Santa: Caught in the Act

We had a lovely Christmas. Here is a photo I snagged of Santa in our house filling up the stockings, and leaving Kate some presents.

Ward Christmas Breakfast

We have two favorite events around Christmas time-The Relief Society Christmas Dinner and the Ward Christmas Breakfast. This year neither disappointed. Here are some pictures from the Ward Christmas Breakfast.

I love that Kate is old enough to love Santa and not cry on his lap. First, she gave him a big hug...

Her nod of assent that she had been a good girl followed with Santa's second, and more favored question, "What would you like Santa to bring you this year?" Kate grinned and whispered, "Tiana Dress up."

Of course, in childlike fashion, Kate told me yesterday, after Tiana dress up being the thing she wanted for a month, that she wanted Santa to bring a bike-you know the one at Costco that they leave out for all the kids to try out in the toy section. I told her that she already asked Santa for the dress up and she said that he could bring her both. Right. Santa might disappoint this year because I already know he isn't buying her a bike.

Kate, still star-struck from seeing and sitting on Santa, went into breakfast and afterwards performed in the nativity with all the other children. She was one of the angels. Suddenly a man, dressed in all white steps up to the microphone. Kate pointing, whispers audibly, "Is that Santa?" I motioned her to come to me and whispered back that he was playing the role of the Angel Gabriel.

Maybe she has a good memory. This year's Angel Gabriel played Santa at last year's Christmas Breakfast. That is the same wig and beard.

More of the nativity.

These kids were so reverent. At the end of the program someone had to tell them to go ahead and be noisy children again. I really enjoyed having a child old enough to really participate. Kate is singing all the songs and making everything quite merry over here.

I quizzed her last week at bedtime, not knowing what to expect. She was talking about gifts and I asked her what the real gift of Christmas is. She said, "Jesus!" I thought it was a fluke so I asked her who gave us Jesus as a gift and she said, "He-men-ly Fah-ver!" {That's 'Heavenly Father' for those who don't understand Kateese} We were on a role so I thought I would just try for one more and asked, What did Jesus do for us?" And she exclaimed, "He died on the cross and was resurrected!" {surprisingly she says resurrected perfectly-go figure} Good job, Kate, That's 100% on your Christmas pop quiz!

She's also been receiving special gifts from a secret Santa. Santa comes pretty much everyday, night or morning, and rings the door and magically disappears. So far, Kate's received a pre-lit, three-foot tree, ornaments, Santa socks, a Christmassy headband, window stickers, a snow globe, and a few other things. I have my suspicions as to who Santa is-but I could be wrong. So whoever Santa is, thank you for making this a really special Christmas.