Seeing Santa...

D has been particular since Ana's first Christmas to keep a sort of mystery around Santa, to let her believe in jolly old St. Nick who brings presents to nice little kids on Christmas.

Nothing religious, nothing complicated, just magical.

I fully support this even if I personally don't believe in Santa. I love the Winter Holiday Season, I love the spirit of the season that particularly inspires to share and give...

Each year, we've been trying to make it somewhat special for Ana around Christmas season - it starts with a visit to see Santa in person. Then comes the tree, and decorating the tree, and the lights outside the house... the smells of warm apple cider and crackling fire in the fireplace... we don't get a lot of snow here, but, that would complete the idyllic picture for me.

This year, we went to see Santa again, and Ana seemed confident and proud to introduce Oggie to Santa, not that Oggie understands anything yet...

Santa welcomed the kids, and the ones brave enough to sit on his lap even got some special message from him... also, Santa gave the kids an early present and the customary candy cane.

It was heart-warming to see Ana naturally ease into her role as a big sister and help Oggie open his present, after she opened hers of course, and show him how to play with his new toy; and, while waiting for Santa, it was wonderful to see her just pick up a little board book lying around and start "reading" it aloud to herself and to Oggie...

I am yet to get into the swing of things this season, am still recovering from almost 3 week-long bug and haven't made room for the tree and such.. perhaps by next weekend I can gather up my skirts and run full speed ahead...