Christmas traditions

When Grace was born, we were still living in Israel and brought her over to the party at the Ambassador's house to meet Santa Clause. She was less than impressed.  In 2006, we had just had Eleanor, so we decided against a trek out to the malls or parties to look for Santa.  While I was pregnant with Jordan we went down to the mall and visited a Santa in the mill of the shopping chaos. While Grace understood that the big guy was going to give her a candy cane if she let us take her picture, the torched was passed to Eleanor to shriek in horror at Santa. 

Last year, I took you and your sisters over to Beth's house and we were visited by Santa.  Your dad was in Iraq so I had all three of you lovelies on my own.  You were very well behaved and I had lots of extra helping hands, but it was still a bit stressful for me.  Despite being raised all over the place, I've got that good New England guilt in me that makes me want you to be perfectly behaved in social settings so as not to detract from the experience for others. 

Before you take this straight to your therapists, I know this is impossible.  And unrealistic. But I have every faith that you girls can behave yourselves.  Even when super duper excited.  Even when in a group of other kids. Even while wearing twirly skirts.  Just maybe not on a sugar high. 

So last year it was three against one and I was exhausted by the end of

 the evening. This year your dad moved heaven and earth to make it to this party (and if I didn't apologize to him a thousand times in person, here it is in writing. I'm sorry about my cruddy attitude. You made sure you worked that schedule, you were brilliantly Machiavellian and worked that group to have them leave earlier on Friday and come in on Saturday and you made it to the party. I should have had more faith. ) and were two on three.  I got to sit down and talk to other people. I got to watch your girls run amuck and I love watching you meet Santa again. 

And Jordan upheld the family name.