Santa Claus is Comin' to Town...

We are officially ready for Christmas. Our town is like a small country town, but it is actually in the middle of a big town. Each year our volunteer fire department escorts Santa from home to home so that he can greet each child. He arrives in a convoy of fire department vehicles. As he gets near your house he sends out a special signal and rolls the lights. Then he lumbers up to the door to greet the children and hand them a bag of candy. This year we didn't think it would happen because of the snow, but sure enough, there he was. And oh how magnificant he was in his wonderful red suit and his glistening white beard. Ellie, who is really questioning the whole idea gave him a big hug. I wish I could have taken a picture. It was the very spirit of it all in one image. As we were walking back into the house a distant train blew its whistle. Ellie said, "Mama, it is offically Christmas. I've given a hug to Santa and I've heard the Polar Express. Do you think it will come by our house?" Then they both ran up to go to bed, with visions of sugar plums, or at least sugared fruit slices, dancing in their heads. Truely, Santa is coming to town. Merry Christmas!