Breakfast with Santa

Today we had our annual Breakfast with Santa. My beloved fixed 24 lbs. of hand-formed sausage patties. The girls slept in late, meaning my oldest waited until 7:15 am to wake me. She and I had to make her letter for Santa Claus, which I secretly steal back from Santa after they walk off. She tells what me she wants, I spell it for her, and she writes it down. A slow process to say the least.

Her list consisted of a pink and purple unicorn (I'm assuming she meant stuffed, not live), a My Little Pony Barn, and a doggy wash station. None of this is what I have actually purchased. My younger daughter wants a Barbie, Barbie house, Barbie doll case and Barbie shoes. See above, with the exception of a Barbie case. Barbie shoes are like a little nail going into your bare foot at 11:00 pm when checking to see if the kids are still breathing.

I can remember writing a few letters to Santa, but I was never a true believer. At age 2.5 yrs, I asked my mother if reindeer could really, really fly She was afraid if she said yes, I would find out later she lied about Santa, and was probably lying about Jesus too. She swore me to secrecy where other children were concerned. I remember sitting in 3rd grade feeling very smug about my "insider knowledge." What idiots you are, I thought!

I find it difficult to lie to my own kids about Santa now. We are keep up the pretenses right now, but I may crack in a year or two.