Cats Out of the Bag...

Warning: Major Spoiler Alert

For a few months now we have been wondering if Stevie had figured out the whole Christmas "secret". For years she has been smitten with Wayne (her Elf) but recently I noticed Wayne was put up with her American Girl Dolls and not a constant companion as he once was. **Although it is not the typical "rules" for an elf, Wayne stays almost year round and he was never (unfortunately) the elf you couldn't touch.** Stevie's elf began at her mom's house years ago and she didn't go anywhere without him. I think Wayne even went to school most of first and second grade in her backpack. Well, when she was here with us and she required him being tucked under her arm to go to sleep at night, what were we to do? Of course it wouldn't make sense for him to be "magical" at one house and not the other?!? I would never trade the smiles and happiness this little elf has brought her over the years but I am pretty relieved to be out of the elf business at this house :)

September 17th was the day it all came out. Her mom called one night earlier in the week and told me she had once again received a "North Pole" letter returned to her. When she read it to me it was perfectly clear she was definitely still a believer. She talked all about Wayne coming back to the North Pole soon to help Santa prepare for Christmas and hoping he could get his nose fixed (Wayne has seen some true wear and tear over the years) while he was there. Her mom was ready to come on out and tell her and her step-sister who is a year older than Stevie was more than willing to help with that. In their own time things all came out later that week. Some of her friends at school happened to get in the conversation of who still believed and I think it got her questioning it. She went back to her mom's that afternoon and started asking questions and she learned the truth. She called us and told us the big news. I get so sentimental on things like this so it was bittersweet for me but she handled it very maturely. She was more interested in asking questions like "how did y'all sneak around to put my gifts out", "who put Wayne in this place or that place", and "who ate the cookie and powdered doughnuts I would leave out for Wayne" than being upset about it. Skip explained to her we will still wake up early and do our family Christmas just like we always have. She is growing up right before our eyes and she continues to make us very proud!