Dear Santa

Natalee has decided this year to "do" Santa.  I'm not sure whether she really believes in Santa or she's just trying it out but we are willing to let her, whatever the case.  Mike and I have had many debates over Santa in our five years of parenting.  (Is it good, bad, indifferent?)  Previously we've just not really brought it up because 'make believe' didn't make sense to Natalee.  Over the time I've been home with her, Natalee's imagination has taken off and she has a lot of fun with it.  So, this year, when she brought up Santa, Mike and I just decided to let her (and, obviously, play along, while still focusing on the Reason for the Season).  Xavier doesn't seem to care much - I can't remember whether I cared at age 3 or not either, but at any rate we aren't going to ruin this fun time for the children.

The fact of the matter is - while I definitely see both sides of the Santa debate - Mike & I feel like we've made lots of hard choices in parenting (food, diet choices, health/medical choices, etc.) and this one feels harmless to us.  It's okay if it's different for you.  But this is where we are today...and truthfully, we're a little excited to play along!

Xavier has settled on a blue Ford/New Holland cab tractor and a trailer for Christmas but I doubt he gets a letter written.  Maybe mommy will help him someday. 

The other great thing about Natalee is that she rarely wants anything.  She doesn't beg, throw fits in stores, ask for material possessions...  We've raised our kids to be this way, however it made Christmas/birthday ideas kind of difficult for them this year!  I asked Natalee the other day if she could think of anything she might like and she responded, "I'll be five and that's grown up so I won't play with toys any more." {sniff, sniff}

We had a long chat about what she wants to be when she grows up {a mama} and I explained that she learns to be a mama by practice, practice, practice and that even though she'll be five (sigh) it's okay to play with toys still so she can practice being a mama.  

After that discussion she quickly said she might like boy/girl twin dollies for Christmas (thanks again to my cousin Shayna for having twins this year and exposing us to this fun world!).  But imagine me keeping a serious face when she looked at me dead pan, sighed, and said, "I know I already have dollies but when I take their diapers off I can't tell which is the boy and which is the girl and then they get all mixed up."  I see her point - I think.  So yesterday, I got the privilege of internet searching boy/girl dollies with the correct parts under their diapers.  We aren't embarrassed by her request - she's very matter of fact about it and it's not an obsession, just life. 

Daddy is making her a double high chair for her babies (swoon, we love daddy's craftmanship!) and I'm sure, like her mommy, she'll play with her dollies for many years (maybe even longer than is deemed 'cool' by society, but who cares about society anyways!?).