Here comes Santa....

To believe or not to believe. So after a brief discussion, the verdict is in, Santa will be visiting our house next year. My husband's ultimate logic, 'If Santa's gonna be at the neighbor's house, why wouldnt he visit ours???!!!'

My husband grew up with Santa, but since I'm first generation Vietnamese- American, it wasnt part of my parents' culture to celebrate. Thus, I was on the fence on whether to perpetuate the myth of Santa. But I can understand the magic and wonder Santa invokes in children. He loves them, watches over them to make sure they're good and comes bearing gifts when they are. He's their jolly, kind friend!

Christmas has become so commercialized and I think for our kids, we'll try very hard to downplay this. They can write a letter to Santa, but there will only be one gift from Santa. The rest will be from family and people who love and cherish them so much to give them presents.

We'll also stress the real celebration of Christmas. We'll have a birthday cake with candles for Jesus. Eric and I have always attended midnight mass (love the beauty of the lit candles and hushed singing!), but of course, we'll be attending the afternoon service with the children instead. The kids will understand the true gift of Christmas is, the life Jesus gave to all of us.