Santa Scared Straight: Sissy and Deacon (my kiddoes!) on The Bert Show

Paige (aka Sissy) is 3 - almost 4 (on December 26!) - going on 14. She has a big personality and a big attitude. So I wrote an email to the big man himself - SANTA - to see if he could help Sissy get back on the straight and narrow before she became a permanent fixture on his Naughty List. Luckily, The Bert Show's Jeff Dauler has an inside hook-up with Mr. Clause, and ole' St. Nick gave Sissy a call on Monday evening. I didn't have the phone on speaker because I didn't want all the crazy background noise to be picked up (i.e. Lenni barking, Deacon crying, dinner burning), so I could only hear her end of the convo. The next morning was the first time I heard the entire conversation between Sissy and Santa (aka Jeff Dauler) - and it's just about the funnies thing I've heard in a long time! Deacon even makes a cameo at the end, singing a few notes of the only song he knows - Jingle Bells : )



Daddy, Mommy, Sissy and Deacon

So here's the big question: has Sissy's behavior improved? Did Santa scare her straight? The answer is YES! All I have to say is, "Do you want Santa to call back? Remember what you promised him?" And she says, "Oh. Yeah. Sorry Mommy!" HALLELUIA!!

The other big question: Will Sissy be getting all TEN Barbie Princesses this year? Luckily this Mommy Elf was on point and found a Black Friday sale where all the Barbie Princesses (aka the Barbie-like Disney Princess dolls) were on sale for only $7.99 each. Woot woot! So - as long as the good behavior continues - she'll be getting her Barbie Princess Castle "FILLED" with Barbie Princesses : ) Note: The other Elf (we'll call him Schmaniel) tried to get Mommy Elf to return some of the Barbie Princesses  just last week! Schmaniel said "10? Why does she need 10?!" And so I responded, "How can we give her Cinderella, and not Snow White? Give her Mulan, but not Rapunzel? It would be a Christmas travesty!" And so all 10 Disney Princesses - Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Mulan, Jasmine, Tiana, Merida, Pocahontas & Belle - will be under the tree. This is the first year she's really into Disney Princesses (which I've come to accept after a long hold out from this girl-power mama) and it's all she asked for, so I went all out. But that's all she's getting (except for the castle to go with the Princesses!) : )

Oh - and she's already asking me to make bacon for Santa. Thanks, Jeff Dauler!!

Christmas Craft for Kids: Reindeer Food Recipe and Printable Tag

Free Reindeer Food Printable: Right-Click and Save Image Above to Print and Attach to Your Bag of Reindeer Food

I want the magic of Christmas, and the pure joy and wonder it evokes in my children, to last FOREVER! Of course that can't happen, but until the mystique of Christmas, Santa and his Flying Reindeer wears off, I'm going to make every moment as special as I can.

Here is a fun - and simple! - craft to do with your kids in the days leading up to Christmas: Reindeer Food! I'm actually doing this at my daughter's class Christmas party - it's fun and not messy : )

::REINDEER FOOD::

Sprinkle on the lawn at night.

The moon will make it sparkle bright!

As Santa's reindeer fly and roam,

This will guide them to your home!

Here's the recipe:

• One scoop of Reindeer Seeds (aka bird seed)
• One scoop of Reindeer Oats (aka uncooked oatmeal)
• A sprinkle of Magic Christmas Dust (aka glitter)

Have your kids combine everything into a clear bag - either cellophane or even a sandwich bag! - and shake, shake, shake (to activate the magic dust, of course!) Attach a card with ribbon, and VOILA! - Reindeer Food. Kids can sprinkle it out on the front lawn Christmas Eve right before bed.

I've included a free printable you can save and print to attach to your "Reindeer Food" bags.