What A Smiling Heart Looks Like...

In the sweetest, 9 yr old handwriting:
"Dear Santa,
     We left you some sugar cookies and milk. in the fridge.
                             Love:  family
P.S. don't eat the ginger bread house its not tasty. Oh and can you try to write back so I can have proof you are real. because someone told me you aren't real."

And on golden, winter stationary... in very neat handwriting:
"Dear Stevie,
     Merry Christmas! I can't tell you how much I love this time of year. Everyone is so full of joy and cheer. It really brings a smile to my face.
     I'm especially proud of you this year. Promethius, my head elf of the education tracking department, reported that you got straight As! How wonderful! It's been about 1,000 years since I've been in school but I remember how hard it was to just get one A.
     I've also noticed how much you've grown up since last Christmas. You are such a kind and generous young lady. I really liked how you were thoughtful enough to give your rollerblades to Alizeonna. The most precious gifts we can give are those given in love and self-sacrifice, which is what you've done. I'm so proud of you!
     I hear that some of your friends have stopped believing in me, which makes me very sad. I only wish I could change their minds. Unfortunately once a child stops believing I can never visit them again. That's the way my magic works. So ignore those who say mean things because its the belief and thankfulness in your heart that keeps me returning every Christmas.
     Thank you for the cookies and I hope you like the decorations. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
                                         Sincerely,
                                            Santa"

Before Stevie discovered her letter, we discovered Santa's festive decorations that welcomed us home from a Christmas with family in France:

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

It's a Christmas PARTAY up in here!

I don't have pictures of the rest... but there's cotton snow all over just about everything... My heart was too busy smiling and the paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling :D Once inside from our 5 hour road trip, the girls got down to business with the gifts!

V's first real Christmas.... Way too much fun!

All she wanted from Santa was a pink guitar, and a pink microphone!

Great... more stuff that makes noise!

Golden paper only comes from Santa! (the LPS treehouse she's been waiting for!)

I got a pink guitar Mommy!