Tara remembers Santa

As you can tell from mom's answer, Santa is still real for the Griersons, and I am pretty sure we will continue to leave him cookies and milk and refer to "presents from Santa" forever.

However...

I remember being suspicious of Santa for as long as I can remember. But one Christmas in the Missouri house, we had gotten some display shelves from our next door neighbor and on Christmas morning we found that Santa had put little presents in each of the little cubbies. Either Spencer or I were reading off the names ("To Tara, from Santa") on each of the wee presents and at one point Dad said, "I don't remember writing on all of those." I looked wide-eyed at my Dad, surprised at his carelessness with the ruse they had protected for years. I don't remember being surprised that Santa wasn't real, I already suspected. But they weren't allowed to admit it! And thus, we still will not acknowledge that he doesn't exist. 

Lauritzen roadshow

Tricia sent me some pictures of the roadshow and I have been trying all morning to get them on.  Can't get them.  So look at facebook for them.

David's Memory

    He said that he found out about Santa when he was about 9 by snooping in the closet then seeing on Christmas that it was from Santa.  I guess we weren't very sneaky.

Heidi Remembers...

I don't think there was ever a definitive moment when I knew Santa wasn't the man in the red suit who lives at the North Pole. (I know he's actually a real man--he's my dad!) I had my suspicions early on. Once I found a present under the back of the tree from Santa to my mom. The problem with that present was that it was under the tree early in December, well before Santa was to come. Holly and I tried to prove he wasn't real by writing to him one year--I think I was eight. He wrote back, and sure enough, it was my dad's very distinctive handwriting. Christmas is still magical (maybe even more so!) knowing that Santa isn't some random stranger, but a man I know well and love. I do wish we could all have Christmas together again, complete with Amy and broomstick. Those were great times. I'll have to be content doing my best to make it as magical for my own kids. --Heidi 

Holly remembers

I am sad to see the chair go. My most vivid childhood memory is of Dad rocking me in that chair singing the Three Fishes song after I had had a nightmare. It was such a comfortable chair and we sure got a lot of use out of it!
I think the Christmas when I realized there wasn't a Santa Clause was when I wrote a note asking for a car and Santa wrote me a note back saying that it wouldn't be possible.  I recognized Dad's handwriting, so I figured it out, but I still tried to believe after that just because it was fun!
Holly

Happy Birthday Ashley

We hope you had a wonderful birthday.  We love you very much.  You are growing up way too fast.

Happy Birthday Jenylyn

I can't find any other pictures.  We all wish you a Happy Birthday!!  I told Dad we should leave right now and go be with you since you are alone on your birthday.  He wouldn't do it.  We could have been there for dinner.  How fun.  But Happy Birthday anyway.  We all love you lots.

Happy Birthday Lydia

We sure love you and can't wait to see you at Christmas.  Have a Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Trina

We love you lots and hope you have a great birthday.  Happy Birthday

Jeny's answer

What do you mean? Santa isn't real?

Jeny

Christmas memories

My memory is not good enough to remember when this happened.  But, I do remember when I was about seven years old climbing up the shelves in my parents closet in Fairbanks to see what good things they had stashed.  Clearly, when those same items showed up under the tree on Christmas morning, I knew where they had come from.  But, that didn't diminish the joy of Christmas at all.  Just made me feel clever.  I suspect all of you have done the same.

New Question--lets have some answers-

When did you first realize that Santa Claus wasn't real?

Happy Birthday

Heidi is 35.  Wow, I can't believe it.  What a great young woman.  We love you lots. Hope you have a very fun birthday.  Glad you enjoyed your root beer and ice cream.

And . . . .
Happy Birthday to Holly.  She is not having a Happy Birthday .  She is sick today.  But we hope she feels better real soon.  Have a quick recovery and a better Birthday.  We love you and are so glad you two are in our family.  I wish I could come tend kids so you could sleep all day.