about this and ran to the table. I wrote down what she wanted to say so she could copy it on her paper.

Deep concentration!

"Dear Santa, I been good this year and I'm seeing you tomorrow. From Natalie"

On her way to put it in the mail.

This was the first time she's ever mailed anything by herself! From start to finish this was a letter to be proud of!

Waving to me, I think she wanted to make sure I was still watching her.

Making sure the flag is all the way up so the Mail Man will know there is a letter waiting to be mailed.

Very proud!!!

Of course you have to walk in the snow on the way back! Much more fun that way!

Saturday the kids were lucky enough to visit the real Santa! Not a helper mind you, the real thing! The reason why we know this??? Because we heard him taking care of his reindeer before coming out to see the kids, he took his time and talked to each child before moving on to the next, he was jolly and everything that any kid could ask for when seeing Santa!

She is just a little excited hearing him in the back.

Although he is bigger, and less willing to show his excitement, you could tell he was giddy too!

I love seeing the pure joy on her face!!! Ethan's too, if only for a second!

(This was right before he came out to see the kids, they could hear his reindeer in the back and the bells on his shoes ringing.)

It was finally their turn!

I wanted to take video of them talking to Santa, but after accidentally taking this picture the guy told me to put my camera away. :-(

After talking to them for a while and taking a picture, he reminded them to only set out two cookies (he has to watch his weight) and gave each of them some "Reindeer Chow" to leave out on Christmas Eve. He then told them that it was "treated cereal especially for reindeer, but don't eat it because your nose will turn red and you'll grow antlers...but if you accidentally do, don't worry it will only last for two weeks!"

Natalie couldn't stop talking about him after we left..."Did you know that Mrs. Claus is real??" "She told Santa that he was getting fat! That's not very nice!" "He told me I was on the very good list this year!!!" "We better not eat the reindeer chow 'cause we don't want our noses to get red...whats antlers??"