Getting on Santa's Good List

It's that time of the year. EB has been busy writing notes to Santa, trying to ensure that she is on his good list. She does not have much to worry about, being the good egg that she is.

BBoy on the other hand, has been a big ball of explosive tantrums. To be sure, he's had moments of sweetness and redemption, exhibit below.

We will see what the Santa brings tonight. Will it be a lump of coal? Will it be the yellow car that he's wanted? Only time will tell.

A Star-Studded Week

EB had a star-studded week filled with personal visits from various Rise of the Guardians heroes.

It all started on EB's birthday--(Seven!!! Where in the heck did the time go!?)--when Jack Frost decided to pay us a big, big visit. I had not seen a snow storm like this since I lived in the Northeast over seven years ago.  Although our plan of celebrating EB's birthday at the movies and restaurant was completely shot, there was no disappointment on her part -- the kids had a blast playing in the snow.

Four days later, the temperature continued to hover in the mid-20s, with no sign of reprieve. We were all feeling a bit edgy--EB's school had been closed for days, BBoy's daycare was opened on a very limited basis, and K and I took turns working from home. At one point EB's sauciness got the best of her, and there were lots of talking back and tears. In order to redeem herself, she wrote a letter to Santa.

"Sorry Santa for being disrespectful to my parents. I should have been more nice to them."

The next day, K Santa wrote back (he's quick to respond, that eager beaver),  and EB found the letter while getting our mail (K had cleverly put it there while EB and I were out shopping).She ran back into the house exclaiming: "Mom, Santa wrote me back!" and began tearing at the letters before taking off her shoes and jacket. To EB's relief, she was given a chance to redeem herself.

Written by Santa's copywriter -- K

That very same night, she lost her second baby tooth, which meant a visit from the Tooth Fairy while Mr. Sandman sprinkled his sleepy dust.

The only Guardian that was missing from her week was the Easter Bunny. But Easter Bunny will have to wait for a few months.

Santa, Baby

"Who is this scary dude?"

I recently found this picture of EB, taken when she was just a year old. At this young age, eight out of ten Santa photo shoots end disastrously: screaming baby, cajoling parents, and a resigned Santa. In our case, Santa had visited her daycare for the photo opp, and needless to say, EB was terrified. As for Santa…just look at this poor devil. He’s ready for his next shot of Jack Daniels.

Fast forward to three years later, and EB is at an age where Santa Claus is THE MAN. During the few months leading up to Christmas, she talked about him non-stop, planning Santa's Christmas treats and “writing” him letters. While K had believed in Santa when he was a child, I was never taught to believe in Santa—and let’s face it, it’s the parents that are responsible for fueling the Santa make-believe fire. So I admit, teaching EB about Santa is probably more for me than it is for her.


Here is a picture of EB’s letter that she typed--strings of random letters and numbers that she typed into the keyboard. However, she made sure Santa saw all of her “good job” stickers she had collected in the past few months. It's a documented confirmation that she was, indeed, a good girl this year. The girl knows how to make her case--a future lawyer perhaps?

Proof's in the good job stickers

K and I pulled out the Santa Card too often this Christmas season, telling EB that Santa expected a final progress report from us before he determined whether or not she was gift-worthy. Once, during a particularly terrible bout of temper tantrum (legs and arms flailing, rolling around on the floor), K threatened to call Santa to report her behavior. EB shot straight up, eyes popping out, and charged K with such force that she almost knocked him over: “NOOOOOO…..DON’T CALL SANTA!!!! I’ll stop!”


EB was rest assured on Christmas Day, when she woke up with stocking full of treats that she had asked for (along with an electronic Dora toothbrush because Santa would hate for her teeth to rot), along with two gifts she had specifically asked Santa to bring (a train and a tractor), our gifts, and Grandma’s gifts galore. She was so excited that she came running into our room, eyes beaming: "Santa came last night!!!" 


I hope the magic stays alive for may more years to come. 

No more crying...

"Santa, I want a train and a tractor..."