Santa Claus Still Visits Our Home

Well, my sons are almost 11 years old, and I know for a fact that if they were attending public school, their sweet, open-minded, magical minds would have been jaded by now. They would have stopped believing in the loving, magical beauty of the spirit of Santa.
And that would be oh, too sad.

Why must kids be forced to stop believing in magic? Why should they be told the cold hard truths of hardened adults? Why should they lose the joy and happiness of Christmas?

In our house, we still believe in the magic and the spirit of Christmas. We still believe in fairies and we still believe in the things that aren't always revealed to us.

Thank God!

My friend, Margie sent the following to me this year, and I thank her for this, because this was the year we had been considering 'breaking the truth' to our sons. I take this a a sign that we are still supposed to keep our children's minds open to the unseen and the things believed, if only in our hearts.

Magic.

This letter always brings tears of joy to my eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.


"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Our Family's Christmas Day

What a wonderful, happy Christmas Day our family enjoyed together yesterday!
We started off with opening many special presents, watching the joy on our children's faces.
Afterwards we sat down to enjoy our special once-a-year Overnight Holiday French Toast, which I make every Christmas Morning. It just wouldn't seem like Christmas without this yummy tradition.

Later, we all relaxed and basked in the holiday glow, while the kids played with their new toys. And still later, we enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner together, too.

I'm including a bunch of the holiday photos that our friend Tom took of us for our Christmas Cards. We chose the first one, but Tom took some really great photos. Here are our favorites.



Jeremiah playing "Ode to Joy" and "Jingle Bells" for Nana & Papaw in North Carolina, while Jackson holds the phone.

And here are some holiday morning photos.(Click for larger views)
Jeremiah happy to have another knight for his collection.
Jackson & Jeremiah thrilled to have their new walkie-talkie set.
Nana & Papaw taking photos and videos of the kids. We were so happy to have them here to celebrate Christmas with us. If we had told our kids they had to choose between having Christmas or Nana & Papaw visit, I know for a fact they'd have chosen their Nana & Papaw.
Jenna opening up a package of cars from the Cars Movie.
Jenna excited to have another box of Cars Movie cars. Jackson & Nana checking out a catapult for Jax & Jem's German made Knight Set.

Jax, Jem, and Jen opening a 'group gift' together: an amazing Optic Eye!
One seriously happy Jackson with his brand new Snap Circuits Pro! He was SO happy that he was close to crying.
Jenna very very happy to have her Barbie Pet Doctor Puppy. The little dog makes puppy sounds and has interactive pieces, like a stethoscope, bone, needle, bottle, medicine, etc. And a cute bag to carry her puppy around, too.
Jenna opening a Pet Shop set from Aunt Lori. Anything with puppies or kitties and Jenna is thrilled!
Happy Jenna with her new Kitty Snuggler.

Our Chickens received a very special Christmas Present, too!! Check it out! Click: Laughing Orca Ranch

After breakfast we all curled up with the newspaper, or other reading material, or just laid out in front of the fireplace.
Nana & Papaw getting their daily news.
John reading Jackson's hat. hehe
Jenna watching "Angelina Ballerina" on Sprout.
Jen practicing her ballerina moves.
Jackson creating with his new Snap Circuits.
Jax and Jem doing Snap Circuits experiments
Jenna created a new painting.
Jax and Jem in their room setting up a "Knight Game" with their new Knight's Castle and knights.
It's Battle Time!
Boys having a great time with their Knight's Castle.

We've got Company!

My parents (Nana & Papaw) arrived last night, just in time for dinner. Our kids could not have been more thrilled!!!
It's been a whirlwind of activity since they've arrived, but here's a photo of us at the dinner table together.

And for more unique and interesting photos since they arrived, click:
Laughing Orca Ranch

Homeschool Holiday Party

Yesterday our homeschool group celebrated the holidays with a party. There was lots of good food, friends, crafts and music. Fun was had by all.

An unusual event: A Mom's Photo.
The kids gathered together for a photo, too.
Jenna playing ball with some friends and one of the grandparents in our homeschool group.
A trio of pals.
Making Stained Glass Candle Holders and Ornaments.
Fellow homeschoolers, family and friends chatting and being silly together.
Jackson & Jeremiah took turns pulling the little ones on a large broom. The little ones had a blast.......
But Jackson and Jeremiah were pooped!

Homeschool Band Holiday Concert

A couple evenings ago, Jackson performed in his first concert through the Homeschool Band. He started on the Beginner group just 3 1/2 months ago, and we were all impressed with the skills he and his band-mates have gained. They rocked!

We also enjoyed listening to the Intermediate Band and were greatly inspired by the Advanced Band, too. The seats were packed full with the proud and excited audience, which included parents, friends and family members. And afterwards we participated in a Silent Auction (I won a pretty hand-made scarf!) and an exciting 'regular' Auction. All to raise money for the Homeschool Band. Of course, there were also lots of yummy refreshments and fellow band families to visit with, too. Our old and dear friends, Nancy & Steve, who've we've known for over 12 years were there. They homeschool both their children, who participate in the Advanced Band and have been active in the Homeschool Band group for many years.

Jenna has a few friends that she always looks forward to seeing when we attend Band Functions.
Jackson, in the middle playing his Trombone.
Jackson receiving applause. (these pictures are not so great as I was using my new camera for the first time)
A music video, of one of the songs played by the Beginner Band during the Holiday Concert. (I made with my new camera) (Note: You may have to check back later,if it doesn't play. Sometimes 'You Tube' takes a while to get videos 'initialized')

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas.....

With all of our Christmas Decorations!
(Click photos to make them larger)

The kids decorating our Family Christmas Tree in the living room.Jenna placing ornaments in the tree as the snow falls outside. (A perfect Christmas decorating day!)
All done! No. I didn't use the red chile lights this year (they were used to create a lit chile ristra outside on one of the pueblo-style ladders on the balcony). But the tree does still have the southwest/western theme going on. hehe
This is the kids' Christmas tree. They can decorate anyway they like.
The front of our house. (And yes, those are our Halloween pumpkins on the front porch...still! hehe Anyone ever hear of Christmas Pumpkins?)Some of our outside lights.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Just a few photos from Christmas Eve.

The Stockings were hung with care (we don't have a chimney in this house, so this was quite a puzzle on where we should place the stockings! hehe)
The cookies and milk were ready for Santa....
And the signs that St Nick had been there.....
Holiday French Toast has been our family's Christmas morning breakfast tradition for the past 5 years. We prepare it the night before with apples, cranberries, milk and cinnamon and place it into the fridge overnight. Then we pop it into the oven while we are opening presents, and the french toast is ready just in time. My family looks forward to this every year.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

One of our traditions is to read from the bible the story behind Christmas, including the birth of Jesus. Then we celebrate by eating the birthday cake we baked and decorated earlier in the day.
Jenna excited about the cake we made to celebrate Jesus' birthday
Jenna loves cake....well...actually just the frosting, which she licks completely off. Come to think of it, she'd be happy with just a tub of frosting! hehe
We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. My kidlets couldn't wait to blow out the candles!
Jackson loves the chocolate filling!
Jeremiah ate 2 big pieces!