Last week at I was collecting my freshly cut pieces of chenille at Joanne’s, I heard the quick patter of boots and a little voice squeal, “Oh Santa, I’ve missed you!!”
I turned to see Ava embracing an Ava-sized Santa in the premature Christmas display. Seriously, I have hardly come to terms with the fact that Halloween is in two weeks. I’m certainly not ready to start Christmas preparations with the whole costume thing is still up in the air.
Ava does not share this sentiment.
“Oh Santa, Santa, Santa! I’ve been waiting and waiting for you! I’m so glad you are back. I’ve missed you so much. Oh Santa, I love you!”
At this point I think she may have kissed the doll.
She went on to tell Santa how wonderful he is and how she so excited about Christmas. Then she asked him if he was the one who put presents in her stockings. Of course, this Santa is a mannequin only capable of a prerecorded “ho, ho, ho.”
She abandoned the counterfeit and followed me through the silk stems with her trail of questions: “Mama, did you really put the presents in my stocking or did Santa? Santa came to my house, didn’t he? Didn’t he, Mama? I know he did. Didn’t he?”
I played dodge ball with her questions as I’m caught between my desire to uphold Christmas as a celebration of Jesus’ birth and my propensity to encourage her imagination.
“Is Santa really real? Did you see him? Did you help him put the presents in my stocking and that’s why you said that you did it? You saw Santa, didn’t you?”
Apparently, somewhere, somehow Santa heard this unremitting faith in his existence. It appears that he had done a little early Christmas shopping in London and decided to send Ava a pre-Christmas gift.
The boots have been on the move ever since.
Thanks to Santa Ava has a matching mackintosh and wellies that she will not take off.
And thanks to Santa, she’s now determined to “keep my eyes open all night” on Christmas eve.
I predict that we are going to need a large plate of cookies.
Well, for some reason the first two pictures did not load, but I loved the last one! And, so when did my darling little granddaughter start to love Santa? Isn’t she the same sweet girl who stared at my “pretend Santa” in our entryway each Christmas and run the other way? And remember how she would NOT go in our basement because she knew that crazy Santa was down there underneath a protective bag? It looks like she has come a long way. Now, since we probably won’t be in the states for Christmas, I offer to you to take this dear St. Nicholas to YOUR house and let her sing along with him!!!
Oh my, I truly want those boots and that coat too!
That Santa, you just don’t know what he’s going to come up with next! And planning ahead for Christmas presents too, that Santa is a planner:) I’m especially impressed with the plaid pants along with the flower motif in the last picture, it’s a perfect combo! So cute!
Love the raincoat and boots!
And tell Ava I have a recipe for reindeer food to help ensure Santa’s arrival on Christmas Eve.
I find that my children WANT to believe in Santa despite the fact that I’ve never said, “Santa is coming” or “Santa is real”. They ask like your Ava. I dodge like you. And they believe…I think.
Now, I totally perpetuate the belief in the tooth fairy. A kid has to have some magic to their childhood.
Take it from Santa, He really likes cookies
I forgot to ask, what are you making with the chenille?
I’m going to tell Santa I want a pair of those cutie patootie boots too! :o) Wow, she’s very perceptive to ask the Santa truth questions so early! We struggle with the answers as well…
Blessings, Whitney
If Santa sent me wellies that cute, I’d believe in him too.
Couldn’t see the boot photos but precious story! I opened Elias’ curtains this morning to view a snowy village outside. “I think I better go up the mountain with Papa and Farfar soon to get our Christmas tree!”
When my kids ask if I believe in santa my best dodge is “do YOU believe in Santa?” when they say “Yes! oh Yes!” (or whatever) I’m usually off the hook. tricky, but it’s kept me from lying so far. :o)