Saint Nicholas Day is December 6th but we celebrated it a day late this year. My sleep-deprived mommy brain (yes, I blame that for everything) somehow got the dates mixed up this year and by the time I realized it the kids were already in bed and it was too late. Saint Nicholas Day is a holiday remembering Saint Nicholas, the man behind Santa Claus. Many of the Christmas traditions we have today like Santa, gifts, and stockings originated from this holiday. I was always told it was a German holiday, but it's celebrated in many different cultures in equally different ways. This is the way we celebrated it as children and the way my kids do today. On Saint Nick's Eve the kids make their list for Santa Claus and put it in their stockings. Then, during the night Santa comes, takes the list and leaves a few little gifts. My 8 year old went to bed a believer but this morning is having her doubts about Santa Claus. And while I know 8 is pretty old to still believe in Santa Claus, I was really hoping disbelief wouldn't set in until the baby was old enough to believe. So, it probably will be the first year that everyone is in on the big secret and sadly a little less magical.....but there's always next year!

making her list

the reindeer have choices

and now he knows why I wouldn't buy him the juggling balls he was asking for yesterday