Christmas

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Dear Holly: When Santa and the Tooth Fairy Visit the Same Night

7 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

For the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, you had been making Mommy and me aware of your newest very wiggly tooth. We kept speculating what it would be like to lose your 2nd tooth right before Christmas.

Sure enough, on Christmas Eve, you approached me in the kitchen, showing off how loose your tooth had become.

I did what is simply in my nature to do: I effortlessly snatched out that tiny little tooth for you.

Confirmation: The Tooth Fairy gave you 10 dollars for that tooth, alongside the cookie that Santa took a bite out of.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Snowball at Christmastime

13 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

Since we travel nearly 3 hours to Alabama for the Christmas holidays and stay there for a week, that means our Syrian hamster Snowball gets to make the trip with us.

You do a great job of making sure he gets to participate in the festivities with everyone. Since he is nocturnal, his designated playtime happens to be right after we finish dinner.

Whereas I may have forgotten a few times, you always remembered to get him out and let him run around in the aftermath of opened Christmas gifts.

He even had some extra fun this year when he escaped from his cage in the middle of the night. It wasn’t the first time he’s done that though!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: The Logistics of Your New Doll Arriving from the North Pole

7 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

For the past week, as Christmas Day has been getting noticeably closer on the calendar you are marking off next to your bed, you have been providing commentary regarding Naty.

She is the doll you have asked Santa for, which you are confident he will bring you.

You explained to me, “I bet she is so cold right now up in the North Pole. She may even be packed up on Santa’s sleigh already.”

Despite you also declaring that Naty is 8 years old, you also have mentioned a few times, “Her birthday will be December 25th, since that’s when I’m getting her.”

I struggle with understanding where she has been for the past 7 years if she is turning 8 on Christmas Day, but I keep questions like that to myself.

Yesterday, Mommy worked from home, as you were also here since school is out this week. Overhearing all of Mommy’s conversations about the contracts she is managing, you were inspired to write a contract for you to adopt Naty.

In just a few days, Naty will finally… be born?

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Santa is Still Real, Even If There are So Many of Them

7 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

We have visited Santa twice so far this December: First, he happened to be randomly waiting for us at a burger restaurant, around the corner from our house. Then we saw him again last weekend for our traditional Christmas drive to Bell Buckle.

You openly acknowledge that they were two different Santas:

“I liked the Santa better that was in the sleigh and who let me give him my Christmas list, because I think that Santa will bring me the gifts I asked for.”

For me as your father, I am glad you are still young enough to keep believing in Santa; while not too deeply questioning the logic of why there are so many different Santas out there…

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Rockin’ Around Our New White Christmas Tree

7 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

My entire life, I had always wanted a white Christmas tree. It seemed that it would simply add to the Christmas magic.

I had totally forgotten, but last year after Christmas, Mommy ordered a new Christmas tree for our home- and the decision in our family was unanimous in choosing a white tree! So this past weekend, we set up the new white Christmas tree as a family, for the first time.

I insisted we take a family photo in front of it before we left to go to church on Sunday morning. Fortunately, Mommy shouted out, “Now let’s do a silly one!”

 

Love,

Daddy