More Christmas 2014

It was another great Christmas. One to be thankful and Joyous for. Our family and their health continues to go strong. Thank you Lord! Aunt Jean and Grandpa and Grandma Fortner came again this year. We decided to take Aunt Jean up to Sun Valley, since she had never been. We took a sleigh ride, which was kinda fun and walked around the town and had lunch for a day. We did our annual light search, driving around town looking for cool lights. I didn't make it up to the south hills for that light show like in the past. Some favorite gifts from Santa and others for the kids were... Legos, NFL football gear, clothes, Kindle for the Girls, Leap Frog computer watch for Kaden, Camo coats from Dad, etc. One Unfortunate moment took place Christmas Eve. Like usual, Aunt Jean, Grandma and I went into another room to wrap last minute presents. The kids usually knock on the door wanting in during this process, but, of course, we say to go away.  I usually wrap the Santa gifts way in advance, but I hadn't this year, so I had to wrap them this night. We were all done and we 3 gals were in and out of the room putting things away and I had came out to tell my dad he could go in to finish his wrapping. I said "OK, you can go in there now". I was talking to Grandpa, but the kids took it as if I was talking to them. Without me knowing, they all 3 went into the room and saw all the presents, including the SANTA PRESENTS!!! A few minutes later Jordan asks to speak with me. She said, "I know Santa isn't real". I paused and pondered that statement before I responded. In my mind I thought it was time for the Girls to know the truth, because they were 10 years old and I would be lucky to get another year out of them anyways. So I said, yes Jordan you are right, but you cannot say anything to your brother, because he is way too young to not believe in Santa. We finished our conversation and within 5 minutes, Jordan says, in front of Logan and Kaden, Mom, they know Santa isn't real. I pause again and ponder this statement, but the pondering turned to anger because I felt that Jordan gave it away. Instead, I learned that Kaden saw the gifts wrapped from Santa. Kaden started to cry, which made me more mad, but at myself for not being more careful with the presents. I made up a story and it goes something like this... Kaden, you are right, Santa is real, but he isn't the one who delivers your presents. Santa is way too busy to deliver presents to every kid himself, so his elves are the ones who deliver the presents. Santa is still the one watching you and is the one who gets your Christmas list. I pretty much left it at that and it made him feel a little better. I'm wondering how next year will go because I honestly dont know what Kaden believes at this point. Makes me so sad. I am sooooo sorry Kaden for spoiling your Santa beliefs.

Logan

Jordan

Kaden

Sleigh Ride

Sleigh Ride

Jordan

Family on the Sleigh Ride