What they asked Santa for Christmas...and what they asked me!

Got caught on the hop the other day while doing a spot of Christms shopping at Snape Maltings. There was Santa. Bog Boy, my youngest spotted him and starting yelping in excitment. There was nothing for it but to join the queue to say hello.
Both boys went up. I was quite sure they would both be demanding all sorts that I couldn't possibly give let alone afford. And they were bound to rattle off a whole list of things thaty I am sure they are not meant to even know about let alone want for Christmas, wierd action agames for their Wii, horrid plastic toys that I loathe and well basically show me up for the dreadful mother I am. I waited in trepidation.
"Now young man," says Santa, "have you been a good boy?"
"Yes Santa," nods the youngest sagely.
"And what would you like then for Christmas?"
"An Anbarrow and some lego..."
"Is that it?"
"Yes, Santa"
"Well if you are good until Christmas I will see what I can do..."
Then it was my eldests turn...surley now I will get the massive great list. DS3, X-Box you know the works...
"What would you like?"
"Just a Happy Christmas, please Santa"
Sometimes they catch you on the hop and bring a lump to your throat. I was so proud of them. They are both quite wonderful that was until I got into the car...
"Mum?"
"Yes, Darlings...."
"Can you get us a Playsation for Christmas....?"

Still believing in Father Christmas...

In a minute now I will go to bed crossing my fingers that I have covered tracks and that the magic of Christmas stays magic of yet another year.

The Boy is getting to the age of unbelief and I have been trying to help him to hold on. He’s heard the rumours of course and challenged me in the car on the way back from School.

The Boy: “The boys at school say it’s not Santa but your Mum and Dad

Me: Really. “Why on earth should we do that? I mean why should we put all those presents, some of which we don’t even like, wrap them then sneak into your rooms at dead of night when we would much rather be sleeping? And to top it all you know we hate it when you wake us so early so why should we get you all excited?!!!” (I believe in being prepared and a little long winded but it covers all bases and seems to have the desired effect…)

The Boy: “Oh. I hadn’t thought about that…”

Today he was in the car with Charlie, off buying presents of his own when he suddenly turned to his Dad and apropos of nothing said: “Dad, have I been a good boy?”

Dad slightly bewildered and not quite up to speed: “Yes you’ve behaved yourself today, why is there something wrong?”

The Boy: “No I was just worried all I would get was coal if I had been bad.”

It took Charlie the whole journey back from the shops to work this one out! (For those not brought up in the North, Father Christmas does not give naughty little boys and girls presents he leaves them coal instead!)

This evening both boys went to bed like little lambs with their father’s warning ringing in their ears: “If you don’t go straight to sleep Santa will not come, he’ll miss us out and fly on by and you wouldn’t want that would you?”

Chorus of two wide eyed little boys: “Nooooooo!!!”

Angels went straight to sleep and not a murmur or a peep have we heard…

Hope Santa has been good to you all. Have a very Merry Christmas!!!