INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW

Fourth of July has come and gone, and this is one happy momma to have her kiddos back home.

Ben enters with an immediate "Ben-like" comment, "Mmmmmmmmmmm....it's sooooooo good to be home. Smells just like chicken. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

No, I hadn't been cooking chicken, but hey...guess that's better than it smelling 'bad', right?!

Shelby comes in, hugs me, pushes me out of the way to go see the new terrace decorations and then off to her room to view her new room decorations. And honestly, not so much 'new', but finally got things hung up on the wall as I promised I would many, many months ago.

Awhile later I tell her if she wants to watch the new Tinkerbell movie that is premiering tonight on the Disney channel, she needs to make sure to take her bath early. "I'll do it now. Bubble bath, please! And momma please come in there with me and keep me company." (as if I don't **always* accompany her!).

She puts the bubbles on her chin to do the obligatory Santa impersonation and then it began.........

"You know what, Momma? Some kids think it's actually their parents who are Santa and that there is no Santa."

"Hmmmmmmmm...really? What do you think."

"I think YOU are Santa."

"Are you saying I look like a very large man with gray hair and a beard? Is there something I don't see when I look at myself?!"

"Noooooooo...YOU know what I mean. Are you Santa? Are YOU the one who buys the Santa presents?"

"Why are you asking me this?" ... trying desperately not to lie or give a direct answer! :-)

"Because I want to know. If you aren't Santa, then where is he? Why haven't I ever seen him?"

"Because you aren't supposed to see him. That's the deal."

"So, you're telling me he can never be seen by people? That's horrible! So what do you think him and the elves are doing right now?"

"I guess taking a little time off and getting geared up for Christmas all over again."

"Poor guy...I bet they can't even go on vacation because everyone would bother him."

"Well, if he's not in his red suit, hat, black boots...I guess he just looks like any other large gentleman with gray hair and a beard."

"Nooooooo...he's special. I'd know him anywhere. Suit or no suit."

"I guess you've just answered your own question then, huh?"

"Maybe. But where do you think he is? Do you think he'd go somewhere like the beach since he lives at the North Pole? I bet he has to have body guards. Do you think he has body guards? I wonder what they usually do for summer. Have you ever seen him?"

"Shelby...I don't even know which to answer first, so I'll just say 'I really don't know' to all the questions you just asked."



Take a breather girl...it's July 5th after all.