HO HO HO

My little Santa baby. I let him wear this to school one day this week. I am surprised he was still there when I went to pick him up. I think he was passed around and made over all day. I am humble, but I must say, he was pretty stinkin cute in his Santa suit! I love the under shirt. Every good Santa wears an undershirt to conceal his arms….and every good Santa wears gloves.

I learned the undershirt and glove lesson the hard way as a little girl all dressed up in her plaid Christmas dress waiting to go on the Santa Show. Who from the Fort is reading this, smiling and saying out loud, “Oh, the Santa Show!!”, with a big smile on your face? Yep, I see ya! 🙂
That was the last year I truly believed in Santa. My Daddy had worked for the TV station and knew all the people there, back doors, etc. I was escorted in a door that the other children did not go into. In return for my Daddy taking a shortcut to the studio, I saw Santa getting dressed…only his bare arms. I knew he was not real. Santa would not yell “Hi, Bob” and my dad yell a salutation back to this man and not call him Santa, but call him by his real name (because it was habit, he had no idea what he was saying was making a lasting impact on his curly headed baby girl). I also knew Santa would not get dressed behind a curtain at Channel 5…and Santa doesn’t wear a watch. I did not admit this reality for two more Christmases. I was too scared to admit it…and I still never tell my Daddy I don’t believe Santa is real because I think he would cry… and people, I am 32!

So, now I have my own child and I find myself a lot like my Daddy. I love the magic and wonder of Christmas and I want my boy to believe forever! Santa is such a fun way to allow children to use and develop their imaginations. I love it. I remember asking my Daddy why Santa’s sleigh was not in the parking lot of the mall and he told me he parks it on the roof because it would get in the way of all the cars. I would always look at the roof after that in hopes I could see it. I trusted it was there.

Santa is a little scary for kids, but so magical. It is really odd if you think about it. They love Santa, but he makes them cry. Henry had never seen Santa until this week. He liked him until we walked away for the photo to be taken. I guess a hairy man in a big red suit might be a little much for a little tike like Henry. He will grow into it.

Henry loved the candy cane Santa gave him though. I love that Santa still gives a candy cane after all these years. The $5 Santa photo is now $15 or higher and the quality is much less than it used to be. I am so glad the candy cane has held on tight!