Time for the BIG Talk

No, not that one. The one about "is Santa real?" I have to admit, I'm surprised it lasted this long considering how observant Gabe is. I suspect he just didn't want to give it up. And it's not just that he suspects maybe. He knows Santa and I have the same handwriting. The jig is up. He knows. I know some people get sad about this moment. One only needs to troll the internet to see the amazing contortions people go through to keep convincing their children to believe in Santa. But, I'm not sad. I'm glad that Gabe gets to be in on the secret. 

A few months ago, I saw this post about when the time comes to explain Santa. It was really good, so I am "borrowing" it. Meaning ripping it off mostly with just a few tweaks. 

Dear Gabe,
You wanted to know, “Are you Santa?”
 
I know you’ve wanted the answer to this question for a long time, and I’ve had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
 
The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.
 
I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom and dad did for me, and the same way their moms and dads did for them.
 
I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.
This won’t make you Santa, though.

Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch. He teaches us all about generosity and love.
 
It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Of course, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.
 
Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he’s filled with joy. We all get to learn about the great joy that is giving, and we realize that Christmas always was about giving and not the getting.
 
With full hearts, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.
 
So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.
 
I love you and I always will.
Mom
 

Halloween

Ugh. I've been so busy, I haven't posted much. Sorry. For Halloween Gabe went as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Chi went as Darth Maul. They had fun. Thankfully, it was beautiful weather and so we didn't have to bundle up.

Matt and I are rushing through our end of semester work. It's going to go by way too fast. Matt also has a conference the weekend before Thanksgiving, so we are just going to be done with things before we know it. I guess I am saying, don't expect a lot of updates right now. :)