Do You Believe in Santa Claus?

I think I believed in Santa until I was 12.

I just knew he was real.

I mean it just didn't make any sense that he wouldn't be real.

My letters were never returned from the North Pole and the handwriting on the thank you notes left with the empty plate of goodies didn't match either of my parents.

And one year I actually heard the bells of his sleigh.

So logically Santa just had to be real.

I knew it, testified to it and endured the teasing of my friends that had stopped believing years before me.

I believed in Santa until one Christmas morning we were opening our gifts and my sister Tawny got my Donnie, New Kids on the Block doll.

I was devastated.

There is no way Santa would have made such an egregious mistake.

Tearfully I demanded to know the truth from my mom.

She tried to explain that sometimes Santa couldn't get us everything we wanted and parents had to help and sometimes parents makes mistakes. But I could see the truth in her eyes.

That was the worst Christmas ever.

Fast forward a few years.

I'm a mom raising a true believer in Santa.

Celia firmly states when asked,

"I believe in the real Santa, the real Jesus and the real Heavenly Father."

In her eyes they all go together.

The magic that is Santa is the same adoration she has for our Savior and Father.

They are goodness, they are love and believing in them gives her joy.

So this year, I believe in Santa too.

Check out the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional here.

Our Christmas Extravaganza

There's just nothing like Christmas! And boy does my family know how to celebrate! We had the entire Rolapp family and Jake with us for about a week. So, every night we had an 'event'. We decorated cookies, played games, ate, had a visit from Santa, ate, opened a ton of presents, and ate. Oh, and did I mention we ate?

Celia was so much fun this year. She just loves having people over. And an entire week of family and friends at our house until late at night was just her kind of party. Decorating cookies was so much fun. She frosts, then licks, then eats something, then licks more frosting off her finger. I had to keep her cookies in a special pile. Just in case anyone accidentally ate the slimy ones.

Christmas eve, we had a surprise visit from Santa Claus. (Thank you Trip!!) Celia was so excited she hid under the chair. Then she watched anxiously as Santa gave out presents to everyone. It was all she could do to wait patiently. As it took longer and longer, she whispered to my aunt Janae, "Do you think I'm getting one?" And she did! A real tea set. She was thrilled. But, then didn't know exactly how to play it. So Terry taught her all the ins and out of tea party. You have to keep the cup on the saucer and hold your pinkie just so. She was enthralled! Now we play tea party every day!

Shortly after Santa left and Trip magically appeared again, Celia was staring at him. Then she pronounces, "You were Santa! I know it!" Then since she knew the secret it was even more fun to play along with the Santa pretend. What a little smarty!

After much thought, Celia decided Santa needed a healthy snack this year. She put grapes, craisens and a banana on her Christmas plate then poured him a big glass of orange juice. She ate most of the grapes. But, said that it was ok because "Santa likes to share." Then I wrote while she dictated her letter. It's so darling, I just have to share it...

Santa-

I put this fruit on my plate. This is a healthy snack. Are you grumpy or happy? Am I on the good list? I didn't hit. I shared my toys. I sleep in my bed. I want ponies, dollies, boy dollies too, castles and princesses. Please. And armies.

Thank you!

Cecelia

Well, the healthy snack and note must have worked. She got a My Little Pony Amusement Park. And she loved it. She hasn't stopped playing with it ever since. And she even followed Santa's advice from his letter back to her and shared her new toys. Mommy gave her her own Book of Mormon, a cutting practice book and a keyboard with a microphone. Yeah, I'm totally regretting the microphone.

Grandma and Grandpa totally spoiled the kids this year. They got sleds, globes, new dress up clothes, snuggle blankets and these funny little headlamps. And I got new snow pants, coat and gloves so that I can play in the snow with Celia. Now, if I could just get over the cold I also got for Christmas, we could have some fun.

My favorite part of Christmas this year? Spending time with my family. I have to admit, I was very reluctant about everyone being at out house. But, I loved it. Laughing with my cousins and sharing this special holiday was just what I needed.

And my cousin Jake has decided to move here. I'm super excited about that! He'll be here next week. Yay! I hope we get to see more of him and his darling little girl Akira. Celia just adores 'little Kira' and 'big Jake". I do to.

The only thing that could have made this year better? No, not snow. We got plenty of that. Having Dan here! Maybe next year. And there's always New Years...

I am SO loving Christmas this year!

Last year... well, it was tough. But, already, this year is more than making up for everything! I am just so grateful to be surrounded by my family and friends. And Celia is super fun this year! She's excited about all the little Christmas activities and way into the being on the 'good list' thing.

Saturday, was our ward Christmas breakfast. Way fun! The food was great and Celia had a blast. She got to be Mary in the little nativity. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her staring moment. She lovingly cradled the baby Jesus and positively glowed. With the look on her face, you could practically read her little mind. "Yay! Everyone is looking at ME! Aren't I just the cutest Mary EVER?!" Oh, my little Celia... After her little production, she had a ton of fun running a muck with all her friends. It just makes me laugh. Wherever she is, she seems to be in the center of a group of kids. She is such the little social butterfly. She definitely didn't get that from me!

Celia was totally excited to see Santa. She kept saying, "Mom, look a really big shadow. He's coming!" When Santa did finally make his appearance, just guess who was the first to greet him? Yep. My little one. It went something like this. "Hi Santa! I'm Celia. I want all the pollies and ponies for Christmas. I'm on the good list!" I think she rehearsed it! And that was before she got to sit on his lap. I thought for sure she'd get nervous. But, nope. She grabbed her best friend Savannah's hand and marched right up to him. So cute!!

Saturday, we went to get a few more Christmas trees. I think we now have 7. Celia picked out a little tiny one that she just fell in love with. So we made it a bird tree. We coated pine cones with peanut butter and birdseed. Then strung up some cranberries, oranges and apples. It smells great. I just hope the little birds eat it. Celia will be heartbroken if they don't.

Sunday was a great day. I so needed the amazing spiritual uplift I got at church. The testimonies were so beautiful! I just love hearing others share their faith and experiences. They all voiced things that are so dear to my own heart. And the Relief Society lesson was so what I needed to hear. And so beautifully delivered. I am so fortunate to be in the ward I am. And I just got my new visiting teaching assignment. I'm so excited!! I can't wait to get to know my ladies!

Celia decorated her first gingerbread house Sunday night. It looks darling! I let her put the candy on. And she did such a great job. She's all into patterns lately. So she made little patterns all around the house. That, and she ate about 5 pounds of candy. Every time I turned around she was stuffing another candy something in her mouth. Oh well. Gumdrops are a good dinner, right?

After such a busy weekend, I was worried that Celia would wake up crabby. Mondays are usually pretty hard for her. She surprised me though. She quietly got out of bed and came to find me when she woke up. She sweetly said, "I had really good dreams last night." And she slept the whole night in her bed. So mommy got a good nights sleep too!

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I did it!

Ok, I did it... I broke down and listened to Christmas music. But it was just a little, tiny bit! I couldn't help it!


(If you'd like to join my guilty little indulgence, here's a really great new CD for ya- 'The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs'.)