Happy Holidays to everyone!
Some of you may recall that last year our daughter, Jay-Bean, was a roiling tempest of questions about Santa Claus. It was also the year that she decided she would stay up all night to see him. All of this inquisitiveness piqued the interest of the "man in red". To answer many of her questions, he left a special book about himself and his history. Then, because Jay-Bean could not stay up to see him, he set the timer on our digital camera to snap a shot of himself in action.
Beyond the traditional milk and cookies, Jay-Bean had added carrots for the reindeer. Santa's note the next morning thanked her for thinking of the reindeer, and mentioned that Comet, in particular, thoroughly enjoyed the treat. Jay-Bean was ecstatic! We all anticipated what may come for the holidays of 2007.
Flash forward a year to December 24th, 2007. It's 7 o'clock in the evening. 6-year-old Jay-Bean and 17-month-old brother Kieran warm in new flannel pajamas. Glittery reindeer food has been tossed out over the grass and walkway outside our apartment. Freshly baked sugar cookies, still warm from the oven, are arranged neatly on the plate reserved especially for this annual occasion. A glass of milk is promised to be set out after bedtime (we wouldn't want it to go warm before he got here, after all). Satisfied that all is in order, Jay-Bean sits to write her welcome letter to Santa...
She had barely gotten "Dear Santa" on the page when she blurted out, "We need to put carrots out!" My wife and I looked at each other. We had no carrots and every produce store in driving distance had closed early for the holiday.
Understanding Jay-Bean's need to take care for Santa's animals, we knew we couldn't just tell her they'd be fine with the glittering oats we had left outside. My wife rummaged through the kitchen and produced an apple to offer up as a substitute. Jay-Bean accepted it and went to writing. She specified in the note that the apple was "for Rudolph to share with his friends". She thoughtfully set the note beside the cookies and apple, then went to bed.
When Jay-Bean awoke Christmas morning, she discovered a letter from Santa that thanked her for the milk and homemade cookies. He also thanked her, on behalf of Rudolph, for the apple. He explained to her that Comet had apparently been expecting more carrots; however, Rudolph had shared the apple, just as she had instructed (much to Jay-Bean's delight). They all enjoyed the extra snack on such a busy night.
Santa wrote that Rudolph wanted to come in to thank Jay-Bean personally for being so kind, but--being the good girl she is--she was already asleep. Instead, Santa thought Jay-Bean might enjoy a picture of Rudolph that she can keep. He left it for her in her stocking. Thankfully, he had used our camera again, so that I might pass it along to you digitally.
Our ever-observant daughter was quick to point out the half-eaten apple among the glittery reindeer oats she had tossed around earlier that night.
Some of you may recall that last year our daughter, Jay-Bean, was a roiling tempest of questions about Santa Claus. It was also the year that she decided she would stay up all night to see him. All of this inquisitiveness piqued the interest of the "man in red". To answer many of her questions, he left a special book about himself and his history. Then, because Jay-Bean could not stay up to see him, he set the timer on our digital camera to snap a shot of himself in action.
Beyond the traditional milk and cookies, Jay-Bean had added carrots for the reindeer. Santa's note the next morning thanked her for thinking of the reindeer, and mentioned that Comet, in particular, thoroughly enjoyed the treat. Jay-Bean was ecstatic! We all anticipated what may come for the holidays of 2007.
Flash forward a year to December 24th, 2007. It's 7 o'clock in the evening. 6-year-old Jay-Bean and 17-month-old brother Kieran warm in new flannel pajamas. Glittery reindeer food has been tossed out over the grass and walkway outside our apartment. Freshly baked sugar cookies, still warm from the oven, are arranged neatly on the plate reserved especially for this annual occasion. A glass of milk is promised to be set out after bedtime (we wouldn't want it to go warm before he got here, after all). Satisfied that all is in order, Jay-Bean sits to write her welcome letter to Santa...
She had barely gotten "Dear Santa" on the page when she blurted out, "We need to put carrots out!" My wife and I looked at each other. We had no carrots and every produce store in driving distance had closed early for the holiday.
Understanding Jay-Bean's need to take care for Santa's animals, we knew we couldn't just tell her they'd be fine with the glittering oats we had left outside. My wife rummaged through the kitchen and produced an apple to offer up as a substitute. Jay-Bean accepted it and went to writing. She specified in the note that the apple was "for Rudolph to share with his friends". She thoughtfully set the note beside the cookies and apple, then went to bed.
When Jay-Bean awoke Christmas morning, she discovered a letter from Santa that thanked her for the milk and homemade cookies. He also thanked her, on behalf of Rudolph, for the apple. He explained to her that Comet had apparently been expecting more carrots; however, Rudolph had shared the apple, just as she had instructed (much to Jay-Bean's delight). They all enjoyed the extra snack on such a busy night.
Santa wrote that Rudolph wanted to come in to thank Jay-Bean personally for being so kind, but--being the good girl she is--she was already asleep. Instead, Santa thought Jay-Bean might enjoy a picture of Rudolph that she can keep. He left it for her in her stocking. Thankfully, he had used our camera again, so that I might pass it along to you digitally.
Our ever-observant daughter was quick to point out the half-eaten apple among the glittery reindeer oats she had tossed around earlier that night.
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